Wade lived up to all expectations. He arrived early and catered to our every need, both early and late in the trip. If you've ever desired to go on the perfect carefree hired wine tour, there is nobody other than Wade that you should choose! read more

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Wade curated a several-stop winery tour along the SE Seneca Lake for a friend and me, with fun banter on the drive about animals (birds and dogs), local tidbits, advice for other activities and meals in the area, and more. The winery staff obviously had a fondness for Wade, and we definitely felt like VIPs, getting great seating with gorgeous views and visiting calm wineries (a vibe we wanted!). It was such a fantastic day trip for us. Would recommend read more

Screech Owl Tours - View of Seneca Lake - Wine Tours Near Me

My friends and I used Wade for a winery tour last year and had an amazing time! he curated the perfect day for us based on our preferences and it was the best time. Cant recommend him enough. read more

Wade put together a WONDERFUL wine tour for myself and 6 of my friends around the Finger Lakes area. He was super accommodating, which is hard to find. He provided the time, picked us up at our VRBO and dropped us off after, and made reservations for 4 wineries which were all awesome. Beautiful scenery/views, great tasting wines and we learned a bit about each winery. Everyone in the group found a wine they really enjoyed. Wade also stopped by a waterfall for a quick view and photo op. We all thoroughly enjoy ourselves and Wade could not have been nicer and super informative and most importantly, he brought his doggie Eugene along, who totally stole the show. We could not recommend Wade more and if we're every back in the region, we will not hesitate to give him a call. read more

Screech Owl Tours - Eugene and the gals from KC. - Wine Tours Near Me

We had an exceptional day of wine touring in the Finger Lakes region with Wade from Screeching Owl Tours. Wade is warm, friendly, detail oriented and incredibly knowledgeable about the wine and history of the Finger Lakes region. Even before our tour, Wade asked intelligent questions to determine how to craft a day based on our preferences: wines that we like, our expectations for the day, and food we prefer. He was always quick to respond to any questions we had, and shared helpful tips about weather and comfortable clothes before picking us up. When our tour began, we knew we were in good hands. The cellars that Wade chose had wine that rivaled anything we'd had on the West Coast, in lakeside settings that were stunning. You see many wineries in this area that obviously cater to casual drop ins and large groups, but Wade has cultivated connections with high quality boutique cellar doors that deliver a much more personal experience. The vintners knew Wade and clearly valued his business, which translated into what felt like VIP treatment along the way. The end result was one of the best days of wine touring we've had anywhere, thanks entirely to Wade and Screeching Owl. We recommend him wholeheartedly and look forward to touring with him again. read more

Wade at Screech Owl Tours is outstanding. We had a group of four and wanted to see a variety of places including some breweries and wineries. Most of the tour companies have a very rigid itinerary but Wade crafted a tour that worked specifically for us. He accommodated our arrival time, hotel location, winery/brewery preferences, time for lunch, etc. He planned the entire thing out for us. He even suggested places for us to visit for after the tour was over! Another nice thing is that some tours are "all included" where the tastings are part of the up front cost. With Wade we paid for the tastings at each location, which I prefer because everyone got to choose how much or little they wanted to sample. It also gave us amazing flexibility. At one point we passed a brewery he wasn't familiar with and we were able to turn around to see if it was any good because we didn't have a rigid schedule we had to stick too. The locations he brought us were great, Wade seems to know all the best places (and which ones to avoid). He told stories about the area throughout the tour. What's more, everyone seems to know him! We had multiple people come up to our group and tell us how great he is and how he really knows his stuff, including the owner of the one of the wineries! Really can't say enough about Wade! 5 stars, no complaints at all, highly recommended! read more

We recently completed three days of guided tours with Wade. It was a really enjoyable experience! Wade listened to our needs, was flexible in the schedule and created a wonderful itinerary. In addition, he checked in on us on the off days and made recommendations on things we could do on our own while visiting the Finger Lakes. He was professional, extremely knowledgable and ensured our wine tours were up to our liking before he left us on our own to explore the winery. We were a group of six that fit comfortably in his Ford Flex. We highly recommend using Wade as a guide for wine tours! ...and plan to look him up when we visit here again. read more

We booked our tour with Wade Wystra of Screech Owl Tours through our B&B (Yale Manor) and had a fantastic day exploring 4 different wineries along the eastern side of Seneca Lake. There are many wineries to choose from and Wade did an excellent job in choosing the wineries on our itinerary, each providing a different tasting experience, as well as a variety of different types of wine typical of the Finger Lake region. The time on the tour was our own and we could stay as long as we wanted at each winery. Screech Owl Tours follows all COVID guidelines and we were very comfortable touring with Wade, and learning about the region from his wealth of knowledge. It was an amazing day! read more

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Before going on tour with Wade, we were not huge fans of Finger Lakes wines. He totally changed our minds by understanding our tasting preferences and taking us to the best wineries I've ever been to in the region. He took care of all reservations in advance, and we were floored by the quality of the hidden gems he booked. Wade was responsive, easy to reach via text, a pleasant companion in the car throughout the day, and a very safe driver. We will definitely reach out to him again when we are back in the area! read more

Wade did such a terrific job escorting us through a variety of Seneca Lake wineries! He tailored all of the stops to our specific tastes and avoided tourist traps. We saw some amazing views from each winery and felt very well taken care of. It was so nice not to have to drive or make reservations for tastings on our own. If we return to the area, we would certainly hire Wade again. You will not regret booking a day with Screech Owl Tours! read more

We had the most wonderful day with Wade! From the moment that I first contacted him until we were dropped off, armed with a stellar dinner recommendation, it was obvious that he was keen to provide a delightful day based upon our individual preferences. I had originally booked a winery tour, that was a small group tour, with a larger finger lakes company with a specific itinerary. The company offered a few options but only offered 1 of those available for the time had planned. I booked and paid for the available option even though not all stops on the itinerary would have been a top choice for us. About 24 hours prior to our tour, I got a call from them explaining that since we were the only 2 people who booked for the following day, that they were going to cancel, since they required a minimum of 4 to take out a tour. They offered me a private 5 hour tour option for $850 slightly more than doubled what I had already paid or a full refund. I opted for the refund since the $800+ price tag offered was a bit steep for an afternoon outing for us. I took to yelp to search for other options and lucky for us Screech Owl tours came up first on their list. After reading some reviews; I reached out to Wade via text as directed hoping that he was available on such short notice. He got right back to me, checked his schedule and luckily had the time that we had requested. He was diligent in making sure that we would adhere to all recommended safety protocols as well as explaining all precautions that he had in place so I felt very comfortable in regards to covid 19 safety from the get go. He asked a few questions just to get sense of what kind of tour we were looking for so he could assure an enjoyable day. He took our reservation without a deposit and was clear and direct about pricing. After meeting up the following day at the inn that we had decided to spend that night, knowing he would drop us there at the end of the day assuring we wouldn't have to drive after an afternoon of wine tasting. We chit chatted, about what kind of experience we were after and if there were any specific spots we really insisted on seeing. We did not have anything definite in mind and deferred to his knowledge of the area and specific wineries and told him we had hoped to go to 3 or 4 spots and just have a relaxing time enjoying the beautiful scenery and taste a few lovely wines and perhaps stop for a nice lunch along the way. His choice of vineyards was terrific as was the conversation as we enjoyed the scenery between stops. As I mentioned earlier, just before we were dropped off we asked for a reccomendation for dinner and again, it was.a.home run. The day we spent with Wade as our guide was absolutely a highlight of of our vacation and I would recommend without hesitation if you are heading to the Finger Lakes and hoping to enjoy touring the different wine trails or local sights that he should be your first call to assure his availability. It could not have worked out any better. Im so pleased that the company we had originally booked with cancelled. Not to mention, our private vehicle & personal tour guide was about 30% less expensive than what I had paid , including a nice gratuity. read more

Just an incredible time. Very relaxed and personalized tour. Wade knows exactly where to take you. Doesnt waste your time and has great relatioships with all the right wineries. Super friendly guy thats easy to talk to and such a smooth driver. You wont be disappointed and i wouldnt bother booking anywhere else. read more

Wade at Screech Owl Tours is the best! This gentleman was so helpful in learning about our small group, making suggestions and even guiding us on how to line up the winery reservations! What a wonderful man, he made this little wine tasting excursion so much easier to manage! He drove us around in a brand new Ford SUV and literally drove us and then walked us up to the doors. We had such an enjoyable morning and we didn't have to worry about directions or transportation. Wade is very proactive so if you are planning a afternoon or day, he will communicate ahead of time so your day will be a great success. While at the wineries he would periodically check in to see if we needed anything. I would utilize Screech Owl anytime in this area. I would highly recommend this company for your next excursion! read more

I was a bit concerned that Wade didn't take a deposit but he called ahead and confirmed and was right on time to pick us up. Wade was super friendly and knowledgeable and had the perfect recommendations for what we were looking for (he asked us in advance what we were interested in and he made some great reservations). His car was clean and had plenty of room for cases of wine. :) He even gave plenty of recommendations for places to go the following days without him. I would highly recommend Wade and Screech Owl Tours. read more

My fiancé and I are so lucky to have found Wade! We did not know much coming into the area but he did an amazing job not only finding us vineyards based off of our wine preferences, but also reserving beautiful seating arrangements for us. Wade is very knowledgeable and we were made to feel comfortable and looked after. We highly recommend him for a private wine tour and will definitely look to book again when in the area. read more

6-stars! This was amazing! Our B&B referred us to Wade when all wine tours we found on line were booked. My partner (a total introvert) was at first worried (a stranger drive our car!?) BEST EVER! No packed in bus/van with 20-40 strangers (made the introvert even happier). Private, personal, safe & in the comfort of our own car! His knowledge made the experience spot on for our wine tastes. Cost was about the max the two of us would have spent with a bigger operator. So very worth it! Going to look for Wade-type tours on future wine endeavors. read more

Screech Owl Tours - Wine Tours Near Me

LOVED touring with Wade! He picked out some great wineries (I got a huge haul) and made all the reservations for us despite us booking less than 24 hour prior to our planned departure! We had some great conversations on the car rides which made me feel right at home. I will definitely book with Wade when I return again and recommend him to everyone! Thanks again, Wade! read more