FINGER
LAKES
WINE COUNTRY
BY CHRISTOPHER LUDGATE
Finger Lakes Wine Country
Corning Museum of Glass
Contemporary Art + Design Wing
by Stu Gallagher
WINE TRAILS
Waking up among the vineyards along Lake
Seneca in the Finger Lakes region of New
York State is not a bad way to start the day.
This is a 9,000 square mile, twelve lake, four-
season area, so there’s much to see and do.
There are more than 100 vineyards, and the
choices are extraordinary. It’s an ideal place
for a relaxed family getaway, a romantic
escape, or some unchartered exploring.
One of the best things to do is to stay at a
vineyard. And one of the fi rst established
vineyards overlooking the gorgeous Lake
Seneca is Glenora Cellars. With a variety of
rooms on off er for guests, from king-sized
bedrooms with whirlpool tubs to rooms
better suited for a family, the vineyard off ers
views of the Lake and a setting among rows
of carefully-manicured vines. Often referred to as the Napa Valley of the
East, the Finger Lakes Wine Country off ers
wine trails through Cayuga, Keuka, and
Seneca Lakes, where the wine making history
dates back over 100 years. The region has
a wide variety of events ranging from the
family-friendly to the casual or the romantic.
The vineyards off er a wide choice of tasting
experiences throughout the year. Cheese and
chocolate pairings, cherry picking, and festive
holiday events can all be enjoyed. Vino Visas,
an all-inclusive passport, off ers a variety of
discounts to use while discovering impressive
world-class Cabernets, Rieslings, and Pinots.
The region’s vintners have formed a Wine
Alliance group, who host many charity events
with the mutually supportive community.
The entire area is easily accessible by land
and by air through nearby Greater Rochester
and Syracuse Hancock International Airports.
Travelers are beginning to understand how
accessible this remarkable region is for would-
be vacationers. At many wineries, personal guides lead
visitors through the vineyards and into the
cellars where they can enjoy an up-close view
of the vintner’s process. Free tastings of 30
types of wine are off ered at one of the fi rst
vineyards at the lakes, Wagner Vineyards,
FLYWASHINGTON.COM 22 AUTUMN 2017
which also boasts the area’s fi rst female
winemaker, Ann Raff etto. The vineyard’s deck
provides a panoramic view of Seneca Lake.
Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars is dedicated
to sustainable viticulture. Solar panels are
found everywhere throughout the 23-acre
vineyard. “Green decisions not only protect
the health of our employees, consumers,
and neighbors, but also insure our continued
ability to grow and deliver the best possible
wine for generations to come,” says owner,
Mark Wagner. It’s an attitude that extends to
the green practices of much of the community
and local farms.
The region boasts its own unique micro-
climate, partly as a result of the great depth
of the lakes. At Lamoreaux, tastings with
appropriate food can be enjoyed on many
of the winery’s decks, and there’s often live
music. Sunsets are a delightful moment in
the day to decompress with a glass of bright
white wine or a dry rosé, overlooking acres
and acres of fl ourishing grapes. Designated