In July of 2017, I spent a few days in the Finger Lakes region of New York. I hadn’t been there in quite a few years and I knew it had grown up with more vineyards and wineries. Here are a few tips for a quick visit.

1. The Finger Lakes wine region of New York is closer than you think. From Frederick, Maryland, it’s only a 4 ½ hour drive to Watkins Glen, which is at the bottom of Seneca Lake.
2. Plan your winery visits for mid-week, if possible. The more popular wineries can be extremely busy on weekends in peak season.
3. Tasting fees and wines are reasonably priced. You’ll be surprised to find some very acceptable wines under $10.00
4. Have a general plan for the areas you want to visit. Technically, there are 11 Finger Lakes. Focus on Cayuga, Seneca, and Keuka. Break your days into regions. For example, spend one day on the east side of Seneca Lake.
5. Take a raincoat. Rains can be sudden and intense.
6. Visit waterfalls. Spend half a day hiking the Watkins Glen Gorge hike (take a raincoat). On your Cayuga Lake day, visit Taughannock Falls; it’s the tallest waterfall in the northeast, including Niagara Falls.
7. Study up on a few of the historic vineyards and wineries, such as Wagner, Dr. Frank, Bully Hill, and Great Western. The story of Walter S. Taylor is particularly interesting.
8. A visit to the Corning Museum of Glass is a nice break from touring wineries, and well worth it. They have a large collection of historical pieces. Admission includes two consecutive days.
9. Be prepared for a wide range of wines and styles. You will taste wines made from less familiar hybrid varieties, like Foch, Baco Noir, and Seyval.
10. Be open-minded to the many Rieslings. It’s a very good vinifera grape for the region and the wines are quite good, from dry to sweet. In my opinion, Riesling is the best wine of the Finger Lakes.