Winter Wine & Dine
Winter Wine and Dine
Winter in the Finger Lakes is one of the best times to explore the many eateries and wineries that the region has to offer. This time of year, tasting rooms and restaurants are a little quieter, providing a more personalized experience. Cozy up and indulge in the amazing food and beverage offerings found around the Finger Lakes.
Fly into Rochester and experience the culinary and craft beverage scene, before driving into the heart of the region.
DAY ONE
Kick off your first day in The Finger Lakes at Brantling Ski Slopes in Sodus. Work up your appetite on the slopes of this family-owned ski area and then head over to Saltbox Smokehouse for lunch (open Tuesday through Saturday). This rustic smokehouse and deli is the perfect spot to relax and warm up before you take on the rest of your day. Plus, they have 15+ varieties of bacon!
Since you’re in Wayne County – the largest apple-producing county in New York State and one of the highest in the county – spend time enjoying this favorite fruit. Start with a wine tasting at Silver Waters Wine. Try their unique fruit and flower wines made from their own apples and raspberries.
Take a scenic drive along Lake Road for wintry views of Lake Ontario.
Visit Embark Craft Ciderworks, where you can grab a refreshing hard cider. This family of farmers has been growing great tasting apples since 1909, planting many heirloom and Old World varieties for use in their cider. Before leaving, shop the selection of seasonal produce found at the attached farm market, Lagoner Farms.
Head to dinner at Copper Ale House in Williamson, where they serve delicious burgers and sandwiches as well as a full draft selection and cocktails. If you’re not ready to call it a night, stop into Rootstock Cider for a nightcap. They offer a variety of ciders made from hand-picked fruit and are open late on Friday nights.
Once your busy day catches up with you, head to one of the many charming Bed & Breakfasts that Wayne County has to offer.
DAY TWO
After breakfast at your B&B, fuel up with coffee from Muddy Waters Café or Café Aqueduct, both located in Palmyra. If you’re visiting during the week, spend some time at Historic Palmyra. Open Tuesday-Thursday during the winter, Historic Palmyra features five museums that have captured the history of the area: the Palmyra Historical Museum, Erie Canal Depot, Print Shop Museum, Phelps General Store & Residence, and Alling Coverlet Museum.
On your way to Geneva, consider a detour through Canandaigua, where you’ll find a handful of craft breweries and restaurants that will please your taste buds. Check the schedule at New York Kitchen ahead of time for hands-on cooking classes like Wine and Pasta, Sushi Rolling, and Cocktail Making.
Once in Geneva, relax with a wine tasting at the Ravines Wine Cellars Geneva Tasting Room. Snack on the selection of seasonal delights while you enjoy a tasting experience with five different wines. Or please your sweet tooth with the Wine & Chocolate Pairing featuring Hedonist Artisan Chocolates, including the “bittersweet chocolate truffle” made with Ravines’ Maximilien wine.
Spend the afternoon at Belhurst Castle, named World’s Best Wine Hotel by Wine Enthusiast. This unique resort boasts three hotels, two restaurants, and a spa. Enjoy lunch at Stonecutter’s Tavern followed by a tasting of Belhurst’s very own wine and craft beers in the tasting room overlooking Seneca Lake. If you really want to relax, check out the spa for a massage or facial.
Explore more of Geneva, as your time allows. Visit Vines of New York, a women-run gallery that offers nature-based art using earth materials, modern abstract art, handmade mineral jewelry and baskets woven with vineyard grapevines. Or stop into the Finger Lakes Welcome Center to learn about FLX history, shop local snacks from the Taste NY market, and even brave the cold for a photo with the I Love NY sign in front of the beautiful Seneca Lake.
Spend your evening strolling along Linden Street for a variety of food and beverage options and local artistic flair. Grab dinner at FLX Table, a unique communal dining experience that is both intimate and interactive (reservations are required and need to be booked in advanced), before spending the night at one of the many charming places like Geneva on the Lake, Belhurst Castle or 41 Lakefront Hotel-Trademark collection by Wyndham.
DAY THREE
After breakfast at your hotel or one of the many local spots in Geneva, head south towards Penn Yan for day three.
Start with a winter wine tasting at Fox Run Vineyards, where they make wine approachable. Join in on a winery and vineyard tour, which are offered every hour, 7 days a week, all year long (weather permitting).
Explore downtown Penn Yan for lunch and shopping.
If you’re visiting on a Saturday or Sunday, head to Sweet Farm Animal Sanctuary in Himrod for a one-hour public tour. Meet the farm’s animals and learn about the work the sanctuary is doing. This tour is also outside, so don’t forget to bundle up!
See what fun outdoor winter activities are being offered by Finger Lakes Museum. The museum building is currently under construction, but there are events happening regularly like cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing.
Kick off a relaxing afternoon and evening with a scenic drive around Keuka Lake. It is shaped like the letter Y and as a result of glacial action, is the only lake in the country that flows both north and south. As you drive around, stop at some of the many wineries you’ll pass. Better yet, plan your visit around one of the Keuka Lake Wine Trail’s Immersive Wine & Food Experience events, which are held quarterly.
Make sure to stop at Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery in Hammondsport, one of the most historic wineries in the Finger Lakes. Enjoy a Signature Seated Tasting led by one of their Wine Educators. And plan to stop back between May and October for the 1886 Food & Wine Experience, an in-depth viticultural or cellar experience followed by a seated educational wine flight paired with creative, small foods.
Stay in Hammondsport for dinner and enjoy farm-to-table dining at The Park Inn, where Chef Dan Eaton prepares the locally sourced menu daily. Spend one final relaxing night at Black Sheep Inn & Spa, a historic house that offers British hospitality and hearty, home-cooked vegan food.
You’ve now wined and dined your way through the Finger Lakes, but if you want to add a twist of land and sea history, be sure to visit the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum to learn about the role of Hammondsport in early aviation and take in some of the historic exhibits. There is also the Finger Lakes Boating Museum, where you will learn about many of the boats built throughout the Finger Lakes Region during the last century.
For more dining and drinking inspiration, view all of the region’s food and beverage offerings here.
