Top 5 NY Finger Lakes Wineries

Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars specializes in Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and more. Dr. Frank won an International Riesling Foundation trophy because their 2012 Dry Riesling was deemed to be of "the highest quality."This Finger Lakes winery is on the Keuka Wine Trail.

"Not until the 1950s, when [Dr.] Konstantin Frank, a refugee from Ukraine, arrived in the Finger Lakes and started his Vinifera Wine Cellars, did a concerted effort begin to demonstrate that vinifera grapes could grow in the cool, wet climate." ~NY Times

Include it on your next Finger Lakes wine tour!

In 2011 Swedish Hill celebrated its 25th Anniversary of producing quality wines in the Finger Lakes. The winery’s story actually began 42 years ago in 1969 when the Peterson family planted their first vines in order to sell grapes to other local wineries. Then in 1985 the first grapes were crushed for Swedish Hill, producing 1,200 cases.

Their summer events are always fun and usually include arts and crafts vendors.

Ravines wine cellars, Hammondsport, NY, offers unique dry finger lakes wines from a boutique winery situated on the east side of Keuka Lake.

The atmosphere and the quality of this winery stand out.

Heart & Hands Wine Company gets the nod because of their ambitious specialization in Pinot Noir. The Finger Lakes are known for Riesling, but this hasn't stopped Heart and Hand.

Heart and Hands is owned and managed by husband and wife team, Tom and Susan Higgins. They are committed to producing cool-climate wines which express the terroir of the Finger Lakes. They focus exclusively on Pinot Noir and Riesling, from which they create still and sparkling wines. They are a boutique winery, producing around 2,000 cases per year, which allows for an intense focus on quality.

"Made with a sense of adventure" is the motto of this winery and that isn't an empty phrase. At number 5 on our list is one of the more experimental wineries in the region, if not the country.