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The Finger Lakes Pg 2: Vineyards

October and November 2011

The vineyards are one of the main attractions of the Finger Lakes. The deep lakes provide a microclimate that is great for growing certain grapes. There is a lot of weather similarities to Germany, and the grapes that do the best here are also the grapes that do well in Germany: Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Cabernet Franc, and Lemberger (Blaufränkisch). They grow many other types of grapes, but those are some that we liked best from here. Lemberger was new to us, and we were pleased to discover this variety.

As you might guess, the fields of vines were a prominent feature when driving around the lakes. We spent most of our time around Seneca Lake where we were staying. Since our trip was in early November, the leaves on the vines had turned color.

Wide view across a vineyard with autumn-colored woods rising behind it

Rows of vines in late autumn with colorful trees beyond them

Close view of dark purple grapes hanging on the vine

Golden grape leaves in autumn sunlight

These next pictures nicely show the vineyards on both sides of the lake. The lake is fairly narrow, although not as narrow as it looks - pay attention to how small those houses appear to be on the other side of the lake!

View across Seneca Lake toward vineyards and farmland on the opposite shore

Vineyards sloping down toward Seneca Lake with wooded hills on the far shore

Rows of autumn vineyards descending toward the blue lake below

Those pictures were taken at one of the wineries, Glenora, which is very picturesque.

Large decorative wine barrel sign for Glenora Wine Cellars, inn and restaurant, and winery

Glenora vineyard and lake view under a sky filled with large clouds

Admire Paul's depth of field in this picture, where the background gazebo is pleasingly blurred:

Woman looking through a camera on a tripod with a gazebo blurred in the background

On Friday we did a drive around the entire lake, and saw some men working in the fields. Having a vineyard is farming, and certainly a lot of work. These pictures, particularly the 3rd one, also give a nice view of how the vines go down the slopes to the lake.

Wide vineyard and lake view with a tractor and equipment in the field below

Two workers beside a blue tractor in the vineyard rows

Vineyard rows in yellow autumn color above the lake

We didn't try any of Fox Run Winery's wines, but they had a cute statue in front of their tasting room.

Bronze fox statue resting on a rock outside a winery building

We did try some Red Tail Ridge wines. Their tasting room arrangement was very interesting. The tasting room itself was rather boring, but getting there involves driving through some of their vines, very well kept and labeled.

Roadside sign for Red Tail Ridge Winery

Driveway leading through vineyard rows toward Red Tail Ridge Winery

Chardonnay signpost marking a row of grapevines in autumn

Pinot Noir signpost marking a vineyard row in autumn light

Teroldego signpost beside a vineyard row with sunlit leaves

Dornfelder signpost marking a vineyard row with red and gold leaves

Red Tail Ridge had some of the most consistent quality of the wineries that we visited. Dr. Konstantin Frank's Vinifera Winery had one of the most knowledgeable people in the tasting room, and they are credited with first realizing the potential of the area. They are the only winery we visited on the other lakes, although there are certainly many others that we could have tried.

Damiani Winery had a Lemberger and a Cabernet Franc that we really enjoyed.

 

Updated April 2026