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A Cozy Winter Wine Tasting Getaway in the Finger Lakes

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 20:02:11 GMT

Quieter tasting rooms, holiday events, and cozy nights by the fire

We love a winter wine tasting around the Finger Lakes. The busy summer and fall seasons are behind us, tasting rooms are calmer, and the staff behind the bar usually has more time to talk about what you're pouring. Winter lodging rates are also often lower than they are in peak season.

Below are our favorite ways to plan a winter wine weekend, from holiday events on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail to picking a rental with a hot tub or fireplace for the evenings.

Why We Like Wine Tasting in the Winter

Fewer people means a different kind of visit. On an October Saturday, you might wait for a spot at the bar. In January, you can often walk right up, take your time with a flight, and ask about the bottles that aren't on the main tasting list.

The weather tends to be milder than visitors expect, too. Seneca Lake is the deepest of the Finger Lakes and rarely freezes, and all that water helps moderate temperatures along its shores. You'll still want boots and a warm coat, but the drive between wineries is usually manageable.

Then there's the view. Snow-covered vineyard rows look nothing like the green hills people know from summer, and plenty of tasting rooms have big windows facing the lake.

Deck the Halls on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail

Deck the Halls is one of the most popular events on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, and it sells out every year. Participating wineries decorate for the holidays and serve a wine and food pairing at each stop. You also collect an ornament at every winery you visit, so you go home with a little souvenir of the trip. It's self-guided, which means you set the pace.

This year's dates are November 20 to 22 and December 4 to 6, 2026. Each ticket covers all three days of its weekend, so you can spread your stops out instead of cramming them into one afternoon.

Before you buy tickets, keep these details in mind.

You choose a starting winery when you purchase, and it can't be changed later. After that first stop, visit the rest in any order.
Groups are capped at six people, designated drivers included. Bigger groups should split up and buy on separate orders.
Tickets aren't refundable, and the event goes on in snow or ice unless the state or county closes the roads. Ticket insurance is available at checkout.

Event weekends fill up fast around the lake, so it helps to book your stay and your tickets around the same time.

Tips for Your Tasting Days

Many wineries cut back their hours in winter, and some only open on weekends. Check each winery's website or call ahead before you build your route, and make reservations wherever they're offered. The Seneca Lake Wine Trail keeps an updated list of winery hours and offerings that's worth a look before you head out.

Plan on three or four wineries a day. Tasting rooms generally close around 5 p.m., and winter daylight goes quickly. An earlier start gives you more time at each stop and an easier drive home.

Someone in your group should skip the tastings and drive. You can also book a local wine tour company and let a chauffeur handle the roads, and several run private winter tours around Seneca, Keuka, and Canandaigua lakes.

Pack boots with good grip. Winery parking lots and walkways can get icy.

More to Do on a Winter Weekend

Wine doesn't have to fill the whole trip. Castel Grisch Winery on Seneca Lake is known for its holiday lights display, which is fun to see after dark. Finger Lakes Distilling , also on Seneca Lake, pours local spirits like whiskey and gin if someone in your group wants a break from wine.

If you're coming later in the season, Downtown Geneva has hosted Winterfest each February in recent years, with ice sculptures and family events around the city. Check the city's event calendar for the latest dates.

Choose a Cozy Place to Stay

After a full day of tastings, the house matters. A hot tub and a fireplace go a long way on a cold night.

For couples and smaller groups, Drift Away on Seneca Lake has a hot tub, a fireplace, and a Pac-Man machine for a little friendly competition. Katie's Cottage is a lakefront stay with its own hot tub.

Wine lovers who want to stay close to the tasting rooms can look at Weathertop, right on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, or Wine Country Chalet in Penn Yan.

If you're traveling with a crowd, Waterside Leisure is a lakefront home with a hot tub and game room that sleeps up to 12. Ember FLX overlooks Canandaigua Lake and fits up to 20 guests, with a hot tub and home theater. If you'd rather walk to dinner, Cityside Escape in downtown Geneva has a fireplace, a game room, and space for up to 14.

Every Get RED-y Vacations home is professionally cleaned and stocked with Standard Textile linens, Public Goods toiletries, and Elemental Coffee for the morning after a long day of tastings.

Get RED-y for Winter in Wine Country

Winter weekends around Deck the Halls book up early. Browse our Finger Lakes homes , pick the one that fits your group, and reserve your dates. Our local team is available 24/7 during your stay if you need anything.

And if you stay with us, tag @getredyvacations on Instagram. We love sharing our guests' winter getaways.

Finger Lakes Short-Term Rental Rules to Know Before You Buy

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 20:01:43 GMT

What new owners often miss about permits, inspections, and occupancy limits

Every few weeks, someone calls us with a version of the same story. They just bought a beautiful home in the Finger Lakes and can't wait to start renting it. Then they find out about a permit, an inspection, or a town rule nobody mentioned during the sale.

It happens more often than you'd think. Plenty of real estate agents don't know the short-term rental rules in every town they sell in, and that's understandable. The rules here are complicated, and they change often.

Every Town Sets Its Own Rules

Each town, city, and village around the lakes decides its own short-term rental rules. The Town of Geneva and the City of Geneva share a name, and they still have different requirements. A house a mile down the road from the one you love may fall under a completely different set of rules.

So the address is one of the first things to check, ideally before you fall for the view.

What Finger Lakes Rental Rules Often Cover

Requirements vary by municipality, but most of the rules we work with touch on some combination of these areas.

Permits or registration. Many towns and cities require a short-term rental permit before you can host guests, and some require renewals.
Inspections. An inspector may check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, exits, railings, and other safety items before the home is approved.
Occupancy limits. The number of guests you can host is often tied to bedrooms, parking, or, in some areas, septic capacity.
Local contacts and parking. Some places require a contact person who can respond quickly to issues, along with enough off-street parking for guests.
Occupancy taxes. Many counties collect a tax on short-term stays, and owners need to be set up to collect and pay it.

Talk to a Management Company Early

If you're shopping for a rental home, call a few local property management companies before you make an offer. See who you like working with, then ask about the towns on your list. A manager who handles these rules every day can tell you what a specific address will need and how long approval usually takes.

Ask how many guests a home is likely to be approved for, too. Most buyers don’t realize how much that one number affects what the house can earn. Two similar houses approved for eight guests and for twelve guests can earn very different amounts over a season.

Small Details Can Push Back Your First Booking

Rental rules often include details that are easy to miss until an inspector points them out, like the height or spacing of a porch or deck railing. If an inspection turns up missing items, you'll likely need a re-inspection. That alone can delay your first booking by weeks.

Some towns also review new rental applications on a set schedule. Miss one date and you might wait a month or more for the next. A delay like that in late spring can cost you the start of summer, which is one of the busiest stretches of the year on the lakes.

Why It Helps to Have Someone in Your Corner

Rules get interpreted differently from one place to the next, and they change. A local manager who works with them every day can help you prepare the home before inspection day, avoid surprise delays, and get approved for the occupancy your home can actually support.

Get RED-y Vacations is family-owned and based right here in the Finger Lakes. We manage homes in Geneva, Waterloo, Seneca Falls, Penn Yan, and Canandaigua, so we've worked through the approval process with a lot of different towns.

Once your home is approved, we can take it from there. That includes staging, professional photography, and listings on all the major short-term rental sites, and homes can be ready for guests to book in as little as two weeks. Owners also get an easy-to-use portal for their calendar and maintenance requests, unlimited owner use of their home, and no long-term contract.

Let's Talk Before You Buy (or Right After)

If you're still house hunting or you just got the keys, our local team can walk you through what your home will need. Visit our property management page for a free rental income projection, and we'll help you plan the next steps.