Our new favorite winery in the Finger Lakes. We came across…read moreShalestone while doing a search online for dry reds and decided to stop by when they opened. Turns out it was their first day open for the 2026 season and they had a tasting spot open for their first tasting, so we got lucky on both accounts. Tastings are offered "on the hour" in the afternoons during business hours and I highly recommend making a reservation. This is the type of tasting where you sit, savor, and listen to the presentations on each wine. No rushing customers through, no large groups, and the employees do a great job of connecting with their customers. Shalestone is a small family run boutique style winery that only does red wine. The wine and the atmosphere reminds me of our favorite boutique winery in the Napa Valley. I believe we tasted 7 wines, all of which had their own specific profile and nuances. Too often at other wineries the reds all taste the same, but not at Shalestone. While we purchased a variety of their wines, our favorite is their Syrah! Absolutely delicious with all characteristics one would want in this full bodied red. I highly recommend making a visit to Shalestone when in the Finger Lakes if you want to enjoy mouth watering red wines.

Nice to see a lot of reds on the tasting menu but watch when you arrive at this location. Check the…read morehours of tastings it is by reservation only and we did not have one. We arrived 45 minutes from closing without a reservation and we got the distinct vibe that they were not pleased because there was a table available in the tasting room but we were not offered it. They did agree to sell us each a glass of wine which we could enjoy outside. We didn't want to be pushy but a friend raved about their reds and we were excited to come and see what the liked about their wines. We were able to taste the red legend and even purchased two additional bottles for home. If I could give a split ratings it would be four stars for wine. 3 for service.

The most beautiful winery in the finger lakes. My ultimate favorite wine offering is the blanc de…read moreblanc but you can't go wrong with any that are on the menu. There's minimal food offering but a great view. Dogs are welcome. Don't miss the koi pond!

We were visiting Watkins Glen for a race weekend and found this cool spot in wine country. It was…read more a great way to experience the wines and have a light lunch when we weren't at the track.

Since taking over Danos It is quite an amazing tasting experience. Their Rieslings are beautiful…read moreThe views are incredible The service is excellent and they have food fare that is different and tasty. Everything about this beautiful place and beautiful location Is worth going to

The staff was extremely short and dismissive with our group. This was our 3rd stop on our tour and…read morewould recommend that they be taken off the tour. Not helpful with wine selection. They lacked customer service as the others in area. We wont be back!

This place was a pleasant surprise . We enjoyed all the wines we had ! The staff was friendly and…read morevery knowledgeable. Another great view . The inside was cozy inside and felt very welcome .

Stopped in later in afternoon and did not need an appointment. A beautiful building with high…read moreceilings, 2 tasting areas and a very small balcony. Our server was nice but seemed to be in a hurry but was happy to adapt to our pace of tasty. Really enjoyed the white wines and did buy a coupe to take home.

Lots of fun. Great wines. We booked a library tasting and we had a chance to sample new and older…read morevintages to compare what the aging does to them. Our server was great. The place was airy with beautiful views and a friendly staff and not too busy. One of the benefits of going on a Thursday. I'd go again

Always a good time , and great wine . It's nice they have both wine and beer…read more Friendly staff , and the the view is a amazing with plenty of seating . We didn't need it but i thought it was a great idea to have a kid flight ! ( all kid friendly)

What a memorable way to ring in our 41st wedding anniversary by taking our 1st trip to the Finger…read moreLakes (FLX) We did some preliminary research and went on a 3 day wine safari visiting some very beautiful wineries along the lush eastern & western shores of Seneca Lake Ria's winery located in the Banana Belt was truly one of the most charming places we experienced on our self guided 3 day barnstorming tour What made it even more special is we were had the opportunity to spend some quality time with Ria herself who along with her viticulturist husband (both UC Davis graduates) operate this small Spartan winery Their wines are excellent with a particular shout out to their dry Grace riesling and their sweet desert wine, Late Harvest Vignoles Ria was kind enough to give us a small tour of them crushing riesling grapes It was fascinating tasting newly crushed grapes and realizing the skill, patience & alchemy the winemakers must possess to transform simple grape juice into a complex work of art

As our last day of visiting wineries along Seneca Lake unfolded, we found ourselves reflecting on…read morehow much the region is evolving. Earlier in the day, when we were at Penguin Bay, our server Sharon had shared some fascinating updates about wineries in the area changing hands. One of the biggest surprises? Bagley Winery, one of the oldest wineries along Seneca Lake, which had been operating since 1980, had sold their 40-acre farm in Hector. We had visited Bagley Winery in the past, but at the time, the wines just weren't quite to our liking--a reminder that every harvest is different, and winemaking is always evolving. But as we were driving to our next stop, we suddenly spotted the sign and had a moment of realization: "Hold on, that used to be Bagley's. Let's stop!" That spontaneous decision turned out to be one of the best surprises of the trip. Exploring the New Offerings Walking into the tasting room, there was an immediate sense of something fresh and different. While the space felt familiar, the wines had taken on a completely new personality under the new ownership. Instead of diving straight into full pours, we sampled a small tasting of different wines to get a feel for their style and direction before deciding on what we wanted. Here's what they had to offer: White & Rosé Wines 1 2023 Sunny Side White Blend - Bright and lively, featuring notes of tangerine, apricot, and grapefruit. 2 2023 Grace Riesling - A classic Finger Lakes Riesling with flavors of red apple, lime, and bright acidity. 3 2023 Viva Riesling - An intriguing take on Riesling, infused with ginger, lavender, and lime zest for a more aromatic and complex profile. 4 2023 Chardonnay - Pear, floral, and mineral-driven, offering a beautiful balance between fruit and structure. 5 2023 Rosé of Cabernet Franc - Fresh and vibrant, with flavors of strawberries and a medium body that made for an easy-drinking, summer-friendly wine. Red Wines 6 2023 Cabernet Franc - Classic red cherry, raspberry, and cedar notes, capturing the signature earthy and fruit-forward character of Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc. 7 2023 Sunny Side Red Blend - A soft yet structured blend with red plum, cigar box, and soft tannins, offering depth and an incredibly smooth finish. Sparkling Wines & Pet-Nat 8 2023 Pet-Nat - A naturally sparkling wine that was fresh, fizzy, and bursting with crisp apple flavors. 9 N/V Sparkling Chardonnay - A slightly sweeter sparkling option with notes of pear, vanilla, and a creamy mouthfeel. What Stood Out & What We Took Home As we worked through the tasting, we were really impressed. The wines were refreshing, crisp, and perfectly dry--just the way we like them. Each one felt thoughtfully crafted, capturing the best qualities of the grapes while maintaining a clean, balanced profile. While all the wines were well-made and enjoyable, one in particular stood out: 2023 Sunny Side Red Blend - This was my absolute favorite, with its rich red plum notes, subtle spice from the cigar box aroma, and velvety-soft tannins. It had that perfect combination of depth and drinkability, making it a wine I knew I wanted to open and enjoy at home. So, naturally, we purchased a bottle to go! A Deeper Connection to Their Story After the visit, I took some time to read more about the new owners--and I was truly impressed with how quickly they got the winery up and running with their own lineup of wines. Ria and Michael, the new owners, bring a wealth of experience and industry knowledge, which was evident in the quality of the wines. One fun personal discovery? Ria and I actually have something in common! She teaches Viticulture and Enology, while I teach Computer Science--very different fields, yet we both share a deep appreciation for winemaking. I've always had a passion for enology, so it was great to learn about someone who is both an educator and deeply involved in the winemaking world. Final Thoughts - A Winery Worth Revisiting This stop turned out to be a terrific experience, and I'm already looking forward to coming back in the warmer months. I'd love to see how the winery continues to evolve under its new ownership, and of course, enjoy another glass of Sunny Side Red Blend while sitting outside, soaking in the lake views. If you're visiting Seneca Lake, make sure to stop here--especially if you love dry, crisp wines with fresh, balanced flavors. It's exciting to see a historic property get a fresh new start, and based on what we tasted, the future is looking very bright for this winery. Cheers to unexpected stops and discovering something new!

Great winery/distillery. We found it through Harvest Hosts and were able to stay the night at the…read morelocation in our travel trailer. The staff was super friendly and were able to answer all our questions during the tasting. My wife got the Mimosa flight, which she enjoyed. It also comes with some of their local salsa and chips as well as a sample of the fudge they sell. I tried a couple of the spirits flights. Had a nice sampling of their bourbon, their vodka and I really enjoyed their pear liqueur. The facility was wide open and had a lot of wines and spirits available for purchase, plus a nice variety of their fudge. Great place to stop in for a tasting. The liqueur made the trip home with us, as did some of the fudge.

Sitting outside looking at a beautiful view was a day well spent. Tried a flight. Employees were…read moreall nice and helpful. There is also a distillery but we did not check that out

Hermann J. Wiemer was one of the three wineries my husband and I visited when were in the Finger…read moreLakes for the Fourth of July last week. Hermann J. Wiemer has been around since 1979, but they started really experimenting with biodynamic wine production in 2014. That's how I came to find the winery when I was researching which to visit when I was planning our trip. I'm interested in organic, biodynamic, and natural wines, and Hermann J. Wiemer has become a pioneer in biodynamic wines for the Finger Lakes region. (When we spoke about Hermann J. Wiemer at other wineries we visited that weekend and with people we met in the Finger Lakes, it was clear how much respect people have for Hermann J. Wiemer. Everyone had such nice things to say about the winery, that they are pioneers and examples of great winemaking in the region and that they are incredibly supportive of and helpful to younger, newer wineries in the region.) We had a reservation, which I recommend. Even though Hermann J. Wiemer is large, it's popular and they were running out of space for people who visited without reservations. The space is incredible and varied for different experiences. There's indoor seating and outdoor seating. Much of the indoor space has large open windows so you can see the vines and the property from your seat during your tasting. It was incredibly comfortable inside the winery on this very hot day. The tasting is incredibly flexible. They offer 1.25, 2.5, and 5 oz pours of every wine on their menu. This includes more than 20 wines - many Rieslings, several Chardonnays, Gewürztraminer, Grüner Veltliner, Blaufränkisch, Cabernet Franc, blends, sparkling wines, dessert wines, and more. The staff member who was with us through our tasting was friendly and incredibly helpful. With so many wines, she helped direct us to wines we might have more of an interest in trying. We spent an hour or so at the winery (at one point watching a rain storm through the windows) and took a few bottles home with us. I enjoyed the wines and the experience and have enormous respect for the reputation that Hermann J. Wiemer has built in the Finger Lakes. If you're interested in biodynamic wines, Hermann J. Wiemer should be on your list to visit. It's also just a very beautiful, wonderful space and business to visit in the region. I'd very happily return.

I'm super late adding this review but it's so memorable I can still so clearly recall our wine…read moretasting experience at Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard. Well, aside from our wine guide's name, (I'M SO SORRY) who was EXCELLENT and made what would have been a lost group of women wanting to get lit to an educational experience but ALSO a great time. He curated a list of several white wines in carafes for us to learn and practice different tasting notes. I have never had a wine tasting like this and have never had one like this again, yet. Hopefully that will change during my Napa trip this month! The outdoor seating area is beautiful and green without getting too noisy, and perfect for big groups. There's also a large unending field of grapes - which we definitely posed for an ungodly amount of photos in front of. Hermann J. Wiemer is definitely a wine institution well deserving of all the accolades that I will be visiting again next time I'm in upstate New York!

Quirky little winery. We were serviced by a nice guy called Connor who gave funny descriptions of…read moreeach of the wines we tasted. I was coming for the Diamond but heard they were out. The Cab franc was the best one objectively and the pink flamingo bubbly was good too. Whites not too memorable. I was surprised they added some sugar to some of their wines. Love the full blast of A/C on a hot day.

5 Stars -- A Must-Visit Finger Lakes Gem! Leidenfrost…read moreVineyards was hands-down one of the best stops during our wine tour in the Finger Lakes! Our party of four was warmly welcomed by Jessica, who was truly a delight. She was friendly, knowledgeable, and made our tasting experience so much fun. You can tell she genuinely enjoys what she does, and it made a huge difference! What really stood out to us was that their flights include SIX tastings -- the most generous offering we've seen so far. The price was incredibly reasonable, and the pours were just right. Each wine had its own personality, and we enjoyed every sip. The atmosphere was relaxed, the view was beautiful, and the service was top-tier. If you're touring Seneca Lake wineries, Leidenfrost is a must, and make sure to ask for Jessica -- she made our visit unforgettable!

Red Cat slushies - wow, do they go down smooth! Lovely winery, lots of space to hang with friends…read more Friendly staff!

We stopped in for quick drinks and music in the beautiful outdoors at the Oasis at Hazlitt. The…read morecider was fantastic. It was on the drier side and not as sweet as angry orchards which is what we loved about it. Great set up!!!! The service at the bar was great too. Just a great time all around.