Half-Day Small-Group Tasting
5 to 6 hours Crush Beer and Wine Tours
from $263 ★ 4.7 (222)
See this tour below ↓
Finger Lakes Wine Tours. Book Now And Pick Your Lake
Fourteen real, bookable wine tours sit on this page, spread across Seneca, Keuka, Canandaigua and Cayuga Lakes. Pick your lake, pick your format, and book on the tour's own booking page. We do not run any tour ourselves; we point you to the live listings and earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.
Prices run from $9 for a walk-in tasting at Fulkerson Winery up to $579 per group for a private Seneca day for six. Shared small-group vans, most of the page, cluster between $253 and $325 per person. Be aware the proof is thin in places: nine of the 14 tours have 10 or fewer reviews, and several have none. We say so on each card.
The Lake Ledger
- Shared van, per person
- Private, per group
- Walk-in tasting
Which Finger Lakes Wine Tour Fits Your Day?
Three taps narrow fourteen tours down to the two or three that fit your day. You pick a lake first, because every tour here is anchored to one lake and the meeting points differ accordingly: Geneva and Watkins Glen for Seneca, Penn Yan for Keuka, Farmington for Canandaigua, Ithaca for the Cayuga-side private day.
The shortlist you get after the three taps links straight down to the tour cards on this page, where you will find the sample itineraries, cancellation terms and the booking link for each one.
All tours are showing. Pick a lake to start and the list will narrow.
Small-Group Wine Trail Tasting
5 to 6 hours Crush Beer and Wine Tours
from $258 ★ 4.9 (114)
See this tour below ↓South End Tasting Route
5 to 7 hours Crush Beer and Wine Tours
from $265 ★ 4.8 (74)
See this tour below ↓Keuka Small-Group Tasting
5 to 6 hours Crush Beer and Wine Tours
from $269 ★ 4.9 (65)
See this tour below ↓Private Customizable Seneca Tour
6 hours FLX Chauffeur
from $389 per group (up to 4) ★ 5.0 (9)
See this tour below ↓Private Customizable Keuka Tour
6 hours FLX Chauffeur
from $389 per group (up to 4) ★ 5.0 (6)
See this tour below ↓Small-Group Tasting, Free Cancellation
6 hours Crush Beer and Wine Tours Free cancellation
from $259 ★ 4.7 (6)
See this tour below ↓7-Hour Tasting, Lunch Included
7 hours Crush Beer and Wine Tours Free cancellation
from $325 ★ 4.4 (5)
See this tour below ↓Private Tour, Up To 6
6 hours FLX Chauffeur
from $579 per group (up to 6) ★ 5.0 (2)
See this tour below ↓Private Full-Day Ithaca Tour
7 hours Grape Escapes
from $439 varies by group size ★ 5.0 (2)
See this tour below ↓Canandaigua Tasting, Lunch Included
7 hours Crush Beer and Wine Tours Free cancellation
from $321
See this tour below ↓Canandaigua Tasting, Free Cancellation
6 hours Crush Beer and Wine Tours Free cancellation
from $253
See this tour below ↓Private Customizable Canandaigua Tour
6 hours FLX Chauffeur
from $389 per group (up to 4)
See this tour below ↓Easiest first pick: the Half-Day Small-Group Tasting on Seneca Lake, the most-reviewed tour on the page at 4.7 from 222 reviews, $263 per person for 5 to 6 hours.
Cheapest way in: the $9 Fulkerson Winery tasting. It is not a tour: no guide, no transport, just a 25-minute tasting at the counter in Dundee.
Cheapest guided tour: the Farmington Canandaigua tour at $253 per person. It has no reviews yet, but free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead takes some risk out.
Groups of three or more: private arithmetic starts working. The $389 customizable days for up to 4 work out to about $97 per person before tasting fees, and the $579 Seneca private for up to 6 is also about $97 per person. All before tasting fees and gratuities.
Cayuga-side day: the Private Full-Day Ithaca Tour, from $439 with the final price varying by group size, about 7 hours, rated 5.0 from 2 reviews. Lunch is not included. Confirm lunch arrangements and cancellation terms on the live listing.
Seneca Lake Wine Tours: The Largest Choice
Seneca Lake carries the largest choice on this page: seven cards, as many as the other three lakes combined. Most start in Geneva at the 41 Lakefront Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, on Lake Front Drive, with the Crush van waiting in the parking lot. One takes a different tack: the south route meets at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel at 10:30 and works the south end of the lake.
Most-reviewed listings here
Half-Day Small-Group Tasting
Capped at 12 travelers per tour
The standard shared Seneca Lake van day from Geneva: tastings bundled in, but non-refundable, so lock your dates before booking.
from $263per person, live price on the listing
Check Price & Availability →
South End Tasting Route
Capped at 12 travelers per tour
Works the south end of Seneca Lake, a different slice of the lake from the Geneva-start loops, and is non-refundable once booked.
from $265per person, live price on the listing
Check Price & Availability →
Walk-In Tasting, 25 Minutes
A walk-in tasting at the winery with no guide, group or van, handy if you are driving yourself.
from $9per person, live price on the listing
Check Price & Availability →
Private Customizable Seneca Tour
Fully private day from your hotel or residence: you choose the wineries and pace, and pay tasting fees at each stop.
from $389per group (up to 4), live price on the listing
Check Price & Availability →
Small-Group Tasting, Free Cancellation
Capped at 12 travelers per tour
Same Geneva start and shared van as the main Seneca tour, with free cancellation up to 3 days ahead.
7-Hour Tasting, Lunch Included
Capped at 12 travelers per tour
The only shared Seneca tour with a sit-down lunch between tastings, plus free cancellation up to 3 days ahead.
Private Tour, Up To 6
A private option for groups of up to six: vehicle and driver to yourselves, flexible stops, tasting fees paid on site.
from $579per group (up to 6), live price on the listing
Check Price & Availability →
- Tours On This Lake
- 7
- From-Prices
- $9 to $579
- Trip Length
- 25 minutes to 7 hours
- Meets At
- Geneva and Watkins Glen
- Deepest Review Record
- 4.7 from 222 reviews
Seneca is also the lake with the deepest review evidence. The main tasting tour holds 4.7 stars from 222 reviews, and the south route has 4.8 from 74. The region's two sub-AVAs sit inside the Finger Lakes AVA established in 1982, and Seneca Lake got its own in 2003, covering roughly 204,600 acres around the lake.
The lake itself explains the vineyards. Seneca is very deep, rarely freezes, and holds summer warmth into autumn, which moderates the slopes where the grapes grow. Riesling is the region's signature grape, and Cabernet Franc is the most-planted red vinifera. New York State does not license wine-tour guides; the wineries hold the liquor licences, so your driver's job is the road and the timing.
How To Choose Between The Seneca Cards
The first split is geography. The Geneva-start tours sample stops like Prejean Winery, Ventosa Vineyard and Anthony Road Wine Company. The Seneca Lake South Wine Tastings Tour starts at Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel instead and runs Hazlitt 1852, Chateau Lafayette Reneau, Toast Winery and Tabora Farm. If you are staying in Watkins Glen, the south route starts in town; if you are in Geneva, the other Seneca tours start at the 41 Lakefront Hotel. Wineries on any of these sample itineraries are subject to change.
Where It Starts
Most cards start at Geneva's 41 Lakefront Hotel; the south route starts at Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel at 10:30.
Lunch Or Not
Lunch is included on the 7-hour card at $325 per person; other cards leave food to you.
If Plans Change
Crush vans are non-refundable once booked; two Seneca cards offer free cancellation up to 3 days. Confirm on the live listing.
The second split is lunch. The 7-hour lunch version builds in an hour for wraps, pizzas, salad and a panino with a glass of wine, at $325 per person. The standard 5 to 6 hour tour leaves food to you, though some listings offer a plus Lunch variant you can pick on the booking page.
The third split is cancellation. The Crush van tours sold through the main booking page are non-refundable once booked; a weather or minimum-number cancellation gets you another date or a refund. The shared Seneca cards sold on the second booking page carry free cancellation up to 3 days ahead, but their review counts are thin, only 5 and 6 reviews, so weigh that trade honestly.
4 vansshared, priced per person
2 privatespriced per group
1 walk-ina 25-minute tasting, not a tour
For groups, two FLX Chauffeur privates change the math: $389 for up to 4 or $579 for up to 6, each about $97 per person before tasting fees and gratuities, with pickup at your hotel or residence and tasting fees paid at the wineries. Both have few reviews.
And be clear about the $9 card: Fulkerson Winery's standard tasting is 25 minutes at a counter in Dundee. It is not a tour, has no guide and no transport, but it is a legitimate cheap way to taste on the Seneca side.
Keuka Lake Wine Tours
- Tours On This Lake
- 2
- From-Prices
- $269 to $389
- Trip Length
- 5 to 6 hours, or 6 hours private
- Meets At
- Penn Yan
- Deepest Review Record
- 4.9 from 65 reviews
Keuka Lake has two cards and no AVA of its own; only Seneca and Cayuga hold sub-AVAs inside the Finger Lakes AVA. That changes nothing about the wine in the glass, and the sample itineraries name Dr. Konstantin Frank, Heron Hill, Weis, Keuka Spring and Bully Hill.
The shared van, Keuka Lake Winery Tour, is one of the better-proven cards on the site at 4.9 stars from 65 reviews. It meets at 110 Mace St in Penn Yan, at the Hampton Inn, and returns to the same point, which makes it the practical choice if you are staying in Penn Yan or nearby Hammondsport. A "Kings & Queens plus Lunch" variant exists on the listing if you want food built in.
The second card is the private option: FLX Chauffeur at $389 for a group of up to 4, six hours, pickup at your hotel or residence, tasting fees paid at the wineries.
Most-reviewed listings here
Keuka Small-Group Tasting
Capped at 12 travelers per tour
The only shared van tour on Keuka Lake, from the Hampton Inn in Penn Yan. Tastings included, non-refundable once booked.
from $269per person, live price on the listing
Check Price & Availability →
Private Customizable Keuka Tour
A private Keuka Lake day with the wineries and time at each stop chosen by you; tasting fees extra.
from $389per group (up to 4), live price on the listing
Check Price & Availability →
Shared Van Or Private Chauffeur On Keuka
Shared Van
- Price
- $269 per person
- Group
- Up to 12 travelers, 2 minimum
- Length
- 5 to 6 hours
- Tastings
- Included in the fare
- Starts
- Hampton Inn, 110 Mace St, Penn Yan
- Reviews
- 4.9 from 65
Private Chauffeur
- Price
- $389 per group
- Group
- Up to 4 guests
- Length
- 6 hours
- Tastings
- Fees paid at the wineries
- Starts
- Your hotel or residence
- Reviews
- 5.0 from 6
The van tour is the simpler proposition: $269 per person, 5 to 6 hours, tastings included in the fare, cap of 12 travelers, minimum 2 per booking, minimum age 21 with photo ID. Its sample itinerary gives Heron Hill an hour, Keuka Spring an hour, Point of the Bluff an hour, and Bully Hill a full two hours, the longest single stop on any card here. If you like lingering at one winery rather than moving on the hour, that two-hour block matters. The tour is non-refundable once booked.
The private customizable tour is a different product. FLX Chauffeur charges $389 for the whole group of up to 4, which is about $97 per person before tasting fees and gratuities, and tasting fees are paid at the wineries rather than built in. For a group of 4 that can undercut four van seats, at the cost of paying tastings separately and accepting thinner proof: 5.0 stars from 6 reviews, against 65 for the van. Its sample route, Dr. Konstantin Frank, Heron Hill, Weis and Keuka Spring, is not the same as the van's, so compare the winery lists before choosing. Both meet the 21-and-over rule with photo ID, and neither is wheelchair accessible.
If you are deciding between this lake and Seneca, Keuka suits travelers who want a compact loop from Penn Yan and fewer moving parts. Neither card runs on a free-cancellation basis, so lock dates only when you are sure.
Canandaigua Lake Wine Tours
- Tours On This Lake
- 4
- From-Prices
- $253 to $389
- Trip Length
- 6 to 7 hours
- Meets At
- Farmington
- Deepest Review Record
- 4.9 from 114 reviews
Canandaigua Lake has four cards, and all of them meet in the same place: the parking lot of Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack, 5857 NY-96 in Farmington, near Pole G6. That makes this the Rochester-side option. If you are staying in Rochester or passing through from the west, the drive to a Canandaigua tour is shorter than pushing on to Geneva or Watkins Glen, and the town of Canandaigua itself sits near wineries and places to stay.
Like Keuka, Canandaigua has no AVA of its own. The sample stops across the four cards lean on a familiar set: Heron Hill's tasting room on Canandaigua Lake, Inspire Moore, Hazlitt Red Cat Cellars and Arbor Hill Grapery.
The formats split evenly. Two shared van days at $253 and $258 per person, one 7-hour lunch-inclusive version at $321, and the FLX Chauffeur private at $389 for a group of up to 4. All are 21-and-over with photo ID, capped at 12 travelers on the shared vans, minimum 2 per booking.
Most-reviewed listings here
Small-Group Wine Trail Tasting
Capped at 12 travelers per tour
The main shared van option on the Canandaigua Wine Trail, departing from Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack, tastings included, non-refundable.
from $258per person, live price on the listing
Check Price & Availability →
Canandaigua Tasting, Lunch Included
Capped at 12 travelers per tour
Canandaigua's lunch-included option, with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead, though it has no published reviews yet.
Canandaigua Tasting, Free Cancellation
Capped at 12 travelers per tour
A Canandaigua trail day from Farmington, the cheapest guided tour here, with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Private Customizable Canandaigua Tour
A fully private Canandaigua day from your lodging with a build-your-own itinerary; tastings paid separately, non-refundable.
from $389per group (up to 4), live price on the listing
Check Price & Availability →
Reading The Canandaigua Cards
Proof is uneven here, and it is worth being direct about it. The Canandaigua Wine Trail Experience is the only card on this lake with real depth: 4.9 stars from 114 reviews, $258 per person, 5 to 6 hours. The other three carry little or nothing. The lunch version and the Farmington tour have no reviews yet, and the customizable private shows no reviews on its listing. New listings are not bad listings, but you are booking closer to blind, so read the fine print on the booking page before committing.
1 of 4has reviews: 4.9 from 114
1 of 4includes lunch
2 of 4free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead
1 of 4non-refundable once booked; the private card says to confirm on the listing
Cancellation is the sharpest dividing line. The Trail Experience is non-refundable once booked, with a weather or minimum-number cancellation getting another date or a refund. The two newer shared cards, the $253 Farmington tour and the $321 lunch version, both carry free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead. If your plans might move, that flexibility has value even against a more-proven card, and the Farmington tour is the cheapest guided day on the whole site.
Lunch is the other question. The lunch-inclusive card builds a restaurant stop with a glass of wine, wraps, pizzas, salad and paninos into its 7 hours. The standard Trail Experience lists lunch only if the option is selected. The $253 tour includes no lunch at all, so plan food yourself or pick the 7-hour version.
The private customizable tour at $389 for up to 4 follows the FLX Chauffeur pattern: about $97 per person before tasting fees and gratuities, hotel or residence pickup, tasting fees and taxes excluded. Confirm the group price and what it covers on the live listing before booking.
Cayuga Lake And Ithaca: The Private Option
- Tours On This Lake
- 1
- From-Prices
- from $439
- Trip Length
- 7 hours, private
- Meets At
- Ithaca
- Deepest Review Record
- 5.0 from 2 reviews
Cayuga Lake has exactly one card on this page: the Private Full-Day Ithaca Tour, run by Grape Escapes. That is the whole Cayuga and Ithaca offering here, and we will not dress it up as a range. It is one private day pairing winery stops with historic Ithaca, about 7 hours long, rated 5.0 from 2 reviews. The price shows as from $439, with the final price varying by group size.
For context: Cayuga Lake is one of exactly two sub-AVAs inside the Finger Lakes AVA, designated in 1988. The parent AVA was established in 1982 by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the TTB administers AVAs today. Seneca Lake holds the other sub-AVA, from 2003. If a private Ithaca day is not what you want, the rest of this page is Seneca, Keuka and Canandaigua, mostly shared vans. Lunch is not included on the Ithaca day; food runs extra at around $12 to $14 per person per the listing.
Private Full-Day Ithaca Tour
A private Ithaca day mixing Cayuga Lake wineries with the town's cultural side; lunch is extra. Confirm terms on the listing.
from $439varies by group size, live price on the listing
Check Price & Availability →
Who The Ithaca Private Day Suits
It suits one kind of group: people who want a private day built around Ithaca and Cayuga Lake, with winery stops folded into a historic-town itinerary rather than a pure tasting circuit. Only your group participates. The listing shows hotel pickup and drop-off in Ithaca; confirm the details on the live listing.
Now the honest part. The tour has 2 reviews, both at 5.0. That is a real rating on a very thin base. Its cancellation terms are not confirmed, so confirm them on the live listing before you rely on flexibility. Lunch is not included; food is extra, listed around $12 to $14 per person. The from-$439 price varies by group size, so check the final figure for your party on the booking page.
If you want a Cayuga-side visit on a shared-van budget, this page has none. The nearest shared option is actually a Seneca tour: the Seneca Lake South Wine Tastings Tour starts at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel at 10:30, on the south end of Seneca, not Cayuga. It runs $265 per person, 4.8 from 74 reviews, and covers the south-end route: Chateau Lafayette Reneau, Toast Winery, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards and Tabora Farm & Winery. Do not book it expecting Cayuga Lake.
Where The Four Lakes Sit
Four lakes, west to east: Canandaigua first, then Keuka, then Seneca, with Cayuga eastmost.
A Walk-In Tasting Versus A Full Wine Tour
What The $9 Fulkerson Card Actually Is
The cheapest card on this page is not a tour at all, and we would rather say that up front than let a low price mislead you. Fulkerson Winery's standard wine tasting is $9 per person for about 25 minutes at the tasting counter, 5576 NY-14, Dundee. You show your booking receipt to the staff, taste, and go. There is no guide, no driver, no hotel pickup and no transport of any kind. It is open daily 10:00 to 17:00 per the listing, and cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a refund.
A few practical points work in its favor. It is wheelchair accessible and stroller accessible, service animals are allowed, and the dress code is smart casual, which makes it one of the most accessible wine experiences on this page. Bookings cap at 9 people. The minimum age is 21, as it is everywhere in New York: tasting rooms cannot serve under-21 guests, and you need valid photo ID.
What A Full Tour Adds
| What You Get | Walk-In Tasting | Shared Van Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9 per person | $253 to $325 per person |
| Time | About 25 minutes | 5 to 7 hours |
| Stops | One winery, at the counter | About four wineries, about an hour each |
| Guide | None | A driver and a set route |
| Transport | None, you bring your own | Included, to the same meeting point |
| Access | Wheelchair and stroller accessible | Not wheelchair accessible |
A guided tour buys you three things the counter cannot: a driver, a route and time. The shared van days visit about four wineries over 5 to 7 hours, roughly an hour at each, with tasting admission built into the fare. Sample stops on Seneca include Prejean, Ventosa and Anthony Road; the south route adds Hazlitt 1852 and Chateau Lafayette Reneau. The vans cap at 12 travelers, meet at a fixed point such as the 41 Lakefront Hotel in Geneva or the racetrack lot in Farmington, and return you to the same place.
Who should pick which is mostly a question of car and company. If you have a designated driver, want to set your own pace, or only want to taste at one winery, the $9 walk-in plus your own itinerary is the cheaper and more flexible day. If nobody wants to drive, or you want four wineries without route-planning, the guided tours earn their per-person price. You can also combine them: a tour day for the structure, a walk-in tasting for a favorite stop.
Private And Customizable Tours
The Three $389 Customizable Days
Seneca Lake$389up to 4 guests, 6 hours5.0 from 9 reviews
Keuka Lake$389up to 4 guests, 6 hours5.0 from 6 reviews
Canandaigua Lake$389up to 4 guests, 6 hoursNo reviews yet
FLX Chauffeur runs three customizable private days, one per lake, each $389 for a group of up to 4. Same price, three different lakes, three different sample routes. The Seneca version samples Barnstormer Winery, Fulkerson Winery, Fox Run Vineyards and Red Tail Ridge Winery, about an hour each. The Keuka version samples Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, Heron Hill Winery, Weis Vineyards and Keuka Spring Vineyards. The Canandaigua version samples Heron Hill's Canandaigua tasting room, Inspire Moore, Arbor Hill Grapery and Hazlitt Red Cat Cellars. Each runs 6 hours, travel time included, with pickup at your hotel or residence, private air-conditioned transport and bottled water.
The arithmetic: $389 for 4 is about $97 per person before tasting fees. Tasting fees are not included on any of the FLX Chauffeur cards; you pay them at the wineries. Gratuities are also extra. Proof varies. Seneca shows 5.0 from 9 reviews, Keuka 5.0 from 6. The Canandaigua card has no reviews yet, and its $389 group price is one to confirm on the listing before you count on it. All three are non-refundable, though weather cancellations get another date or a refund.
The $579 Seneca Private For Up To 6
The Private Tour, Up To 6 is also FLX Chauffeur, on the Seneca side: $579 for the whole group, 6 hours, transport and guiding only. Tasting fees are paid at the wineries and gratuity is extra. For a full group of 6 that is about $97 per person before tasting fees and gratuities, the same per-head figure as the smaller customizable days. It carries 5.0 from 2 reviews. Only your group participates, and pickup is at your hotel or residence.
The Ithaca Private Day
The Private Full-Day Ithaca Tour from Grape Escapes is the only Cayuga and Ithaca product here, about 7 hours, from $439 with the final price varying by group size. It pairs winery stops with historic Ithaca. Lunch is not included; food runs around $12 to $14 per person per the listing. Rated 5.0 from 2 reviews. Cancellation terms are not confirmed, so confirm on the live listing, and confirm pickup details there too.
What Do Finger Lakes Wine Tours Cost?
Cayuga
private $439
Seneca
$9 walk-in, 4 vans $259 to $325, private $389 and $579
Keuka
1 van $269, private $389
Canandaigua
3 vans $253 to $321, private $389
- Shared vans, range per person
- Private, per group
- Walk-in tasting
Dots are from-prices on one dollar scale, priced per person for shared vans and per group for private tours.
Shared Van Tours
Shared small-group vans, capped at 12 travelers, cluster between $253 and $325 per person. At the bottom sits the Farmington Canandaigua tour at $253, with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead but no reviews yet. The Small-Group Tasting with free cancellation is $259. The Canandaigua Wine Trail Experience is $258, 4.9 from 114 reviews. The main Seneca tasting tour is $263, the Seneca South route $265, the Keuka winery tour $269. The two 7-hour lunch-included days top the range: $321 for Canandaigua with lunch and $325 for Seneca with lunch.
Private Tours And The Per-Person Math
Shared van, 4 people at $263 each
$263$263$263$263
$1,052 in total
Private customizable day, up to 4 people
$389 in total, about $97 each
Seneca private, up to 6 people
$579 in total, about $97 each
Four on the $263 shared tour pay $1,052 total, while the $389 private day for up to 4 costs $389 in total, before tasting fees and gratuities.
Private pricing is per group. The three FLX Chauffeur customizable days are each $389 for up to 4, which is about $97 per person for a full group, before tasting fees and gratuities. The $579 Seneca private for up to 6 is also about $97 per person before tasting fees. Against that, 4 people on the $263 shared Seneca tour is $1,052, though tastings are included there. The Ithaca private day shows from $439, with the final price varying by group size, so read the booking page for your party size. And the $9 Fulkerson tasting is the floor: no guide, no transport, 25 minutes at the counter.
Refund Terms As A Cost Risk
Most of the Crush listings are non-refundable once booked, though weather or minimum-number cancellations get another date or a refund. Free cancellation applies to four cards: the Seneca tasting tour listed with free cancellation (up to 3 days), the Seneca tour with lunch (3 days), the Canandaigua tour plus lunch (24 hours) and the Farmington Canandaigua tour (24 hours). The Ithaca private day's terms are not confirmed. Whatever you book, confirm the cancellation terms on the live listing before paying.
Non-refundableonce booked on the Crush vans; a weather or minimum-number cancellation gets another date or a refund
Confirm firstcancellation terms on the live listing before you rely on them
We walk through packages and pricing in more depth at our guide to Finger Lakes wine tour packages and what they cost. The Latest Data block further down adds the by-lake totals for prices and reviews.
Where Do Finger Lakes Wine Tours Pick You Up?
Shared Van Meeting Points
Every Crush van tour starts at a fixed meeting point, not a roving pickup. The Seneca tours from Geneva meet in the parking lot of the 41 Lakefront Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, 41 Lake Front Dr, Geneva, and you look for the Crush vehicle. That covers the main Seneca tasting tour, the free-cancellation listing and the Seneca tour with lunch. The Seneca South tour is different: it meets at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, 16 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, at 10:30, again in the parking lot looking for the Crush vehicle.
- 1Seneca, Geneva41 Lakefront Hotel41 Lake Front Dr, GenevaLook for the Crush vehicle in the lot
- 2Seneca, Watkins GlenWatkins Glen Harbor HotelSouth end of the lakeSouth route meets at 10:30
- 3Keuka, Penn YanHampton Inn Penn Yan110 Mace St, Penn YanReturns to the same point
- 4Canandaigua, FarmingtonFinger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack5857 NY-96, FarmingtonParking lot near Pole G6
The Keuka winery tour meets at 110 Mace St, Penn Yan, at the Hampton Inn Penn Yan, and returns there. All three Canandaigua-area tours meet at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack, 5857 NY-96, Farmington, near Pole G6 in the lot: the Wine Trail Experience, the lunch-included version and the Farmington tour. If you are staying overnight, Geneva and Watkins Glen both sit near wineries; see where to stay in Finger Lakes wine country. One listing mentions hotel pickup at select hotels if requested; ask on the booking page.
Private Tours And The Walk-In Tasting
The private cards work differently. All four FLX Chauffeur tours, the three customizable $389 days and the $579 six-guest Seneca private, pick up at your hotel or residence. The Ithaca private day is listed with hotel pickup and drop-off in Ithaca; confirm the exact arrangement on the live listing. The Fulkerson Winery tasting has no pickup at all: you go to 5576 NY-14, Dundee, and show your booking receipt at the counter.
Where To Stay Near The Meeting Points
Staying in Geneva puts you steps from the Seneca tour meeting point at the 41 Lakefront Hotel. Watkins Glen and Canandaigua also sit near wineries. The cards below show hotel options, with rates and availability on each hotel's own page. Our where to stay guide goes deeper.
41 Lakefront Hotel, Trademark Collection By Wyndham
41 Lake Front Dr, Geneva, NY 14456 (Seneca Lake)
Seneca Lake tours with Crush Beer and Wine Tours gather nearby, so staying here puts you a short stroll from the morning pickup instead of a drive.
Check ratesHoliday Inn Express & Suites Geneva Finger Lakes, An IHG Hotel
530 Hamilton St, Geneva, NY 14456
Close to Seneca Lake and the meeting points used by the site's Seneca wine tours, this is the pick for travelers who want a newer, well-reviewed room in Geneva before a day of tastings.
Check ratesIthaca Marriott Downtown On The Commons
120 S Aurora St, Ithaca, NY 14850 (Cayuga Lake / Ithaca Commons)
A walkable downtown base for the premium Ithaca cultural wine tour, which runs from the city, so a guest staying here starts the day minutes from the hotel door rather than commuting in.
Check ratesWhat Is Included In A Finger Lakes Wine Tour?
On The Shared Vans
The Crush vans include the tastings and admission in the fare, along with the driver and the transport between stops, usually about an hour at each winery. Gratuities are not included on any of them. Lunch is included on only two cards: Seneca with lunch (wraps, pizzas, salad and a panino, with a glass of wine, one hour of a 7-hour day) and Canandaigua plus lunch (a local restaurant, same style of menu). Several other Crush listings offer a plus Lunch variant you can select on the booking page. The Farmington Canandaigua tour and the free-cancellation Seneca listing do not include food or drink beyond the tastings.
Age rules are strict: 21 minimum with valid photo ID, because New York tasting rooms cannot serve under-21 guests. The Crush vans need a minimum of 2 people per booking and cap at 12 travelers, and they are not wheelchair accessible. Booking basics like tasting fees and etiquette are covered in our guide to tasting fees, hours and etiquette.
On The Private Cards And The Walk-In
Tastings And AdmissionIn the fare on the shared vans
Driver And TransportIncluded, between every stop
GratuitiesNot included on any card
LunchOnly on the lunch cards
Age 21 And OverValid photo ID at every tasting room
Private Tasting FeesPaid at the wineries, on top
The four FLX Chauffeur privates, the three $389 customizable days and the $579 six-guest Seneca private, include the vehicle, the driver and bottled water. Tasting fees are not included; you pay them at each winery, and gratuities are extra. The wineries hold the liquor licences and pour under them. The Ithaca private day does not include lunch either; food runs around $12 to $14 per person. The $9 Fulkerson tasting includes just the tasting: no guide, no van, no pickup. It is, however, wheelchair and stroller accessible and allows service animals, with a 9-person maximum per booking.
Inclusions By Tour Type
| Type | Cards | Tastings | Transport | Lunch | Gratuities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared vans | 8 | Included in the fare | Included, to the same meeting point | On 2 of the 8 | Not included |
| FLX Chauffeur privates | 4 | Fees paid at the wineries | Included, hotel or residence pickup | Not included | Not included |
| Ithaca private day | 1 | Confirm on the listing | Included, hotel pickup | Not included | Confirm on the listing |
| Walk-in tasting | 1 | The $9 tasting itself | None | None | Not stated |
A Typical Day On The Wine Trail
- 1MeetMeet at the hotel lot or designated meeting point.
- 2First PourFirst tasting stop, roughly an hour at the winery.
- 3MiddayMiddle stops, or lunch hour on lunch cards.
- 4Last StopLast winery stop of about an hour.
- 5Ride BackRide back to the same meeting point.
A shared van day runs about four wineries over 5 to 7 hours, roughly an hour at each.
Morning: Meeting Point And First Pour
A shared van day starts in a parking lot. In Geneva you find the Crush vehicle waiting at the 41 Lakefront Hotel; in Watkins Glen the South tour gathers at the Harbor Hotel at 10:30; in Penn Yan it is the Hampton Inn lot at 110 Mace St; in Farmington the racetrack lot near Pole G6. Bring your photo ID, because no one under 21 can be served in New York tasting rooms.
Eat breakfast: most cards run 5 to 7 hours with no food unless you picked a lunch variant. The first tasting comes soon after the van leaves and lasts about an hour.
Midday: Two Or Three Stops And Lunch
The pattern across the itineraries is steady: about four wineries, about an hour each. A Seneca sample runs Prejean, Ventosa, Anthony Road and one more. The South route samples Chateau Lafayette Reneau, Toast, Hazlitt 1852 and Tabora. Keuka runs differently: Bully Hill gets a full two-hour stop, with Heron Hill, Keuka Spring and Point of the Bluff at an hour each. Wineries are subject to change on every listing, so treat the names as a sample rather than a promise.
On the lunch cards, one hour of the day is lunch: wraps, pizzas, salad and a panino, with a glass of wine on the Seneca and Canandaigua versions. Without lunch, the midday stretch is simply the second and third tasting rooms, early afternoon, with the driver handling the roads between them so nobody in your party has to.
Afternoon: Last Stop And The Ride Back
After the final winery the van returns everyone to the same meeting point. Plan dinner or a drive with that in mind: the south route, which starts at 10:30, runs 5 to 7 hours and finishes in the afternoon. Our piece on why Finger Lakes wineries close so early explains why timing matters.
A Private Day Runs Differently
The FLX Chauffeur privates start at your hotel or residence rather than a shared lot, and the driver works your route with you. Sample itineraries run to four wineries at about an hour each: Dr. Konstantin Frank, Heron Hill, Weis and Keuka Spring on Keuka, for instance, or Barnstormer, Fulkerson, Fox Run and Red Tail Ridge on Seneca. Travel time counts inside the 6 hours, so four stops fit the day. Only your group rides, and you settle tasting fees directly at each counter.
How many wineries fit in a day is a real constraint in this region, and our answer to that question works through it.
What You Will Taste Along The Way
Riesling: The Region's Signature Pour
Deep lakes hold summer warmth into fall, favoring high-acid whites.
Cabernet Franc: The Cold-Hardy Red
The most-planted red vinifera here, cold-hardy and reliable in short seasons.
Chardonnay: The Workhorse White
Widely planted, it is one of the region's most significant whites.
Vidal Blanc: The Ice Wine Grape
Picked frozen and pressed that way, the grapes concentrate sugar and acid.
Questions Travelers Ask Before Booking
Before Booking
The Wines
- Can You Walk The Seneca Lake Wine Trail?Answer
- How Do You Get Around The Finger Lakes Wineries?Answer
- How Many Wineries Are On Seneca Lake?Answer
- How Many Wineries Can You Visit In A Day In The Finger Lakes?Answer
- Is Finger Lakes Wine Any Good?Answer
- What Is The Most Scenic Winery In The Finger Lakes?Answer
- What Is The Number One Winery In The Finger Lakes?Answer
- What Is The Oldest Winery In The Finger Lakes?Answer
- What To Wear To A Wine Tasting? A Finger Lakes EditionAnswer
- What Wine Are The Finger Lakes Known For?Answer
- Why Do Finger Lakes Wineries Close So Early?Answer
- Best WineriesGuide
- Cheese Trail & PairingsGuide
- Finger Lakes RieslingGuide
- Wine FestivalsGuide
Times And Meeting Points
- 3-Day ItineraryGuide
- Best Time to VisitGuide
- Watkins Glen Base GuideGuide
- Where to StayGuide
Around The Lakes
- Are There Boat Tours On Seneca Lake?Answer
- How Many Days Do You Need In The Finger Lakes?Answer
- How To Spend A Day In The Finger LakesAnswer
- What Are The Hidden Gems Of The Finger Lakes Region?Answer
- What Is Canandaigua, NY Known For?Answer
- What Is Hammondsport, NY Known For?Answer
- What Is Keuka Lake Known For?Answer
- What Is The Prettiest Town In The Finger Lakes?Answer
- Which Finger Lake Should You Visit? Seneca Vs. Keuka Vs. CayugaAnswer
- Beyond the WineriesGuide
- Wine Tours by BoatGuide
- Wine Trolley ToursGuide
When To Go: Harvest, Summer Or Winter
Harvest: Late Summer Into Fall
Tours here run year-round, but the calendar is not flat. Late summer into fall is harvest, the busiest stretch and the most colourful, when the vines hang heavy and the tasting rooms fill. Book early for this window: shared vans cap at 12 travelers. Our best time to visit guide treats the trade-offs in full.
Summer And Spring
Summer is busy too. Spring and late fall run quieter. The lakes do quiet work here. Seneca Lake is very deep, rarely freezes, and holds summer warmth into autumn, which moderates the vineyard slopes where the grapes grow. That thermal mass is why the vineyards cluster on the slopes right around the lakes.
Winter: Heated Vans And Quiet Tasting Rooms
Winter is the quietest season and the vans run heated. Ice wine, made here from Vidal Blanc grapes picked frozen, is a regional specialty worth asking about at the counter, and Riesling remains the region's signature grape. Whenever you go, the drinking age is 21 with valid photo ID, no exceptions in New York tasting rooms. Pairing a tour with a longer stay is covered in our three-day itinerary.
Winter
Quiet tasting rooms and snow on the vines.
Spring
Bud break on the vines and empty back roads.
Summer
Full patios, lush vines, and the busiest roads.
Autumn
Harvest season. Crush is on, colors peak, book early.
Latest Data, November 2026
The figures in the table below are summed from each tour's booking page at the time of writing. Prices move with the date you pick, the options you select and your group size, so treat every number as a from-price rather than a quote. Proof is thin in places, and we would rather say so: nine of the 14 tours have ten or fewer reviews and several have none yet, so a five-star score on a handful of reviews should be read lightly. The most-reviewed tour is the Seneca Lake Wine Tasting & Tour, at 4.7 from 222 reviews, $263 per person for 5 to 6 hours. Anything that looks uncertain, confirm on the live listing.
| Lake | Tours | From-Prices | Reviews | Most On One Tour | 10 Or Fewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cayuga Lake | 1 | from $439 | 2 | 2 | 1 of 1 |
| Seneca Lake | 7 | $9 to $579 | 337 | 222 | 4 of 7 |
| Keuka Lake | 2 | $269 to $389 | 71 | 65 | 1 of 2 |
| Canandaigua Lake | 4 | $253 to $389 | 114 | 114 | 3 of 4 |
| All four lakes | 14 | $9 to $579 | 524 | 222 | 9 of 14 |
The Region In Numbers
4lakes compared here: Seneca, Keuka, Canandaigua and Cayuga
14bookable tours across the four lakes on this page
$9 to $579published from-price range, a single walk-in tasting to the priciest private group day
1982the year the Finger Lakes AVA was established by the federal BATF
2sub-AVAs inside the Finger Lakes AVA: Cayuga Lake (1988) and Seneca Lake (2003)
21the legal drinking age in New York State (ABC Law Section 65)
What Travelers Wrote On The Listings
“Our tour guide, Donna was great and very helpful. She made sure our experience was a good one. The wineries we went to were all great and the servers explained what the wines were and briefly went over their flavor profiles. It was a great experience and I suggest it for anyone.”
Colton_M, operator-listing review of Half-Day Small-Group Tasting
“Beautiful scenery, delicious food, great tasting, and an awesome guide! I would highly recommend this excursion.”
Donna_G, operator-listing review of Half-Day Small-Group Tasting
“Scott was fantastic, he made sure that we had a great trip and also recommended local restaurants for us to test out while on our trip. We followed his recommendations and they were amazing, he truly made the trip a day to remember.”
Victoria_G, operator-listing review of Small-Group Wine Trail Tasting
“It was very nice having a driver on all those ups and downs of the local roads. I’m used to flat terrain, and definitely didn’t want to drive. Our driver, Ron, was local and very informative. He was great to speak with. We visited quite the range of wineries. Some had fantastic wine, and we ended up buying more. Some had pretty awful wine that we couldn’t even finish. However, I’m glad we got a wide range of experiences. Overall, I would do it again.”
Cathryn_B, operator-listing review of Small-Group Wine Trail Tasting
“We loved the beautiful views from the vineyards, the delicious lunch overlooking the grapes vines and the lake, and learning so much about the various wines from Keuka Lake. Our driver, Gary, was very informative and kind.”
Jennifer_B, operator-listing review of Keuka Small-Group Tasting
“My boyfriend and I were celebrating his birthday, and meeting Rayce made the experience even more special! He took us to some amazing wineries and brought so much knowledge, personality, and fun to the day. His recommendations were spot-on, and he truly made our trip one to remember. We can’t recommend the experience with Rayce enough!”
Kristen_R, operator-listing review of South End Tasting Route
“It was terrific! Even though we were asked to switch days, everything went well. Christy was fabulous. This was our 2nd time doing a tour with your company and we do a 3rd.”
Patti, United States, operator-listing review of Small-Group Tasting, Free Cancellation
“Wonderful day of wine tasting. We were part of a group of 3 couples. Our driver Christy, navigated us around the southern end of Seneca Lake. The 4 wineries we visited were quite diverse in there facilities and wines. The samplings of the vineyards appeared to cover all on the varietals available in the area. Some were very special and others not so much. But having the opportunity to sample them all is what a tour like this is all about. Our experience also included a lunch at a delightful winery with multiple entree options. Truly a full day experience I recommend for all.”
Keith, United States, operator-listing review of 7-Hour Tasting, Lunch Included
“Jeanine was incredible. She helped us plan every detail and we had the most enjoying and effortless day. Book this now!”
Krystle_B, operator-listing review of Private Customizable Keuka Tour
Quotes are copied as written from public the operators' own booking listings reviews of these operators' tours; we do not collect, select or edit them for tone.
Finger Lakes Wine Tours FAQ
Which Lake Should I Pick For My First Finger Lakes Wine Tour?
Seneca is the practical first answer on this page, because it has as many cards as the other three lakes combined: 7 of the 14. The most-reviewed tour here is the Seneca Lake Wine Tasting & Tour, 4.7 from 222 reviews, $263 per person for 5 to 6 hours, meeting in Geneva. Seneca Lake is very deep, rarely freezes and holds summer warmth into autumn, which moderates the vineyard slopes. It also holds one of the region's two sub-AVAs, designated in 2003. If Seneca does not fit, Keuka and Canandaigua both have solid shared options, and Cayuga has a single private day from Ithaca.
How Much Do Finger Lakes Wine Tours Cost?
Shared small-group vans cluster between $253 and $325 per person. The cheapest guided tour is the Farmington Canandaigua tour at $253; the most expensive shared day is the 7-hour Seneca tour with lunch at $325. Private tours are priced per group: $389 for up to 4 on the three customizable FLX Chauffeur days, $579 for up to 6 on the Seneca private, and from $439 on the Ithaca private day with the final price varying by group size. At the very bottom, the Fulkerson Winery walk-in tasting is $9 per person, but it is not a tour. Gratuities are extra on everything, and tasting fees are extra on the private cards.
Do The Prices Include Wine Tastings?
On the shared Crush vans, yes: tastings and admission are built into the fare, with roughly an hour at each of about four wineries. On the private FLX Chauffeur cards, no: the $389 customizable days and the $579 six-guest Seneca private cover transport, guiding and bottled water, and you pay tasting fees at the wineries. The Ithaca private day is a private cultural day; confirm exactly what it covers at each stop on the live listing. The $9 Fulkerson price is the tasting itself, nothing more. Gratuities are not included on any card.
Is The $9 Fulkerson Winery Tasting A Tour?
No. It is a standard tasting at Fulkerson Winery, 5576 NY-14, Dundee, taken at the tasting counter in about 25 minutes. There is no guide, no van and no hotel pickup. You show your booking receipt to the staff. The listing says open daily 10:00 to 17:00. It is the cheapest entry on the page and useful if you are driving yourself or already in Dundee. It is wheelchair and stroller accessible, allows service animals, caps bookings at 9 people, requires age 21 with ID, and asks for smart casual dress. You can cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a refund, per the listing.
When Does A Private Tour Cost Less Per Person Than A Shared Van?
With three or more people, the math starts to close. A $389 customizable day for a full group of 4 works out to about $97 per person, and the $579 Seneca private for a full 6 is also about $97 per person, both before tasting fees and gratuities. For scale, 4 people on the $263 shared Seneca tour is $1,052 total, though that fare includes the tastings while the private fares do not. So a full private group can be cheaper per head than a shared van, but you pay tasting fees on top at each winery.
Which Tours Include Lunch?
Two cards build lunch into the fare: the 7-hour Seneca tour with lunch at $325, with wraps, pizzas, salad, a panino and a glass of wine, and the 7-hour Canandaigua tour plus lunch at $321, at a local restaurant. Several other Crush listings offer a plus Lunch variant you can select on the booking page, including the Seneca and Seneca South tours and a Keuka variant. The Ithaca private day does not include lunch; food runs around $12 to $14 per person per the listing. Everywhere else, food and drinks beyond the tastings are on you.
Can I Cancel A Finger Lakes Wine Tour For Free?
Four cards offer free cancellation: the free-cancellation Seneca tasting listing, up to 3 days ahead; the Seneca tour with lunch, also 3 days; and both the Canandaigua plus lunch tour and the Farmington Canandaigua tour, 24 hours. The Crush listings are otherwise non-refundable once booked, though a weather or minimum-number cancellation gets you another date or a refund. The Ithaca private day's cancellation terms are not confirmed. Whatever you book, confirm the cancellation terms on the live listing before you pay, because terms on the cards can change.
How Old Do I Have To Be To Taste On A Tour?
Twenty-one, with valid photo ID. The legal drinking age in New York is 21 and tasting rooms cannot serve under-21 guests, so every tour card on this page carries a minimum age of 21 with ID, including the shared Crush vans and the private FLX Chauffeur days. The wineries hold the liquor licences and pour under them. If anyone in your party is under 21, a wine tour is the wrong product for that group on this page.
Do Finger Lakes Wine Tours Pick You Up From Your Hotel?
The private cards do. All four FLX Chauffeur tours pick up at your hotel or residence, and the Ithaca private day is listed with hotel pickup and drop-off in Ithaca, though you should confirm the details on the live listing. The shared Crush vans use fixed meeting points instead: the 41 Lakefront Hotel in Geneva for the Seneca tours, the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel for the Seneca South tour, the Hampton Inn Penn Yan for Keuka, and Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack in Farmington for the Canandaigua tours. One Seneca listing mentions hotel pickup at select hotels if requested; ask on the booking page.
How Long Do Finger Lakes Wine Tours Last?
Durations across the page run from 25 minutes to 7 hours. The 25 minutes is the Fulkerson walk-in tasting, which is not a tour. The shared vans run 5 to 6 hours on the standard days, with the Seneca South tour listed at 5 to 7. The two lunch-included days are 7 hours, with one hour of that given to lunch. The three customizable private days are 6 hours, and that includes travel time. The Ithaca private day runs about 7 hours. Winery stops on the sample itineraries get roughly an hour each, and the wineries are subject to change.
What Time Of Year Suits A Finger Lakes Wine Tour?
The tours run year-round. Harvest, late summer into fall, is the busiest stretch and the one most people picture. Spring and late fall are quieter, and winter is quietest of all, with heated vans on the shared tours. Spring and late fall are the quieter windows if you want thinner crowds. Timing notes and seasonal detail are in our guide at the best time to visit Finger Lakes wineries.
Why Do Some Tours Show So Few Reviews?
Because the record is genuinely thin, and we would rather say so than inflate it. Nine of the 14 tours on this page have 10 or fewer reviews, and several have none at all: the Canandaigua plus lunch tour, the Farmington Canandaigua tour and the Canandaigua customizable day all show no reviews yet. Where review counts are healthy we cite them: 222 on the main Seneca tour, 114 on the Canandaigua Wine Trail Experience, 74 on Seneca South, 65 on Keuka. Treat a 5.0 from 2 reviews as a weak signal, not a verdict.
Is There A Cayuga Lake Wine Tour?
One. The Private Full-Day Cultural Wine Tour in Historic Ithaca is the only Cayuga Lake and Ithaca product on this page, so there is no range to choose from. It is a private day of about 7 hours pairing winery stops with historic Ithaca, from $439 with the final price varying by group size, rated 5.0 from 2 reviews. Lunch is not included. Cayuga Lake does have its own sub-AVA, designated in 1988 inside the Finger Lakes AVA. If you want a shared van on the Cayuga side, this page has none.
Do I Need To Tip The Driver Or Guide?
Gratuities are not included in any fare on this page, so plan for a tip on top. That covers the shared Crush vans and the private FLX Chauffeur days alike; the private cards list gratuity as excluded alongside the tasting fees you pay at the wineries. A useful frame: anything the fare does not itemize, you should budget for. On a $263 shared day, tastings are in the fare but the tip is not. On a $389 private day, neither tasting fees nor tips are. Confirm what your specific listing says before you go.