Pleasant Valley Wine Company
New York | Finger Lakes | Keuka Lake Wine Trail
Location
Address: 8260 Pleasant Valley Rd, Hammondsport, NY 14840
Phone: (607) 569-6111
Website: www.pleasantvalleywine.com
State: New York Wineries
Wine Region: Finger Lakes Wineries
American Viticultural Area: Finger Lakes AVA
Wine Trail: Keuka Lake Wine Trail
About Pleasant Valley Wine Company
In 1865, the Finger Lakes region became home to the first bonded winery in the United States, Pleasant Valley Wine Company. Situated on Keuka Lake, Pleasant Valley was a leading producer of sparkling wine, earning the nickname "Rheims of America" after the renowned Champagne region in France.
Pleasant Valley put Finger Lakes sparkling wine on the international map in 1867 when its Sparkling Catawba received an honorable mention at the Exposition Universelle in Paris, making it the first American sparkling wine to earn a European award. The winery continued to win accolades across Europe, and its sparkling wines gained popularity among elite wine drinkers and fine dining establishments across the United States. One admirer dubbed it "the Great Champagne of the Western World," a moniker that inspired the brand name "Great Western," which Pleasant Valley Wine Company still uses today. At its peak, New York State produced more sparkling wine than any other state in the U.S. Although Prohibition (1920-1933) significantly impacted New York's flourishing wine industry, Pleasant Valley managed to continue operations by selling wine for sacramental and medicinal purposes.
Today, you can visit this historic site and immerse yourself in the rich wine history of the Finger Lakes. Enjoy a wine tasting and tour their historic eight stone buildings, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Wine to Try: One of their many sparkling wines, including their Great Western Brut
Wine Styles:
Styles: Rosé, Sparkling, Dessert
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