I’ll be staying in Canadaigua in a few weeks so my son can launch himself off a ski ramp into the lake and was hoping to get some training in myself while I’m there.
I’ve read the past threads on the region, which as always are great, but would be obliged to any berserkers who know the region well and can suggest wineries I should visit based on:
Quality of their wine
Value in understanding the regional style and terroir
Reasonable proximity to Canandaigua for a full day trip
Hospitality of the hosts
My Riesling preference is very much for trocken wines, but I’m glad to challenge that to get a better feel for the regional style.
Well be spending three days at the Lake House (LH). We’re only dining at the LH. This is mainly because we don’t want to pay for Uber/Lyft to Geneva. FLX Table is in Geneva but I think it’s tasting menu only.
We haven’t planned winery visits yet, but there isn’t much near Canandaigua.
Seneca Lake has the best wineries. Coming from Canandaigua, your best bet is to visit the west side of Seneca. Or the north.
West side, about 45 minutes from Canandaigua:
• Hermann J Wiemer
• Apollo’s Praise. Maybe message @Kelby_James_Russell for a more personal tasting
• Hickory Hollow (Nathan Kendall)
North End (Geneva), maybe 30 minutes:
• Ravines
• Trestle 31
If there’s time: Dr. Konstantin Frank on Keuka lake is great. Maybe an hour from Canandaigua.
Consider Hillick and Hobbs Estate. IMO, Paul Hobbs is a fantastic wine maker. It’s still a fairly young project - they replanted to 100% Reisling in the last half of 2010s. So only 4-5 vintages so far.
It’s on my list when I had back to Upstar NY and can get out for a visit.
Restaurant: one of my favs in the Finger Lakes is Rosalie’s Cucina. This is in Skaneateles. The Aurora Inn is also a great place. East side of Cayuga Lake. These are drive times from Canandaigua but worth the ~1:15 travel to each.
Consider places in Rochester too. Great food spots all around. A hole in the wall place - Pasta Villa - in Irondequoit is fantastic.
Would definitely recommend Hillick & Hobbs. We had a great tasting there last year. They serve some small bites as well so it could be an option for lunch in addition to a tasting if interested.
Sans Dumplings is great. Perfect to combine with a visit to Kemmeter, where the wines are also excellent. Plus, it’s definitely closer to Canandaigua (should be just over 30 minutes)
@AaronR first things first, food. In Canandaigua you have the Lake House and their dining venues, but you also should make a note of Pintxo (a fabulous spanish tapas restaurant that opened up a couple years ago) and Rio Tomatlan (fabulous mexican food and tequila/mezcal that has been around since long before that was hip; their OG restaurant is up on Lake Ontario and was started in the 1980s for migrant workers). If you make it to Geneva for an evening, Microclimate is both one of the best wine bars I’ve ever been to in terms of wine list, pricing, and beer list… and it probably has the best food in the entire region right now. Anorah and Kindred Fare in Geneva are also great options, or Ports just south of town if you want lakefront. In Geneva, a quick stop by the wine store Aszu is also a must; not just for FLX wines, but for gems you never see on a retail shelf from around the world.
Winery wise, please do let us know if you would like to come by Apollo’s Praise! We are about 3/4 of the way down the west side of Seneca, and it is easy to build a day along that side of the lake since it is closest to you in Canandaigua. Ravines, Red Tail Ridge, Kemmeter (if you can get a reservation), Wiemer, Nathan Kendall; there’s a lot. If you go East Seneca I would second the Hillock and Hobbs, Forge, and Ria’s love; maybe throw in Boundary Breaks. Keuka Lake is also easy to get to from Canandaigua, and there you could do Dr. Frank, Keuka Spring Vineyards, Keuka Lake Vineyards, Weis, and Living Roots.
Otherwise, keep an eye on the IG account for “Wineries Without Walls” - there is now a burgeoning garagiste movement here in the region and they tend to do a collaborative pop-up every weekend. Good chance to taste 5-10 tiny projects by winemakers in one spot.
