We had a wonderful wine tasting Friday 5.1.26 in the afternoon. We didn't have a reservation but we…read morewere accommodated. The interior is a clean aesthetic. The service was welcoming. I did not know they specialized in Rieslings. I am not a Riesling drinker. I was so impressed with the wines. I enjoyed them so much that I left with 6 bottles. The property has a lovely exterior of sloping hills that offer a clear view of the lake. Highly recommend.

This is the finest example of Reisling in the region. And since the Finger Lakes produce the finest…read moreRiesling in the New World, this is the best you'll find. Paul Hobbs has another winner on his hands. Wine Club membership purchased. Friendly staff and an unmatched view of the south end of Senecas Lake and Watkins Glen.

This winery was fantastic. Relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The owners daughter helped our group…read moreof six and she was incredible. She was very knowledgeable and friendly.

Silver Springs Winery was such a trip in the best way possible. Total hippy vibes, tie-dye…read moreeverywhere, and some of the most unexpectedly deep convos with the artsy owner and his anime-loving daughter. Also: incredible views of the vineyard through their open back area. All the wines are dangerously drinkable. Super fruit-forward, super sweet, and tasted almost exactly like juice - until you remember they're rocking a sneaky 14%. Proceed with caution (or not). Definitely one of the more memorable and quirky stops we made. Come for the wine, stay for the stories and energy.

We enjoyed a tasting and some food here on Friday 5.1.26. The building is bright and airy with high…read moreceilings. There is outside seating as well as large windows that provide a view from inside. We were greeted warmly upon arrival and service was polite. We did not feel rushed. Food was tasty. We had roasted red onion dip, marinated olives, and jalapeño corn hush puppies. We enjoyed the red white flights and purchased six bottles to go.

Loved this place! Nice & spacious inside with a nice deck that has great views of the lake. We…read moreenjoyed brunch here twice - that is how good it was! I had the Thai salad the first time - so yummy! My friends enjoyed the cheesy eggs & quiches. Second time I was there I had piece of carrot cake because I wanted to be decadent - delish! Both times I enjoyed the dry rose! Really a great place, plenty of parking - go check it out!!

Our next stop of the day took us to our first distillery visit of the trip, and wow--Finger Lakes…read moreDistilling did not disappoint. What surprised us most? This was our very first time visiting, and we hadn't even realized they had been established since 2007! Knowing that they had been perfecting their craft for over 17 years, we were eager to dive into the tasting experience and see what they had to offer. The tasting room had a laid-back yet polished feel, with a friendly and knowledgeable staff ready to guide us through their lineup of small-batch, handcrafted spirits. The distillery prides itself on using locally sourced grains and fruits, and you could tell from the first sip that quality and attention to detail were at the heart of their process. The Tasting Lineup I opted for a tasting of four different spirits, and after enjoying those, I was encouraged to try two more--a bonus that made the experience even better. Here's what I sampled: 1 Straight Bourbon - This was beautifully balanced, with sweet corn and vanilla upfront, followed by a warming spicy rye kick on the finish. Smooth yet complex, it was a fantastic introduction to their bourbon lineup. 2 Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon - A true standout, this one had rich caramel and toasted oak flavors, along with the perfect balance of spice and warmth. Aged for at least four years and bottled at 100 proof, it had a bold yet refined character that made it easy to appreciate. 3 McKenzie Straight Rye - If you're a fan of rye whiskey, this one is for you. It had that signature spicy rye bite, but what really made it unique was the sweet sherry cask finish, adding a layer of richness and complexity that lingered beautifully. 4 Bottled-in-Bond Rye - One of the most interesting pours of the day, this rye was bursting with flavors of chocolate, nougat, and dried red fruit. The influence of the barrel aging was prominent, giving it a decadent, almost dessert-like quality while still holding onto its classic rye spice. After those four, I couldn't resist trying two additional spirits: 5 Apple Brandy (Aged 10 Years) - A masterfully aged apple brandy that showcased deep, caramelized apple flavors, balanced with warm baking spices and oak influence. The 10 years in the barrel really allowed this spirit to develop incredible depth and smoothness. 6 Grappa - This was an unexpected favorite--simply sensational. Grappa can sometimes be overpowering, but this one was smooth, refined, and packed with rich grape flavors, making it one of the best versions I've tried. Taking a Piece of Finger Lakes Distilling Home While every single pour was impressive, the one that stood out the most for me was the Straight Bourbon--so much so that I had to bring a bottle home. It reminded me of a classic Rye Whiskey, with just enough spice to keep things interesting but smooth enough to sip neat. Final Thoughts Finger Lakes Distilling far exceeded expectations, and I can't believe it took us this long to visit! With their commitment to quality, incredible range of spirits, and inviting tasting experience, this is a must-visit for anyone exploring the Finger Lakes region--whether you're a bourbon lover, rye enthusiast, or just appreciate finely crafted spirits. It was the perfect stop to break up a day of wineries and breweries, offering something distinctly different yet equally enjoyable. Next time, I'd love to stay a little longer, maybe sip on a whiskey cocktail and take in the atmosphere even more. Cheers to great whiskey and new discoveries!

I had a good feeling I was going to like Finger Lakes Distilling, but I didn't realize how much I…read morewould love it. Had tried their McKensie bourbon at a bar or top and liked it, so was happy that it was on the itinerary of our wine and spirits tour. The space, like most wineries/distilleries/breweries up here, overlooks a lake (Seneca in this case) which is very scenic. Inside of the place was very nice and the staff could not be friendlier. I can't underscore the importance of the latter. Selection here is awesome. Some places make 2 bourbons and call themselves a distillery. These guys do whiskey, gin, vodka, varietals and other specialty stuff. I focused on the whiskeys which were awesome. I can see why these guys have won so many medals. I tried the small batch, cannoli infused bourbon, applejack, rye, straight bourbon, bottled in bond, single malt and Applejack. Everything was at least noteworthy. Single malt was awesome, which is the biggest thing I look for as the true test of a distillery. They had just started making the applejack, and it one of these best I've tried. People don't what the hell this is, but it's basically cider-based whiskey; it's great for cooking, drinking and was the first American-invented spirit going back to colonial times. Don't sleep on it. Only one I wish I had tried was the pot stilled, but I had enough to know it's probably good. I took home the applejack and the single malt, as those are really my go to's, however there was a lot worth trying. Also nice to see them offer number of cool cocktail options for those less inclined to drink pure alcohol. We ended the visit with some cigars infused with their cordials, which were an awesome surprise. This place is destination worthy. People think of wine when they think Finger Lakes, but there's more up here than that. This places exemplifies that. Will be back, and will buy their stuff locally.

The stunning view is only surpassed by the great wine and friendly staff. Wished they stayed opened…read moreuntil sunset as this location would offer a one in a million viewing opportunity. Been to many other wineries in the finger lakes region and this one with it's natural simplicity is near the top of my list

My husband and I learned of Osmote during a tasting at Scout and we're so glad we made a…read morereservation! The tasting is an open air tasting with a beautiful view of the lake. The owner personally guides each tasting, which really made the experience. The tasting comes with delicious shortbread cookies baked by his sister (and adorned with edible flowers she grows). Our tasting had 5 wines and we added a taste of the red Pet Nat, since I love sparkling wines and had never had a red Pet Nat. These wines are all really good and we couldn't resist taking home a bottle of 2015 Chardonnay even at the $40 price point. The owner also mentioned he has a small Air Bnb that can house 2 guests. Can't wait to return and taste other wines!

Great wine, ambiance and service! A wonderful all around experience! We will definitely be back.read more

Newly open spot, don't let the lack of reviews or pics stop you from visiting - one of my favorite…read morespots on my trip. Beautiful view of the lake - enjoy the view of sailboats and birds as you sip your wine. Worth the drop in. Thank you Joe and Hunter for your beautiful views and conversation!

Catherine Valley Winery is located just outside of Watkins Glen on the east side of Seneca Lake…read more Mini flights are $12 and are enough to catch a bit of a buzz. If you wanted to just taste a sip of wine, I'm not sure how that works. I am into sweeter whites these days, and the four I tried did not disappoint. I had riesling (good but not extraordinary), Lost Irishman, Seneca Steamer (I enjoyed these both equally), and Viva (sparkling). The ambiance is the best part - the patio overlooking the lake is lovely. We enjoyed our wine while taking in the scenery. We purchased two bottles of wine and one hard cider, and they were all $19, The bathroom could use an update, but that was my only quibble. CV isn't the fanciest Finger Lakes winery but it's relaxing and enjoyable.

We have been coming to this winery for over 10 years. It's very small so don't expect anything…read morefancy like the other ones on the trail. Seating is limited as well as food. But they have the best wine and the best view in my opinion. Either you will love it or hate it. ‍ Sweet Revenge Lost irishman And their cider is my favorite if they have their ginger cider available that's a 10/10 also!

Amongst winery after winery after winery, Solera is such a refreshing stop for an AMAZING on tap…read morelist, good cocktails, games, and really good food. A great variety on tap such as Trillium and Fidens. Fun cocktails like an Orange crush which brings me back to beach vibes and lavender lemonades. They have darts, a selection of board games, outdoor seating and stage in the summer time. I got the cuban which had a perfect crust to it and their fries are SOLID. There's a reason it's always crowded!

We had so much fun visiting here great selection, and amazing customer service. Keep up doing what…read moreyou're doing.!

Definitely a must do!! So many winery's all good. Brought home 24 assort bottles and several types…read moreof ice wines!!

Enjoyable time. Friendly knowledgeable people. Great wine tasting experience. I bought several…read morebottles of wine both sweet and dry.

Set sail for True Love, a truly enjoyable time!…read more Bottom Line Up Front: We had a wonderful, relaxing, and fun time for a good price. The Good: The history of the John Alden designed schooner is worth reading before you go. We had some more "salty" members of our group that recognized the name of the schooner from the 1956 movie "High Society" starring Bing Crosby, Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra and after that we were on board for a wonderful time. We even were seated in the seats once occupied by Gene and Bing. We purchased our tickets after being approached by Terry who negotiated a decent price with us because he wanted a full boat for the next trip. Captain Bill was an experienced Captain and is well known in the area. He got us underway and was a delightful host regaling us with stories about the "True Love", Seneca Lake and surroundings, as well as, some stories about racing the "True Love" and his crew, Spencer and Marena. Captain Bill even assisted another sailing boat that was in distress and precariously close to the lake edge. The trip was two hours long and on time. The crew served non-alcoholic and adult beverages (some free, some for a price) while underway and also sold some souvenirs (Whisky and glasses). The Bad: There was nothing bad, from start to finish, this was a very enjoyable trip and the crew definitely enjoyed sharing their love of the "Trie Love" with the joyful passengers. The Ugly: Absolutely nothing other than we could not be out for longer. If you find yourself in Watkins Glen, this is definitely an enjoyable to kick back, relax, and let the wind fill your sails. They say a picture is worth 1000 words, so I am going to end my post with a few that we snapped along the way. May you have fair winds, and following lake waters!

Excellent sailing experience The crew was great and was…read morevery eager to make sure we had a great time The boat was in excellent condition