Finger Lakes

Upstate New York, south of Lake Ontario, around the deep glacial lakes that give the region its name.

Cool continental, moderated by the lakes: long, mild growing seasons and autumn warmth retained by lake effect.

The Finger Lakes is the East Coast's cool-climate Riesling and ice-wine heartland, built on the beauty of its eleven lakes.

It proves that serious, age-worthy Riesling can come from the US East - and that true ice wine is made here too.

For the buyer, the region offers density of fresh whites and an emerging breadth of sparkling wine.

Terroir & Soil

Shallow shale-and-limestone soils over gravel; the lakes moderate frost and extend the season.

What to Expect from the Wines

· Riesling is the flagship grape - aromatic, precise and inherently age-worthy in this cool climate.
· Vidal and Cayuga produce the region's famous ice wines, thick and honied but still fresh.
· Sparkling wine from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is a rising star in the lakes' depths.

Remarkable Bottles from Finger Lakes

Standing Stone Vineyards Vidal Icewine

Finger Lakes · 2024 (representative vintage)

Standing Stone Vineyards Vidal Icewine is an dessert wine from United States, in the Finger Lakes region (Upstate New York, south of Lake Ontario, around the deep glacial lakes that give the region its name.), made principally from Vidal. The frozen-grape classic from the Finger Lakes — lush Vidal icewine of extraordinary concentration and sweetness.

$55–$95 est. retail

Finger Lakes Riesling

Finger Lakes · 2024 (representative vintage)

Finger Lakes Riesling is an white wine from United States, in the Finger Lakes region (Upstate New York, south of Lake Ontario, around the deep glacial lakes that give the region its name.), made principally from Riesling. a house-style Finger Lakes riesling that showcases the grape in this region.

$12–$28 est. retail

Finger Lakes Vidal

Finger Lakes · 2024 (representative vintage)

Finger Lakes Vidal is an white wine from United States, in the Finger Lakes region (Upstate New York, south of Lake Ontario, around the deep glacial lakes that give the region its name.), made principally from Vidal. a house-style Finger Lakes vidal that showcases the grape in this region.

$12–$28 est. retail

Finger Lakes Chardonnay

Finger Lakes · 2024 (representative vintage)

Finger Lakes Chardonnay is an white wine from United States, in the Finger Lakes region (Upstate New York, south of Lake Ontario, around the deep glacial lakes that give the region its name.), made principally from Chardonnay. a house-style Finger Lakes chardonnay that showcases the grape in this region.

$12–$28 est. retail

Finger Lakes Pinot Noir

Finger Lakes · 2024 (representative vintage)

Finger Lakes Pinot Noir is an red wine from United States, in the Finger Lakes region (Upstate New York, south of Lake Ontario, around the deep glacial lakes that give the region its name.), made principally from Pinot Noir. a house-style Finger Lakes pinot noir that showcases the grape in this region.

$14–$34 est. retail

Seneca Lake Riesling Riserva

Finger Lakes · 2024 (representative vintage)

Seneca Lake Riesling Riserva is an white wine from United States, in the Finger Lakes region (Upstate New York, south of Lake Ontario, around the deep glacial lakes that give the region its name.), made principally from Riesling. a reserve-tier Seneca Lake riesling that represents the region's premium bottled expression.

$35–$65 est. retail

Food Pairing

· Finger Lakes Riesling with spicy food, chicken tikka and Thai curry.
· Dry Riesling with sushi and raw oysters.
· The ice wines with cheesecake, white chocolate and blue cheese.

Buying from Finger Lakes

› The benchmark producers are Hermann J. Wiemer, Ravines, and Standing Stone (Seneca Lake).
› Seek out Riesling from the coolest, deepest sites - the concentration of value is high.
› Ice wine is a special occasion, and the best is made from Vidal and Riesling here.