Certinaly, Keuka Lake has to be the most famously shaped of the Finger Lakes. It’s a beautiful spot and, truthfully, my first spin through the Keuka Lake Wine Trail blew me away because I feel that some of the region’s best wineries are on Keuka Lakes’s southwestern shore. Most of the oldest Finger Lakes wineries are here, so even just beyond the picturesque scenery, there’s a whole lot of history to be learned.

Dr. Konstantin Frank - As you’ll have noted if you read some of the introduction, Dr. Frank was a legend around these parts and his techniques drastically changed the name of the game in Finger Lakes Wine Country. Not to mention, they’ve got some lovely wines, and tasting is available year-round totally free of charge, which isn’t particularly common in the Finger Lakes. If you’re on the Finger Lakes Wine Trail, this has to be one of the first wineries on the list, no question.

Keuka Spring Vineyards - For my money, this is my favourite winery in all of the Finger Lakes. I tried pretty much all of their reds - the Cabernet Franc, the Lemberger, the Miller’s Cove Red and so forth, and they were all outstanding. I guess now would be a good place to mention I prefer reds, but believe me they more than met the test. It’s also a picturesque property, and a great place to taste wine. It would not be a stretch to suggest this is in the running for my number one winery in America.

Hunt Country Vineyards - For seven generations the Hunt family has been producing wine, and for seven generations people have been happily drinking it. Their wines are a little on the sweeter side, but I appreciated the Hunter’s Red, which has notes of cherry and plum. They’re particularly well known for their ice wine, as they’re the oldest continuous producer of ice wine not only on the Finger Lakes Wine Trail, but in the whole country.

Heron Hill Winery - The property alone makes Heron Hill Winery worth visiting as you make your way down the Keuka Lake Wine Trail. It’s much more something I would have expected to see in rural Italy then New York State, and that’s very much part of the charm. They’ve got an impressive tasting room with a million dollar view, and a whole slew of award winning wines to boot. It’s the sort of place you really hope your friend gets married at, so you can spend a few hours there.

McGregor Vineyard - Deep fruity reds like the Rob Roy Red and Black Russian Red had me purring to say the least. When we visited we actually got to sit down with John McGregor, and his passion for wine was palpable. I don’t do sweet whites, but their Dry Gewürztraminer Reserve was really to my liking due to the low natural sugar. This is another gem not to be missed in the Finger Lakes, and especially not on the Keuka Lake Wine Trail. It’s worth noting that McGregor was around before the Keuka Lake Trail was even a thing to do!

Pleasant Valley Wine Company - I never did get a chance to stop by and try the wine, but I do know that this is the first bonded winery in all of America, and that’s got to stand for something for wine enthusiasts. The five oldest structures were built in the 1860’s, so you could say that the current prominence of the Keuka Lake Wine Trail, and the Finger Lakes in general, owes a lot to Pleasant Valley Wine Company.

Vineyard View Winery - Of all the wineries, this might be the most aptly named. The tasting room is built high up on the hill overlooking the vineyard and Keuka Lake, which makes for an awfully pleasant viewing experience. Their cheese platters were also delicious if you’re into that sort of thing while you’re tasting wine. Like much of the region their 2016 Cabernet Franc is spot on (it was a good season for that grape), but, for the most part, it was the view that really stuck with me as opposed to any one particular wine.

If you like this article, you may also want to read about Pelee Island, which is “Canada’s Wine Island.”

The Best Finger Lakes Wineries on the West Seneca Lake Wine Trail