Why should you visit Penn Yan, NY wineries?
This blog post covers the best wineries in Penn Yan, New York.
Penn Yan is a small town situated in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of New York State. Lovely scenery, top-tier wineries, and outstanding wine characterize this wine growing region on the west side of New York State.
The best Penn Yan, NY wineries have lakeside tasting rooms and rolling vineyard views. And wine. Lots and lots of wine.
This area is beautiful. The combination of clear blue lake water and rolling green hills makes for postcard perfect views.
Several long, thin lakes shaped like fingers give the Finger Lakes region its name. The largest of these lakes are Seneca Lake, Cayuga Lake, and Keuka Lake.
The town of Penn Yan sits at the northernmost tip of Keuka Lake. You’ve likely heard of the Keuka Lake Wine Trail, which is a group of wineries situated around the lake.
The Penn Yan, NY wineries on this list are located in or around the town of Penn Yan, New York. You could easily spend an entire day moving lazily from one winery to the next. There’s no better way to try some of the best New York State wine. Some may say the very best Finger Lakes wines can be found in this area.
How can I access Penn Yan, NY wineries?
Penn Yan, NY is located in Yates County in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. This town and its nearby wineries are easily accessible by car.
Penn Yan is a five hour drive from Manhattan, a two hour drive from Buffalo, or a one hour drive from Rochester. You could fly into any of those towns, rent a car, and drive to Penn Yan.
If you want to fly into Penn Yan you have a few options. You could fly directly into the Penn Yan Regional Airport (KPEO), although this airport is small. 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 Penn Yan, NY wineries for a wine tasting
Anthony Road Wine Company
Anthony Road Wine Company is situated on the west side of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region. They produce everything from dry wines to sweet wines.
Owners Ann and John Martini are New York State natives who moved to Yates County in 1973 to raise their family. They also grew grapes. Ann oversaw the vineyard and John worked for Cornell University at the Agricultural Experiment Station. For years the Martini family sold their grapes to local wineries. In 1990 they opened their own Anthony Road Wine Company.
According to the Anthony Road Wine Company website, wine tastings are by appointment only. Allow forty-five minutes for the seating indoor wine tasting. The veranda is open daily for guests to enjoy a bottle or a glass of wine. Wine flights typically cost between $10-$15 per flight.
Join one of the owners for an education-based “Tour & Tasting Package.” This tour concludes in their art gallery that features local artists. Don’t forget to check out their unique garden filled with herbs, flowers, and fruit trees.
Fox Run Vineyards
Fox Run Vineyards began out of a converted barn that dates back to the American Civil War. This Seneca Lake winery grew from a small holding to fifty acres of vineyards. Today they produce a range of limited-production estate wines.
Reservations are not required. All wine tastings are on a first come, first served basis. Guests can enjoy either a seated tasting at the indoor tasting bar or a self-guided wine flight outside.
Fox Run Vineyards offers a special “Taste Buds Flight” that combines wine, food, and the five taste receptors: salt, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami. The winery does not allow outside food because they operate a café. Fox Run offers wine tours of the vineyard and the winemaking facility.
Keuka Spring Vineyards
Keuka Spring Vineyards sits 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 the most panoramic views. 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.
Although they permit outside food, the winery’s hillside tasting room typically offers local cheeses and picnic snack plates for guests. If you’re a live music fan, look for special events such as the Music, Food, & Wine Series hosted at Keuka Spring Vineyards.
Red Tail Ridge Winery
Husband and wife team Mike Schnelle and Nancy Irelan own and operate Red Tail Ridge winery. Nancy previously worked at a large corporate California winery where she was the Vice President of Viticulture and Enology research and development.
Mike cleared and prepared their property for vineyard development. Together they created Red Tail Ridge, which grows Pinot, Chardonnay, Riesling, Blaufränkisch, Dornfelder, and Teroldego vines.
Teroldego is an Italian grape variety from the northeastern region of Trentino-Alto. Teroldego grapes produce wine that is deeply colored, moderately tannic, and solidly acidic. Thanks to its blackberry bramble notes, Teroldego has earned favorable comparisons to Zinfandel.
Over the years their 34 acre property grew into a 52 acre vineyard. In 2019 and 2020 the James Beard Foundation named Red Tail Ridge Winery a semifinalist in the category of Outstanding Wine, Spirits or Beer Producer.
The Red Tail Ridge Winery tasting room is located on the ridge in the middle of their vineyard. They enjoy a great vineyard view as well as views of beautiful Seneca Lake. Guests can taste a flight of five delicious wines for $15. The tasting bar can accommodate up to four guests. This winery encourages reservations.
Rooster Hill Vineyards
Rooster Hill Vineyards is located on the east side of Keuka Lake. It’s part of the CK Cellars Winery Campuses.
Rooster Hill Vineyards works with grapes such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Concord. They also offer Prosecco-style sparkling wine.
Visitors can enjoy views of the vineyard-draped hills and meadows of bright flowers. The lawn, terrace, or tasting room are all equally good places to send an hour sipping wine. Reservations are encouraged.
Scout Vineyards
Scout Vineyards is a fun one. It’s family owned and operated like many of the wineries on this list. But Scout Vineyards is relatively new unlike many of the wineries on this list. Established in 2017 by a husband and wife team, Scout Vineyards specializes in Chardonnay.
Although Scout Vineyards specializes in Chardonnay, unusual grape varieties such as Vignoles, Marquette, and Saperavi sometimes make an appearance. Their production methods are a mix of old meets new as they combine modern technology with winemaking techniques that are centuries old.
In 2018 winemakers Daniel and Olivia purchased a 16-acre organic farm, and they’re currently preparing the land to become an organically farmed vineyard.
If you’d like to visit this winery located on the western shore of Seneca Lake, be sure to make a reservation. The tasting room can accommodate a maximum of eighteen guests. Knowledgeable staff leads the Wine Tasting Experience, which is a guided and seated tasting that includes five wines and a food plate.
Seneca Shore Wine Cellars
The award for most interesting theme goes to Seneca Shore Wine Cellars… it’s Medieval themed!
The locavore movement, which encourages the consumption of local seasonal products, inspired the winery’s Medieval theme. They believe modern people should consume locally made wine much like a Medieval king would have stocked his table with locally produced bottles.
Since its founding in 1979, Seneca Shore Wine Cellars has produced award-winning wines from grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, and Lemberger. They’ve even made port, sherry, and fruit wines.
Guests can sample and purchase wines at their tasting room. Wine tastings are free. Relax in a rocking chair on their outdoor patio and enjoy the beautiful Seneca Lake views.
Torrey Ridge Winery
Torrey Ridge Winery is located on the west side of Seneca Lake, halfway between Geneva and Watkins Glen. It’s part of the CK Cellars Winery Campuses. It’s also one of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail member wineries.
This winery boasts a “Vino Center” stocked with wine related gift items such as painted glassware, pottery, sauces, and clothing.
Similar wine regions to explore
New York wine country destinations worth a trip
Saratoga Springs lies in the Hudson River Valley. Another Hudson Valley gem is Warwick, New York. According to the New York Times Warwick “has a Goldilocks quality.” Our list of the best wineries in Warwick NY covers where to go in a town that’s not too big and not too small. It’s just right.
The Finger Lakes region produces some of the best wine in the Northeastern United States. The wineries situated on and around Keuka Lake often have gorgeous lakeside views and delicious award-winning wine. Our list of the best Keuka Lake wineries shows you exactly where to go.
Or you could make Saratoga Springs, NY your home base for a wine tasting weekend. There are plenty of great wineries near Saratoga Springs to explore.
Penn Yan is a village situated on Keuka Lake’s northern side. The best wineries in Penn Yan, NY have lakeside tasting rooms and rolling vineyard views. And delicious wine, of course!
