Canandaigua Wine Trail: 4 Wineries & Lunch in Finger Lakes
Four Wineries, One Afternoon: What Finger Lakes Riesling Actually Tastes Like
You visit four Canandaigua-area wineries with guided tastings and conversations with the people who make the wine. The optional lunch at Roots Cafe pairs local food with the wines you've tasted. Pickup is arranged from a central meeting point or select hotels, and the group stays small enough that the winemakers have time for you. Book if you want to understand Finger Lakes wine without spending a day driving yourself between stops.
5h–6h
Step-by-step itinerary
Canandaigua Wine Trail guided tour
- Meet at central pickup location
- Visit tasting room at Century Barn
- Taste wines at Naples micro winery
- Enjoy optional lunch at Roots Cafe
- Tour and taste at Infamous Red Cat winery
- Sample wines at Brahm family winery
The Experience
The first thing that catches you off guard is how small the operation is. You're not herded onto a charter bus with forty other people — the group stays tight, usually under a dozen, which means the winemakers actually talk to you instead of pointing at a barrel and moving on. Pickup happens from a central meeting point in Rochester, and then you're heading south toward Canandaigua Lake, where the Finger Lakes wine region spreads across the hillsides. The Canandaigua Wine Trail isn't a marked route on a map; it's a sequence of four different wineries, each with its own style, and the guide knows the owners or at least knows their story.
You'll stop at a tasting room built into a renovated Century Barn overlooking the vineyard it came from, then move to a micro-winery in Naples where the owner, Tim Moore, makes intensely flavored wines in a small facility you can actually see from the tasting room. There's the Infamous Red Cat, which operates out of what used to be the Widmer winery — a larger, more established place where you learn how the winemaking process works while tasting their Rieslings, which are the thing people come here for. And then there's the Brahm family's quaint spot near the lake, where the portfolio runs deep and the wines are sourced from prized vineyards close by. The tastings are educational, not just "here, drink this" — the guides and winemakers explain what you're tasting and why it matters.
If you add the lunch option, you eat at Roots Cafe at Inspire Moore Winery, which is a different animal entirely. It's not a generic winery lunch. The cafe sources from local farmers, uses seasonal produce, and the whole operation is built around the idea that the community feeding itself is the point. You sit there with a plate of food that came from people the cafe actually knows, and it lands differently than it would at a chain restaurant. The full-day tour with lunch is the longer option; without it, you're looking at a half-day experience that still covers the main stops.
You need to be 21 with a valid photo ID, and there's a minimum of two people per booking. If you want hotel pickup instead of meeting at the central point, that's available at select hotels. The whole thing moves at a pace that lets you actually absorb what you're tasting instead of rushing to the next stop.
What’s included
Your day includes guided tastings at three to four Canandaigua-area wineries, a driver and guide for the full experience, and pickup from a central meeting point or select hotels if requested. If you choose the lunch option, Roots Cafe at Inspire Moore Winery is included — a bistro-style meal featuring locally sourced ingredients and seasonal produce paired with the wines you've tasted.
Operated by Crush Beer & Wine Tours
Is this one for you?Book this if you want to taste Finger Lakes wines without driving between stops or planning the route yourself — the guide handles the timing and knows the winemakers, which is what makes the tastings feel like conversations instead of transactions.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
What's the difference between the half-day and full-day tour?
The half-day covers three to four wineries with tastings. The full-day adds lunch at Roots Cafe at Inspire Moore Winery, which sources locally and pairs with the wines you've tasted.
Do I need to arrange my own transportation?
No. A driver and guide are included. Pickup is from a central meeting point, or from select hotels if you request it.
Which wineries do I visit?
The tour typically includes stops at four wineries on the Canandaigua Wine Trail, but the specific locations can change. You'll visit a mix of small micro-wineries and larger established facilities.
Is there a minimum group size?
Yes, a minimum of two people per booking is required.
What's the age requirement?
You must be at least 21 years old and have a valid photo ID.
Can I bring children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, but they cannot participate in tastings.
Is the lunch included in the price?
Lunch at Roots Cafe is an optional add-on, not included in the base tour price.
Canandaigua Wine Trail: 4 Wineries & Lunch in Finger Lakes
5h–6h · EN
from US$ 258 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.86113 reviews
