Region Packed with Wine Tours

In a region that is considered one of the premier wine destinations in New York, wineries like the Glenora Wine Cellars stand out. It was the first winery on Seneca Lake and it is well known for its friendly staff and its lakeside setting. The winery was opened in 1977 and that once small winery is now producing 45,000 cases of wine a year, and is visited by 85,000 people. In 1976 the Farm Winery Act was passed and four men decided to start a winery on Seneca Lake in an old sheep bar. That first year it won several medals and produced 5,000 cases of wine. Today, the winery is considered one of the world's best. The winery now includes a 30 room inn and a restaurant. This allows people to enjoy the wine, the scenery, and the gourmet food, making for the perfect weekend getaway. The inn offers some of the best accommodations in the Finger Lakes. The only day the winery is not up and running is Christmas Day.

The Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars has rooms decorated with Stickley furniture and comfortable pillow top mattresses. Rooms were designed with both convenience and comfort in mind. There are private balconies or patios that overlook the vineyard and the surrounding hillside. Each guests receives a complimentary bottle of wine, fresh brewed Starbucks coffee, and an invitation to dine at the Veraisons. The restaurant features both indoor and terrace dining. The Inn and the restaurant have done a wonderful job of incorporating the surroundings of the countryside and the elegant grandeur of the winery into the atmosphere. The space is available for private events such as small weddings, parties, and receptions.

Glenora, while the first Dundee winery, is not the only one. Other wineries include the Hermann J. Wiemer winery, thought to be a forerunner of winemaking in the area. It is this winery that has made the Finger Lakes region one of the premier Reisling producers in the world.

The Fulkerson Winery was opened in 1989 and owners Sayer and Nancy Fulkerson have been hands on creating the wine for more than 20 years. There is a wide variety of wines offered by the winery, including interesting hybrids and several native varieties. Sweet wines like Rieslings and Gewurztraminers are offered, as well as a dry red and a rich Cabernet. Located in upstate New York, the winery also features apple, peach, and cherry orchards. Visitors to the wineries can enjoy wine and pick their own fruit. Imagine enjoying a countryside picnic in the Finger Lakes, sipping wines and dining on freshly picked fruit, right from the vine. Visitors can also attempt to make their own win. This is fun for all of those who have fantasized about one day owning their own winery. You learn a lot and you get to enjoy your own creation, or one much tastier prepared more traditionally by the winery. This winery features over 30 varieties of grape juice and you can take it home with you and create your own wine.

If you are headed to the Finger Lakes region and you are a wine lover, a tour through the Dundee Wineries will be a dream come true. Choose a weekend, book a room at the Glenora Inn, and enjoy the beautiful countryside.