Seneca Lake: Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch & Pickup

Summary

Finger Lakes vineyards, local flavors and easygoing wine tastings by Seneca Lake

You’ll taste regional wines at four different Finger Lakes wineries around Seneca Lake, with plenty of time to soak in vineyard views and fresh air. Enjoy lunch overlooking the vines at Ventosa Vineyards (if you choose), chat with friendly guides, and let someone else do the driving so you can relax into the rhythm of New York wine country.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest — I thought I knew what “wine country” meant until we rolled past those soft hills around Seneca Lake. The sky was kind of heavy that morning, but you could see this silvery light flickering on the water. Our guide, Mike, had that dry upstate humor and pointed out how the vineyards here actually thrive because of the lake’s depth. He said something about “Conesus Loam” soils — I pretended to understand, but mostly I just liked how it smelled like wet grass when we stepped out at the first winery.

The day trip around Seneca Lake was way more relaxed than I expected. We never felt rushed — there was time to wander between rows of vines or just stand there listening to the wind coming off the lake (it really does make a sound). At Fox Run, someone poured us this sharp Riesling and explained why it tastes so different here compared to California. I tried to describe it but ended up just saying “crisp,” which made Li laugh. She’s right — sometimes you can’t put it into words.

Lunch at Ventosa Vineyards was simple but honestly hit the spot: pizza, salad, a glass of something red while looking over their fields. The view from their patio is one of those scenes that sticks with you for months after. There were families nearby speaking softly in Italian (I think?) and a couple celebrating something big — everyone seemed happy to just sit in that quiet for a while. It felt like nobody was in a hurry, not even our driver.

We stopped at two more family-run wineries after that. The last one had this homemade jam for sale next to the bottles — I bought some on impulse, no regrets. By then my shoes were dusty and my head was pleasantly fuzzy from all the tastings. If you’re thinking about a day trip to Seneca Lake from anywhere near Rochester or Ithaca, just let yourself go slow. I still think about that view over the vines as we drove back toward town.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Seneca Lake wine tasting tour

• Depart from pickup location
• Guided tour around Seneca Lake area
• Visit and taste at Fox Run Winery
• Visit and taste at Ventosa Vineyards
• Enjoy optional gourmet lunch at Ventosa Cafe Toscana
• Visit and taste at Amish country winery
• Visit and taste at pioneering Seneca Lake winery

Top questions

How many wineries are included on the Seneca Lake wine tasting tour?

The tour includes visits and tastings at four different wineries around Seneca Lake.

Is lunch included in the Seneca Lake wine tour?

Lunch is included if you book the Small & Mighty plus Lunch option; it’s served at Ventosa Vineyards’ Cafe Toscana.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

Yes, hotel pickup is available at select hotels if requested during booking.

How long does a typical day trip around Seneca Lake take?

The full tour generally lasts most of the day, allowing unhurried visits to each winery plus lunch if selected.

Are there any age restrictions for this Finger Lakes wine tour?

The minimum age is 21 years old; all participants must have valid photo ID for tastings.

Can dietary needs be accommodated for lunch?

The lunch menu includes wraps, pizzas, salad, and panino; specific dietary requests should be mentioned when booking.

What types of wines will we taste on this tour?

You’ll sample a range of Finger Lakes regional wines—from dry whites like Riesling to reds and dessert wines—depending on each winery’s offerings.

Are winery venues always the same?

No; specific wineries may change due to availability but always feature quality Finger Lakes producers around Seneca Lake.

What’s included

Your day includes guided transport with hotel pickup if needed, entry fees and tastings at four different Seneca Lake wineries, plus an optional lunch featuring local fare at Ventosa Vineyards’ Cafe Toscana when booking the Small & Mighty plus Lunch option before returning in comfort later that afternoon.