Aerial view of Finger Lakes vineyards meeting the water in autumn
Vacation Itinerary

Finger
Lakes

A wine country weekend · September 12–15

4 Days 5 Wineries Geneva on the Lake
A note before we begin

Pack a light jacket and an open palate. Over the next four days we work our way through the best of the Finger Lakes: world-class Riesling, a gorge full of waterfalls, a pig roast by the water, and dinners that run later than planned. Nothing here is set in stone. The real plan is to slow down and taste it all. So glad you're along for it.

Warmly, Bet

Formal gardens and the villa at Geneva on the Lake resort beside Seneca Lake
Home base

Geneva on the Lake

Home for the weekend is an Italian-villa resort on the shore of Seneca Lake, with formal gardens, a lakefront pool, and long porch evenings made for a last glass before bed.

Explore the resort↗
The lay of the land

Your route around the lakes

Tap a pin for the name. Tap the map to zoom.

Home base

  • ★ Geneva on the Lake

Saturday

  • 1 Ravines Winery

Sunday

  • 2 Watkins Glen
  • 3 Hermann J. Wiemer
  • 4 Red Tail Ridge
  • 5 Kindred Fare

Monday

  • 6 Dr. Konstantin Frank
  • 7 Anchor Inn & Marina
  • 8 Osmote
12:00 PM

Arrive · Syracuse Airport

Pickup & head for the lakes
1 hr 15 min drive
2:00 PM

Check in · Geneva on the Lake↗

Your home base on Seneca Lake
10 min drive
3:30 – 5:30 PM

Barrel Room Tasting · Ravines Winery↗

Charcuterie & pairing flight
Don't missThe bone-dry Rieslings and the Cabernet Franc. The house was built on Old-World, food-friendly styling.
7:00 PM

Dinner · Geneva on the Lake↗

An easy first night in
9:30 AM

Depart hotel

1 hr drive
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Hike · Watkins Glen↗

Gorge trail & waterfalls
20 min drive
1:00 – 3:00 PM

Vineyard Tour & Library Tasting · Hermann J. Wiemer↗

The benchmark for Finger Lakes Riesling
Don't missThe single-vineyard Rieslings (HJW, Josef, Magdalena) and the Cuvée Brut. The library flight pours rare back vintages.
15 min drive
3:30 – 5:00 PM

Tasting · Red Tail Ridge Winery↗

Sustainable, LEED-certified estate
Don't missThe traditional-method sparkling and the cool-climate reds. Teroldego, Lagrein, and Blaufränkisch rarely grow this far north.
10 min drive
5:15 – 6:15 PM

Free time at the hotel

Catch your breath
5 min drive to Geneva
6:15 – 7:15 PM

Free time in Geneva

Stroll the town before dinner
7:30 PM

Dinner · Kindred Fare↗

Farm-to-table in Geneva
10:00 AM

Depart hotel

50 min drive
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Lunch & Tasting · Dr. Konstantin Frank↗

The vinifera pioneer of the Finger Lakes
Don't missRkatsiteli and Saperavi, the ancient Georgian varieties Dr. Frank planted, plus the Château Frank sparkling, the region's first.
40 min drive
1:15 – 2:15 PM

Cocktails · Anchor Inn & Marina↗

A drink on the water
10 min drive
2:30 – 5:30 PM

Farm Tour, Tasting & Pig Roast · Osmote↗

Low-intervention, natural wines
The day's centerpiece: long table, open fire.
Don't missThe pét-nats and the Cabernet Franc. Low sulfur, wild ferments, light on its feet.
45 min drive
6:00 – 8:00 PM

Bottle Share & Light Snacks

Back at the hotel, pour your finds
8:30 AM

Depart hotel

1 hr drive
9:30 AM

Arrive · Airport

Until the next bottle
Good to know

Before you go

The weather

Mid-September is peak harvest and arguably the loveliest time to be here. Expect crisp mornings in the mid-50s°F and bright afternoons around 70°F, with the vineyards in full color. Bring a layer for cool evenings and a light rain jacket, just in case.

Packing list

  • Layers for cool mornings and warm afternoons
  • Sturdy shoes for the Watkins Glen gorge (lots of stone steps, often slick with spray)
  • A light rain jacket
  • Something a touch dressier for dinners at Kindred Fare and the resort
  • Sunglasses and sunscreen
  • A wine tote or a shipping plan, because you will be buying bottles
  • A reusable water bottle to pace yourself between tastings