Why should you visit Keuka Lake wineries?
This blog post covers the best wineries near Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York State.
The beautiful Finger Lakes region of New York is home to several wonderful Keuka Lake wineries.
Lovely scenery, top-tier wineries, and outstanding wine make the Finger Lakes region of New York one of the best places to go wine tasting.
This area of upstate New York is beautiful. The combination of clear blue lake water and rolling green hills makes for postcard perfect views.
The Finger Lakes region is named after several long, thin lakes that are shaped like (you guessed it) fingers. The largest of these lakes are Seneca Lake, Cayuga Lake, and Keuka Lake.
Keuka Lake resembles a tuning fork because the base splits into two U-shaped prongs. The small town of Hammondsport sits at the southern tip of Keuka Lake. Then the lake splits into two branches. Branchport sits at the top tip of the left prong while Penn Yan is at the northern most tip of the right prong.
The wineries on this list are known as the Keuka Lake Wine Trail. You could easily spend an entire day moving between wine tastings, meandering through Keuka Lake vineyards, and enjoying views of the lake. In my opinion, there’s no better way to experience the best wineries on Keuka Lake.
How can I access Keuka Lake in New York State?
Keuka Lake is located in Steuben County and Yates County in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. This lake and its nearby small towns and wineries are easily accessible by car.
Keuka Lake is a five hour drive from Manhattan or a two hour drive from Buffalo. It’s a one hour drive from Rochester to Penn Yan, which is the northernmost tip of Keuka Lake. You could fly into any of those towns, rent a car, and drive to Keuka Lake.
Penn Yan Regional Airport (KPEO) is a tiny airport in Penn Yan. However, it would be easier to fly into the airports located in Ithaca, Buffalo, Rochester, or New York City.
The airport in Ithaca, New York is called the Ithaca Tompkins International Airport (ITH). The airport in Rochester, New York is called the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC). Buffalo, New York has an airport called the Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF). Or you could fly into any of the airports surrounding New York City. The main airports that serve New York City are LaGuardia Airport (LGA), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and Newark International Airport (EWR).
The best Keuka Lake wineries for a wine tasting
Weis Vineyards
Weis Vineyards has earned praise for its traditional and dry German-style award-winning wines. At the 2022 NY Wine Classic judges presented Weis Vineyards with awards for “Best White Wine” and “Best Rosé Wine.”
Owner Hans Peter Weis hails from Zell Mosel, Germany, where his family had a long winemaking tradition. Today Hans Peter Weis combines traditional method and modern education to produce aromatic white wines.
Weis and his wife Ashlee favor traditional grapes such as Riesling and Gewürztraminer. But they’ve got an experimental side too. Weis Vineyards is one of the first wineries to use Heart of the Lake grapes, which are a Cornell University hybrid. They also use Blaufränkisch and Saperavi grapes, which are less common.
People often associate Saperavi, an ancient grape variety native to Georgia, with Dr Konstantin Frank Winery. Dr Frank is one of the founding fathers of Finger Lakes wine and he brought Saperavi grapes to the United States years ago.
Weis Vineyards does not require or accept reservations for tastings. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating.
Domaine LeSeurre Winery
The Domaine LeSeurre Winery near Hammondsport focuses on dry wines that reflect the terroir of the Southern Finger Lakes.
Sixth-generation winemaker Sébastien LeSeurre and his wife Céline approach winemaking through a French lens. They draw inspiration from the Champagne region of France and the South of France.
Their winemaking is led by experience and intuition rather than cold hard numbers. Sébastien and Céline combine their deep-rooted French heritage with newly planted New York grapes to create wines that are sophisticated yet fresh.
In 2012 they produced their first vintage and in 2013 they opened their tasting room in Hammondsport on the east side of Keuka Lake. In 2014 Wine & Spirits magazine crowned their Chardonnay the “Year’s Best Chardonnay of the Finger Lakes.” This award-winning winery is absolutely worth a visit.
Reservations are not required.
Heron Hill Winery
Travel + Leisure magazine listed Heron Hill Winery as one of the ten most spectacular tasting rooms in the world. That’s some high praise.
Their scenic tasting room has a magnificent vaulted ceiling and breathtaking views of the lake. For decades Heron Hill has been a beloved site for events like weddings and live music.
Heron Hill owners John and Josephine Ingle have sustainably grown grapes since 1972, which makes them one of the pioneers of the Finger Lakes wine industry. In 2019 the New York Wine and Grape Foundation issued John and Jo the Grower Award, which recognizes individuals for their dedication to the New York grape industry.
Heron Hill Winery produces multiple kinds of Riesling as well as Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc.
Heron Hill Winery actually has two different tasting rooms. One tasting room is on Canandaigua Lake near the town of Canandaigua. The other tasting room is on Keuka Lake near the town of Hammondsport.
Heron Hill Winery prefers reservations but welcomes walk-ins.
Keuka Spring Vineyards
Keuka Spring Vineyards is situated on the east side of Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes region. The Wiltberger family has owned and operated this winery for over four decades.
Keuka Spring Vineyards produces a range of red wines, white wines, and rosé wines, but their specialty is Riesling and Gewürztraminer.
The scenic tasting room overlooking Keuka Lake has one of the most panoramic views in the area. It’s the perfect place to kick back and relax, try their award-winning wines, and enjoy the gorgeous view of Keuka Lake. Walk-ins are welcome since this winery does not use a reservation system. Standard wine tastings are $10 per person for a selection of six wines.
Keuka Spring Vineyards sells local cheeses and picnic snack plates but they also permit outside food. If you’re a live music fan, look for special events such as their Music, Food, & Wine Series.
Hunt Country Vineyards
The Hunt family has farmed for seven generations and made wine since 1981, which means they’re one of the founding families of the Finger Lakes wine region in New York.
Decades later this family-run winery continues to focus on producing excellent grapes and exceptional wine.
Hunt Country Vineyards produces more traditional fare such as Rieslings, rosés, and a dry red wine. They also produce ice wine and work with more unusual climate-resilient grape varieties.
Hunt Country Vineyards belongs to the International Wineries for Climate Action. In 2020 the New York Wine and Grape Foundation issued Hunt Country Vineyards a Sustainability Award. This earth minded attitude extends beyond the vineyard; they offer electric vehicle charging stations for customers at their Keuka Lake tasting room.
Hunt Country Vineyards prefers reservations but walk-ins are welcome.
Vineyard View Winery
Vineyard View Winery is a true family-run winery with a wine history that dates back to the late nineteenth century.
Husband and wife team Adam and Nikki Folts own and run the winery. Adam comes from a long line of grape growers; he inherited the winery from his father Mike. Nikki formerly worked as a Registered Nurse. Together they manage over 170 acres of vineyards.
Their wide array of local wines ranges from dry Riesling and dry red wine to sweeter wines.
As the name suggests, Vineyard View Winery boasts stunning panoramic views over Keuka Lake. Guests can enjoy a guided tasting experience or a self-guided wine tasting.
Vineyard View Winery plans to build a Seneca Lake tasting room in the near future.
Similar wine regions to explore
New York State wine destinations worth a visit
Many people would agree that the Finger Lakes wine industry produces some of the best wine in the Eastern United States. If you’re looking for different wineries in the Keuka Lake region check out this list of the best wineries in Penn Yan, NY.
Warwick, New York “has a Goldilocks quality” according to the New York Times. Our list of the best wineries in Warwick NY covers this Hudson Valley town that’s not too big and not too small. It’s just right.
We’ve also compiled a list of the best wineries in Saratoga Springs, NY. Saratoga Springs is not an officially recognized American Viticulture Area (AVA). But it’s a quickly growing wine region in New York State.
If you’re looking for more scenic lakeside wineries in New York State then check out the Seneca Lake Wine Trail and the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail.
East Coast wine destinations in the United States
The East Coast of the United States has many wine destinations worth a visit. These destinations are also easily accessible from many major cities.
New Hope, Pennsylvania is a short one hour drive from Philadelphia. It’s a bustling town full of art galleries, restaurants, and a gourmet food market. The best New Hope wineries reflect the charm of this lively Pennsylvania town.
Chester County is nestled in the Brandywine Valley hills just outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Chester County wineries have it all: they’ve got charm, grace, and good taste!
