Since opening in 2005, Rock Stream Vineyards has been shaped by Dr. Mark Karasz, a West Point graduate, retired Army lieutenant colonel, and chemist whose tour in Italy inspired the estate winery. On Seneca Lake, the winery is especially known for its unusual Dry Niagara and for being the area’s oldest licensed Grappa distillery.
Ventosa VineyardsOpened in 2005 by Lenny and Meg Cecere, Ventosa Vineyards makes 100% estate-grown, produced, and bottled wines from its vineyard overlooking Seneca Lake. The Cecere family’s Italian winemaking roots reach back to Lenny’s grandfather, while the Geneva winery carries that heritage into older-vintage, dry, Old World-style reds and the uncommon New York planting of Tocai Friulano. Alongside its hand-painted Tuscan tasting room, Ventosa operates Café Toscana and a destination wedding venue on the estate.GENEVA, NY
Thousand Islands WineryFounded in 2003 by retired U.S. Army Major Steve Conaway and his wife, Erika, Thousand Islands Winery makes wine in Northern New York’s Thousand Islands region. The Conaways began with 1,100 gallons and now produce more than 50,000 gallons annually on farms that include more than 19 acres of wine grapes, while the historic 1923 Sears & Roebuck barn anchors the tasting and event experience. The winery has earned more than 168 competition medals and remains known for wines shaped around the tastes and character of the region.ALEXANDRIA BAY, NY
Wagner Vineyards Estate WineryFounded by Bill Wagner in 1979 as the first winery on Seneca Lake’s eastern shore, Wagner Vineyards Estate Winery makes 100% estate-grown Finger Lakes wines in Lodi, New York. Five generations of Wagner grape growers now tend 250 acres and produce about 50,000 cases annually, with the estate especially recognized for its Rieslings, from dry styles through ice wine. The family-owned winery also combines tastings and lake views with an on-site brewery and the Ginny Lee Cafe.LODI, NY
Sawmill Creek EstateOn Seneca Lake’s east shore, Sawmill Creek Estate makes handcrafted Finger Lakes wines from a vineyard farmed by the Hazlitt family for seven generations. Founded in 2010 by seventh-generation grower Jason Hazlitt and veteran Finger Lakes winemaker Justin Boyette, the estate’s wines are shaped by the long history of Sawmill Creek Vineyards and Boyette’s low-intervention approach. Its Hector tasting room pairs those wines with a laid-back welcome and a marketplace featuring local food products.HECTOR, NY