Exploring upstate New York wine country: Know before you go
Customers participate in a wine tasting at Thirsty Owl Wine Co. on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. Credit: Cayuga Wine Trail
Before Long Island's East End became a hotbed of vineyards and wine tasting rooms, upstate New York was where budding oenophiles would go to sample some of New York vintners' finest output.
Four of New York's 11 Finger Lakes have wine trails, including the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail — America's first organized and longest-running wine trail. It is a 10-member group that includes Thirsty Owl Wine Company, Hosmer Winery, Montezuma Winery, Knapp Winery, Buttonwood Grove Winery and Lucas Vineyards, a fourth- generation woman-owned winery that opened in 1980.
"We’re most known for our riesling: That’s what our climate grows the best," says executive director Katherine Chase. "But they produce reds, whites, dry’s, sweets — everything in between."
Chase recommends a two-day trip to Cayuga Lake’s wineries, plus more time to pursue special wine events and sommelier wine classes through Experience the Finger Lakes.
"You can easily see five in one day; five the next day and spend 45 minutes to an hour at each winery and get your full tasting, get your full experience, even schedule in a lunch and really capture the full essence of each winery," Chase says.
Get your wine glasses ready and explore the Northeast wine country:
Customers look at the menu at Lucas Vineyards part of the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail; People sit outside Thirsty Owl Wine Co. and take in the scenery. Credit: Cayuga Wine Trail
Hudson River Wine Region
DRIVING DISTANCE FROM LI: About 2 hours
Grapes at Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville. Credit: Brotherhood Winery
This region is famous for Brotherhood Winery, America's oldest continuously operating winery, which opened in Washingtonville in 1839 and offers walk-in tours and tastings throughout the day.
Brotherhood ‘s first wine was altar wine used for church ceremonies, notes Juan Sanchez, Brotherhood’s sales manager. These days, the legendary winery’s bestseller is riesling, a refreshing semi-sweet wine.
"Riesling is the perfect, medium-balanced wine," Sanchez says.
In reds, Brotherhood’s No. 1 selling wine is cabernet sauvignon, which Sanchez describes as "full bodied, very smooth, with a cherry taste."
"People think our holiday spiced wine is a seasonal wine, but we sell it all year-round," says Sanchez. "It’s a wine that you serve warm or hot and you can smell all the spices that this wine has. It’s unique."
A look at barrels in the cellars at Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville. Credit: Brotherhood Winery
Other vineyards in this region include Rivendell Winery, Applewood Winery, Valley Winery, Clinton Vineyards, Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery and Benmarl Winery, the oldest vineyard in America.
WHERE TO STAY Set on 55 acres, Hasbrouck House features a preserved Dutch Colonial stone mansion that dates to 1757. Rooms start at $522. (3805 Main St., Stone Ridge, 845-687-0736, hasbrouckhouseny.com)
Situated on the Esopus Creek, the recently renovated Shandaken Inn has 15 unique rooms and three rustic cottages. Rooms start at $199. (1 Golf Course Rd., Shandaken, 845-280-2828, shandakeninn.com).
Upper Hudson Wine Trail
DRIVING DISTANCE FROM LI: About 3 hours and 30 minutes
A collection of Northern Cross Vineyard bottles. Credit: Northern Cross Vineyards
Officially designated in 2019, the Upper Hudson Wine Trail is the newest wine area in New York. Surrounded by the Adirondack, Taconic and Catskill Mountains, the Upper Hudson Wine Trail is divided into an east (Northern Cross Vineyard, South Dominion Vineyard, Victory View Vineyard, Autumn Harvest Vineyard) and west (Altamont Vineyard and Winery, Hummingbird Hills Winery, Clover Pond Vineyardand Fossil Stone Farms) trail.
"This region is challenged with winter temperatures that could be minus 15. So, these grapes are all cold hardy," says Andy Weber, and founder of the Upper Hudson Wine Trail and owner of Northern Cross Vineyard.
Each of the wineries offers wine tastings, and some offer special tours that include walking through the vineyard, learning about the winemaking process, and raising a glass or two.
A family-owned, farm-to-glass winery, Autumn's Harvest Vineyard in Cambridge specializes in wines produced from cold-climate grapes. This year, the vineyard had a record grape harvest and added cheese and appetizer plates to the menu.
WHERE TO STAY
Travelers looking for a hotel with a restaurant can head to Park Manor Hotel, which features 75 guest rooms and serves American fare at its Seven Bistro. Rates start at $110. (7 Northside Dr., Clifton Park, 518-280-9258, parkmanorcp.com)
Set on 10 acres of wetlands, Hotel Brookmere & Arbor Spa has 88 guest rooms and suites, a spa and gourmet dining. Rooms start at $125. (500 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs, 844-276-6563; hotelbrookmere.com)
Finger Lakes Wine Country
DRIVING DISTANCE FROM LI: About 5 hours
Two other wine trails to explore in the Finger Lakes are the Keuka Lake Wine Trail, which is home to the first bonded winery: Pleasant Valley Wine Company and includes Keuka Spring Vineyards, Hunt Country Vineyards, Domaine Leseurre, Heron Hill Winery, Vineyard View Winery and Weis Vineyards; and the Canandaigua Lake Wine Trail, with Acquilano Wine Cellars, Arbor Hill Grapery and Winery, Randall Standish Vineyards, Hazlitt Red Cat Cellars, Inspire Moore Winery and Song Hill Winery.
"Come as a guest, leave as a friend," was the mantra of Hazlitt Red Cat Cellars’ founder Jerry Hazlitt. Hazlitt’s spirit lives at the Naples cellars, where you can have a glass of wine or cider with some fresh popcorn at the renovated tasting room.
WHERE TO STAY Inns of Aurora Resort & Spa offers lakeside fire pit and s’mores to warm up an autumn evening. Rooms start at $517 per night. (378 Main St., Aurora, 877-602-8663, innsofaurora.com).
For a budget-friendly overnight stay, head to the historic Naples Hotel, a local landmark. The hotel began as a stopover for travelers and today is reported to have a haunted history. Rooms start at $199 per night. (111 S. Main St., Naples, 585-374-5630, napleshotelny.com).
Champlain Valley Wine Region
DRIVING DISTANCE FROM LI: About 6 hours
Located in northeastern New York, this region is notable for its cool climate, short growing season and Frontenac grapes and wine. Wineries in the region include Four Maples Vineyard & Winery, which boasts century-old maple trees;Rolling Hills Estate and Highlands Vineyard.
Highlands Vineyard in Keeseville has stunning views of Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains of Vermont. Enjoy a flight of six, two-ounce samples of wine in the timber-framed tasting room, surrounded by hemlock trees.
WHERE TO STAY Point Au Roche Lodge features a cozy wood-paneled great room with an oversized stone fireplace and 11 guest rooms. Rooms start at $100. (463 Point Au Roche Rd., Plattsburg, point-au-roche-plattsburgh.hotelsone.com)
Located in Adirondack Park and on Lake Champlain, Valcour Inn & Boathouse, a 9-acre inn, features nine guest rooms, each with scenic or lake views. Rates start at $195. (3714 US-9, Peru, 518-566-4077, valcourinn.com).
Lake Erie Wine Country
DRIVING DISTANCE FROM LI: About seven hours
Partly in Pennsylvania, the Lake Erie Wine Country spans a 50-mile stretch of the Lake Erie shoreline that starts in Silver Creek, New York.
Wineries in the region include Willow Creek Winery, with its historic 1800s farmhouse and specialty chocolate wines, and Sparkling Ponds Winery, whose tastings include wine slushies.
Noble Winery, Mazza Chautauqua Cellars and Johnson Estate, the oldest estate or farm winery in New York, Liberty Vineyards & Winery and 21 Brix Winery, which is surrounded by vineyards and cherry orchards, are also part of the region.
Several vineyards participate in Harvest Wine Weekends on Nov. 7-9 and Nov. 14-16, featuring food and wine pairings.
WHERE TO STAY Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, located on Chautauqua Lake and close to the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum, features 135 rooms and suites in a 9-acre resort. Rooms start at $159. (10 Dunham Ave., Celoran, thechautauquaharborhotel.com).
Lake Erie's newest luxury resort, Hideaway Bay, is set along the shores of Lake Erie and features 10 guest cottages. Rooms start at $399. (42 Lake Ave., Silver Creek, 716-401-5762; hidawaybayresortny.com)
Niagara Escarpment
DRIVING DISTANCE FROM LI: About 7 hours
In Western New York, this region, with its gravelly limestone and clay loam-based soil, is known for its riesling, cabernet franc, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay wines.
Wineries in the region include Bella Rose Vineyard & Winery, Schulze Vineyards, Honeymoon Trail Winery, Arrowhead Spring Vineyards, Freedom Run Winery, Niagara Landing Wine Cellars, A Gust of Sun Winery & Vineyard and The Winery at Marjim Manor, where you might also encounter spirits in the form of resident ghosts, who purportedly visit the property.
Located in a 9,500-square-foot mansion formerly called Appleton Hall, The Winery at Marjim Manor in Appleton will host "Hallowine" on Oct. 18, a murder mystery dinner on Nov. 1 and a ghost hunt on Nov. 15.
WHERE TO STAY Nestled in the hills along Lake Ontario's shore, Lakeview Motel & Cottage has a total of 12 rooms and four cabins to choose from. Rates start at $105. (2000 Lake Rd., Youngstown, 716-791-8668, lakeviewmotelandcottage.com)
A European-inspired hotel, Hart House is located in the historic district of downtown Medina and has 10 distinctly different themed-rooms (bicycle-themed room, NYC's East Village and more). Rates start at $124. (113 W. Center St., Medina, 585-735-6031, harthousehotel.com)
