For wine lovers, the best vacations are going to include at least some visits to wineries. But not every visit has to be only about the wine. There’s the food, of course, the picnics you pack and spread out on picnic tables overlooking the vines, or the food prepared at the winery that’s designed to pair perfectly with their bottles. Sometimes, there’s more.
Many wineries in New York offer experiences beyond food and wine (and beautiful views of vineyards), adding some variety to your vacation, staycation, or even a day trip out to wine country. Here’s a glimpse into what New York wineries throughout the state offer to add variety to your day as you sip on a glass of vino.
The Air Strip at Airy Acres Vineyard, Interlaken
If you have a private plane, and if you get permission from the owners of Airy Acres Vineyard, located on the west side of Cayuga Lake, you can land and take off from the small grass runway located on the winery’s property.
“The runway was put in by my father in the 1950s,” says Fred Bassette, owner of the winery. Back then, the property, formerly a family farm from the 1910s, was previously named Airy Acres Airport. When Bassette, along with his family, started the vineyard in 2015, the name Airy Acres carried on.
While not too many people actually fly their private planes to the vineyard—although there is one wine club member who has picked up their allocation via the airstrip—it’s an attraction and part of the property’s history that’s of interest to those who visit.
It’s also interwoven into much of the day-to-day life of Airy Acres.
“If you look at our logo closely, the stem on the cluster of grapes is actually a three-bladed propeller,” says Bassette. And many of Airy Acres’ blended wines have aviation terms in their names, such as Crosswind, a white blend of Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Rkatsiteli, and Osprey, a red blend of Cabernet Franc, Lemberger, and Cabernet Sauvignon, named for both the military aircraft Osprey and the osprey birds that nest on the property.
Other things to keep an eye out for at Air Acres include the tasting room in the cozy, renovated old farmhouse with furniture that’s been on the farm for decades, and the fudge sold in the tasting room. Women in a residential treatment facility who have escaped abuse make the fudge as part of a program that teaches them skills, and sales benefit that program.
The Boat Dock at Thirsty Owl Wine Company, Ovid
Located by Cayuga Lake, visitors to Thirsty Owl who come by way of water are welcome to dock their boat at the winery’s landing on the lake.
“We shuttle people in a utility vehicle that can carry five or six people at a time,” says Jon Cupp, president of the winery. In the busy season, there are usually a couple of vehicles running at a time.
Over a decade ago, the winery put in a large dock that replaced one that Cupp referred to as “old and uninviting,” to accommodate both individuals and tour companies that ferry wine lovers by boat. On a busy day, they’ll get 150 to 200 visitors by boat.
“We get three to four boat tours a day,” says Cupp, referring to the busy season that runs from about April to early November, although they’ll send the utility vehicle to the dock to pick up visitors any time of year.
“There’s a big sign with a phone number that people can call from their cell phone,” says Cupp.
Once visitors are at the winery, they can enjoy the wines along with a meal from the on-site restaurant, as well as another attraction—a stunning, unobstructed view for 11 or 12 miles across the lake.
Pickleball at Goose Watch Winery, Romulus
If you can’t decide if you want to go to a winery or play a match or two of pickleball, you don’t have to at Goose Watch Winery. Located on the northwest side of Cayuga Lake, Goose Watch recently added the trendy sport as an option.
“The courts were originally tennis courts that came with the property, but we saw usage decline over the years,” says general manager Amanda Fitzgerald. “This past spring, they were converted, and now there are four brand-new pickleball courts.”
Visitors can reserve the courts and bring their own paddles, or if courts are available, those who haven’t reserved can rent paddles and balls and play a match or two. The cost to rent a pickleball court is just $15.
Fitzgerald is looking forward to the winery’s first fall as a pickleball destination.
“I think fall will be beautiful,” she says. “The courts overlook the vineyards and the lake. It’s the most gorgeous view you can imagine.”
Goose Watch also has a dock that boaters can pull up to, and a few bites—sandwiches, pretzels, nachos, and a giant hot cookie—to pair with wines. There’s also a brewery on the property in a separate building just a “stone’s throw” from the winery, giving visitors a diversity of beverages to enjoy.
Bike or Boat to Adirondack Winery, Lake George
The Warren County Bikeway runs between towns in the Lake George area, and visitors to Adirondack Winery can access it from their bikes. There’s also a public boat dock about a mile down the road, so boaters can dock and make their way to the winery.
Once there, they can enjoy Adirondack’s wine, cider from the on-site Extreme Heights Cidery, or a whiskey tasting from the winery’s partnership with American Oak Distillery, as well as light snacks and charcuterie.
Adirondack’s events are worth visiting for also, including the annual Adirondack Wine and Food Festival held at the beginning of summer at nearby Charles R. Wood Festival Commons.
“This past year, we had over 120 New York producers,” says Sasha Pardy, co-owner and president of the winery. Wineries, distillers, breweries, ciders, and non-alcoholic producers, along with artisan food vendors and food trucks, set up booths for the more than 6,000 festival attendees to enjoy.
On site, Adirondack holds boozy book fairs four times a year. Independent booksellers and those who “make cute crafts for books,” according to Pardy, set up at the winery for those who love both books and wine.
Enjoy Wine, Beer, and Spirits in One Place at Mazza Chautauqua Cellars, Westfield
Mazza, which also has winemaking facilities across the border in Pennsylvania, produces wine, beer, and spirits at its Mazza Chautauqua Cellars in Westfield near Lake Erie. Chautauqua Cellars lays claim as the first combined winery, brewery, and distillery in the state.
“It’s a shared winery, distillery, and brewery,” says Mario Mazza, vice president and general manager of Mazza. Three of the winery’s labels are made on the NY side. The Patio Series, cheerful wines made from labrusca varieties; Bare Bones Wines, a no-frills collection inspired by life on the lake; and the Traveler’s Series, made with grapes sourced from where they grow best, such as Vignoles from Lake Erie, Riesling from the Finger Lakes, and Merlot from Long Island, are all made on site.
On premise, visitors can enjoy the wines, beers, and spirits—plus a great cocktail program—at Chautauqua. In the warmer months, the patio is open with live music, lawn games, and food, and there’s indoor seating (or an outdoor fire pit) during the colder months.
“Our current iteration of food is a rotating flight of food trucks that have brought a bit of variety,” says Mazza.
Next time you’re planning a vacation or just a day out enjoying the wines of New York, consider one of these quality wineries that offer more than just excellent reds, whites, rosés, and bubblies—they have attractions that can keep you there a little longer than the norm.
