A Cozy Winter Wine Tasting Getaway in the Finger Lakes

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.

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