Finger Lakes Top Vinifera Grapes Varieties
Finger Lakes: America's Reflection of the Rhine Valley
The Finger Lakes wine region draws frequent comparisons to the Rhine Valley in Germany and Alsace, France. Like the Finger Lakes, both regions share a cool climate characterized by mild summers and cold winters. Just as the Finger Lakes benefit from the hills and lakes for an optimal growing environment, the Rhine River mirrors sunlight onto strategically positioned vineyards on steep hills and slopes, warming the vines and aiding in grape ripening.
To learn more about the divers Finger Lakes terrior read Journey into Finger Lakes Terroir: The Impact oF Three Lakes
Riesling stands out as the predominant grape variety in both of these regions, producing wines ranging from dry to sweet. Other common notable varieties include Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris. If you appreciate the diverse wines of the Finger Lakes, it's highly recommended to explore wines from the Rhine region for a deeper appreciation of cool-climate varietals.
The top vinifera variety grown in the Finger Lakes is by far Riesling. It is followed by other prominent varieties: Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc. Pinot Noir, and Gewurztraminer.
To learn more about Finger Lakes wine making diversity and Finger Lakes Hybrid Grape Varieties read Finger Lakes Hybrid Innovation and Wine Making Diversity
To learn more about Finger Lakes Saperavi read Georgian Grape Varieties reshaping the Finger Lakes - Saperavi and Rkatsiteli
Source: Finger Lakes Wine Alliance
Vineyard overlooking the Rhine River in Germany
The Finger Lakes Top Seven Vinifera Grapes
Riesling
The aromatic Riesling takes the lead as the most cultivated grape in the Finger Lakes, playing a pivotal role in positioning the region as a champion of cool-climate varieties. Expect a vibrant and crisp acidity. Its versatility shines through as it can be crafted in various styles, from bone dry to very sweet. Sweetness typically derives from late-harvesting the grapes, effects of botrytis/noble rot, or from freezing the grapes on the vine (ice wine). The fruit profile spans from tart citrus to tropical notes, influenced by ripeness. With its high acidity, quality Riesling exhibits remarkable aging potential, evolving over the years to develop complex tertiary flavors of dried fruit, honey, and petrol.
For a Self-Guided Finger Lakes Wine Tour focused on the best Finger Lakes Riesling on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail read Exploring Seneca Lake Riesling: Self-Guided Finger Lakes Wine Tour along the Seneca Lake Wine Trail
Fruit: Exhibits a range from citrus to tropical fruit, based on ripeness
Floral: Jasmine and blossom
Other: Minerality from limestone and shale
Tertiary: With aging, develops flavors like dried fruit, honey, and petrol
While nearly every winery in the Finger Lakes produces at least one Riesling, if not a variety of them, the following are standout recommendations for Riesling enthusiasts, representing must-visit wineries.
Boundary Breaks Vineyard (ice wine) - Seneca Lake
Ravines Wine Cellars - Keuka Lake & Seneca Lake
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery - Keuka Lake
Weis Vineyards - Keuka Lake
Buttonwood Grove Winery - Cayuga Lake
Hosmer Winery - Cayuga Lake
Heart and Hands Wine Company - Cayuga Lake
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard - Seneca Lake
Kemmeter Wines - Seneca Lake
Forge Cellars - Seneca Lake
Silver Thread Vineyard - Seneca Lake
Hillick & Hobbs Estate - Seneca Lake
Wagner Vineyards Estate Winery (ice wine) - Seneca Lake
Finger Lakes Riesling Grapes in the Vineyard
Seneca Lake's Silver Thread Vineyard - Top Finger Lakes Riesling Producer
Chardonnay
When you think of American Chardonnay you may think of highly oaked, buttery, or ripe fruit flavors from warmer climate styles of Chardonnay. If so, you will be surprised by Finger Lakes Chardonnay. Many wine makers opt for either unoaked or lightly oaked styles which allow the natural fruit flavors to shine through and bring a crisp, bright acidity. Finger Lakes unoaked Chardonnays draw comparisons to Chablis, boasting crisp notes of citrus, lemon-lime, green apple, and subtle mineral undertones.
Fruit: Citrus, green apple, pear
Floral: Jasmine and Honeysuckle
Other: Minerality from the limestone and shale
Secondary: Light creaminess or oak if malolactic conversion or oak aging is used
Must visit wineries for Chardonnay:
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard - Seneca Lake
Anthony Road Wine Company - Seneca Lake
Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars - Seneca Lake
Scout Vineyards - Seneca Lake
Heron Hill Winery - Keuka Lake
Domaine Leseurre Winery - Keuka Lake
Hosmer Winery - Cayuga Lake
Seneca Lake’s Hermann J. Wiemer Reserve Chardonnay
Seneca Lake winery Anthony Road - Best Finger Lakes Chardonnay
Cabernet Franc (Cab Franc)
Cab Fran is the most widely grown red vinifera variety in the region. It has nice balanced acidity, medium body, moderate tannins, and a soft texture, which makes it a very food friendly wine. Typically leading with red fruit notes like cherry, raspberry, cranberry, and plum, it continues into a mix of spiciness, black pepper, earth, and tobacco. While Cab Franc is often utilized as a blending grape elsewhere, the Finger Lakes proudly presents it as a single-varietal wine. It may also be blended with Lemberger (Blaufränkisch) or other red grapes and is a key component in crafting Rosé wines in the region.
Fruit: Red fruit, cherry, raspberry, cranberry, and plum
Spice: Black pepper
Tertiary: Earth, tobacco
Similar to Riesling, many of the Finger Lakes wineries will have some form of Cab Franc in their library of wines. These are some standout wineries where you should try the Cab Franc:
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard - Seneca Lake
Damiani Wine Cellars - Seneca Lake
Anthony Road Wine Company - Seneca Lake
Wagner Vineyards Estate Winery - Seneca Lake
Boundary Breaks Vineyard - Seneca Lake
Lakewood Vineyards - Seneca Lake
Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars - Seneca Lake
Shalestone Vineyards - Seneca Lake
Weis Vineyards - Keuka Lake
Knapp Winery - Cayuga Lake
Airy Acres Vineyard - Cayuga Lake
Pinot Noir
The limestone soil of the Finger Lakes mirrors the renowned Pinot Noir-producing region of Burgundy, France. Despite the delicate and finicky nature of the grape, it has become the second most produced red vinifera variety in the region, thanks to the optimal combination of the soils, cool climates, and innovative winemakers. The cooler climate characteristic of the Finger Lakes imparts a light to medium body to the wine, coupled with a balanced structure and gentle tannins. Often described as silky, the wine embodies red fruit notes such as cherry, raspberry, strawberry, and cranberry, accompanied by chalky minerality, earthiness, hints of smoke and clove, and occasionally a floral touch of rose petal. This expression of Pinot Noir in the Finger Lakes captures the essence of the region's unique terroir. Primarily crafted as a standalone wine, Pinot Noir is occasionally blended with other red wines like Cab Franc. Additionally, it serves as a prevalent grape choice in the production of Rosé and some sparkling wines within the region.
Fruit: Cherry, raspberry, strawberry, and cranberry
Floral: Rose Petal
Minerality: Chalk
Oak: Smoke, Clove
Tertiary: Earth
Must visit wineries for Pinot Noir:
Nathan K. (at Hickory Hollow Wine) - Seneca Lake
Element (at F.L.X. Provisions) - Seneca Lake
Lakewood Vineyards - Seneca Lake
Shalestone Vineyards - Seneca Lake
Kemmeter Wines - Seneca Lake
Ravines Wine Cellars - Seneca and Keuka Lake
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery - Keuka Lake
Heart & Hands Wine Company - Cayuga Lake
Buttonwood Grove Winery - Cayuga Lake
Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer is another grape widely cultivated in the Rhine Valley of Germany and France and the Finger Lakes. It’s a unique, full-bodied wine celebrated for its intense aromatics and subtle spiciness. The wine is characterized by floral notes, such as rose petals and jasmine, and boasts a rich and exotic fruit profile encompassing lychee, tropical fruits, orange and ripe stone fruits. Additional subtle hints of spice, ginger, white pepper, or clove, contribute to its complexity. In the Finger Lakes, Gewürztraminer is crafted in a diverse range of styles, from off-dry to sweet, showcasing the region's versatility with this expressive varietal. Traditionally it pairs very well with spicey food.
Fruit: Lychee, tropical fruits, orange and ripe stone fruits
Floral: Rose petals, jasmine
Spice: Ginger, white pepper, clove
Must visit wineries for Gewürztraminer:
Leidenfrost Vineyards - Seneca Lake
Lakewood Vineyards - Seneca Lake
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery - Keuka Lake
Keuka Spring Vineyards - Keuka Lake
Living Roots - Keuka Lake
Weis Vineyards - Keuka Lake
Sheldrake Point Winery - Cayuga Lake
Buttonwood Grove Winery - Cayuga Lake
Cabernet Sauvignon (Cab Sauv)
Cabernet Sauvignon (Cab Sauv) is often associated with warm climates like California's Napa Valley, but what many Americans might not realize is that Bordeaux, renowned for its Cab Sauv blends, has a cooler to moderate maritime climate. In cool climates, Cab Sauv can display complexity with notes of red and black fruit, green pepper, mint, and oak-induced vanilla. However, there's a delicate balance as Cab Sauv in cooler regions risks not fully ripening, resulting in undesirable vegetal flavors, heightened acidity, and harsh tannins. Winemakers must exercise caution during harvest to avoid picking too early. Similar to Bordeaux, this challenge can be addressed by blending with Merlot, Cab Franc or other red grapes, creating a refined and traditional old-world blend. In the Finger Lakes, you have the opportunity to savor it as a single varietal or as part of a blend, offering a chance to appreciate the elegance of cool-climate Cab Sauv. This more medium bodied style may be a refreshing alternative for those that find its Californian counterparts too intense. A few popular Bordeaux blends to try are Ravines Wine Cellars - Maximilien, Damiani Wine Cellars - MC2, and Hector Wine Company - Essence
Fruit: Black cherry, blackcurrant, blueberry, raspberry
Herbaceous: Green pepper
Herbal: Mint
Oak: Cedar, vanilla, smoke, chocolate
Tertiary: Leather, tobacco
As the third most widely planted red vinifera grape in the Finger Lakes, you can find Cab Sauv in many of the tasting rooms. Here a few to try:
Barnstormer Winery – Seneca Lake
Idol Ridge Winery – Seneca Lake
Flatt Rock Wine Cellars – Seneca Lake
Shaw Vineyard – Seneca Lake
Damiani Wine Cellars – Seneca Lake
Hector Wine Company - Seneca Lake
Shalestone Vineyards - Seneca Lake
Ravines Wine Cellars – Keuka & Seneca Lakes
Living Roots – Keuka Lake
Sheldrake Point Winery – Cayuga Lake
Thirsty Owl Wine Company – Cayuga Lake
Button Wood Grove Winery – Cayuga Lake
Knapp Winery - Cayuga Lake
Merlot
Merlot, another renowned red Bordeaux grape, thrives in the cool-climate conditions of the Finger Lakes, much like Cabernet Franc. In cooler climates, Merlot develops increased structure and higher tannins, leading to similar profile to Cabernet Sauvignon. In the Finger Lakes, anticipate Merlot to showcase balanced tannins, red and black fruit flavors, subtle hints of smoke, black pepper, and herbs, and possibly even floral notes of rose and violet. Try the popular Cabernet Sauvignon blends mentioned previously or look for others in the tasting rooms. Whether enjoyed as a single varietal or blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and other red grapes, Finger Lakes Merlot offers a distinctive and flavorful experience.
Fruit: Cherry, plum, blackberries
Herbal: Fennel
Spice: Cinnamon, black berry
Floral: Rose, violet
Oak: Smoke, chocolate
Tertiary: Leather, earth
Some of the wineries producing Merlot are:
Barnstormer Winery – Seneca Lake
Flatt Rock Wine Cellars – Seneca Lake
Shaw Vineyard – Seneca Lake
Damiani Wine Cellars – Seneca Lake
Hector Wine Company - Seneca Lake
Leidenfrost Vineyards - Seneca Lake
Chateau LaFayette Reneau - Seneca Lake
Shalestone Vineyards - Seneca Lake
Ravines Wine Cellars – Keuka & Seneca Lake
Weis Vineyards - Keuka Lake
Keuka Spring Vineyards - Keuka Lake
Sheldrake Point Winery – Cayuga Lake
Knapp Winery - Cayuga Lake