- Ages 21+ Ages Ages 21+
- 7 Hours Duration 7 Hours
The western shores of Seneca Lake are home to some of the most beautifully crafted wines in the Finger Lakes. Learn about the people behind the wine, their authenticity, and their passion.
Quick Details
Experience East Seneca Lake on a Wine Tour with Lunch
This tour gives guests the opportunity to experience some of the best wine in Upstate New York. East Seneca Lake is known in the region as the “banana belt” for its exceptional terroir, making it ideal for crafting dry classic European styled wines. As a result, please note that this tour focuses mostly on dry white and red wines. At each winery, guests taste multiple vintages and varietals from different sites, discovering firsthand the effects of seasonal variation, age, and terroir in each glass.
At our first stop, Silver Thread Vineyards welcomes you, glasses in hand. Owners Paul or Shannon Brock take you into the vineyard* and share with you their philosophy of sustainable farming of which they practice to make their superb wines. Afterward, you will head to their VIP wine cellar tasting room, and explore a flight of their award-winning wines including Rieslings, Gewurztraminers, and their very popular Blackbird red blend paired with local cheese.
*Vineyard tour availability dependent on weather
Tours will enjoy select sandwiches and salads from Elf in the Oak. To view an example menu, click on the following link: Elf in the Oak Lunch Menu.
After lunch, enjoy a special wine tasting at Damiani Wine Cellars. Damiani is known for consistently having some of the best red wines in the region. Your tasting will be paired with locally-made, hand-crafted chocolate, carefully curated to match Damiani’s award-winning red and white varietal wines.
Our last stop brings us to Flatt Rock Cellars, a more recent addition to the Banana Belt. Guests will be greeted by owner David Flatt in their new space The View, which overlooks their vines and Seneca Lake. David then guides you through a tasting that celebrates the winemaking-style of France, particularly beautiful bottle-aged reds. A locally-made chocolate is paired with a specially-selected red wine to showcase the magic of a carefully curated wine pairing.
Alternatively, on select dates, we end our day at Idol Ridge Winery. Head winemaker Phil Plummer who has been making wine in New York’s Finger Lakes region for over a decade, has taken a lead role in the development and production of a wide-ranging portfolio of wines. Phil has a penchant for innovation and exploring the outer regions of what the Finger Lakes wine region is capable of producing. The result of his experience and passion are wines that contemplative, engaging and down-right delicious.
Lastly there are some days that we will visit Red Newt Wine Cellars for a fantastic tasting of their wines. They are known for their Rieslings and have a wide variety of well balanced wines. Enjoy our custom tasting there with their Hellbender port-style wine to end.
Please note that on occasions, our regularly scheduled partners on this itinerary are unavailable and we may make substitutions as needed. To see the participating wineries on a given day, please visit the touring calendar. These wineries and lunch locations may be subject to change.
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This tour is available in three different options:
Shared Tour: Small, guided experience for up to 7 guests (2-3 different households) with knowledgeable wine professional tour guide. This is the enhanced shared group experience for which we are known, now in an extra small format.
Traditional Private Tour: The high-quality experience you have come to expect in an E!FLX tour, now available as a private experience for 2-7 people. Comes with $15 of “Bottle Bucks” per person, that serves as cash towards wine purchases at all stops.
Premium Private Tour Upgrade: All the enhanced features of our traditional private tour (including “Bottle Bucks”) with upgraded premium tastings at each winery. Tastings will feature limited library and reserve wines not typically offered to the public. You can upgrade your Traditional Private Tour to a Premium Private Tour for an additional $50 per person.
Want to get even more out of your private tour? Premium Private Tours offer the option to have a certified sommelier serve as your tour guide for the ultimate experience!
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- All-inclusive wine tour experience for 2-6 guests
- Transportation provided in either our 7-passenger Mercedes Metris
- Vineyard and winemaking tour at the first winery
- Private, fully-curated, enhanced, tasting experiences at each winery
- An experiential food pairing at each winery
- Locally-sourced lunch at a winery overlooking vineyards & Seneca Lake
- Added services including water and snacks on board your vehicle
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The following locations are available for pick up and drop off on our Shared Tours:
- 10:00 AM @ La Tourelle Hotel & Spa, 1150 Danby Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850
- 10:15 AM @ Hotel Ithaca, 222 S. Cayuga St., Ithaca, NY 14850
- 11:00 AM @ Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, 16 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
On private tours, we provide custom pick-up and drop-off at your preferred location (additional fees may apply).
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- Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions or special considerations, and we will do our best to accommodate.
- All guests are required to verify they have read and understood our Assumption of Risk Waiver.
Guest Minimum and Maximum on Shared Tours
All Shared Tours require a minimum of 4 total guests in order to run the tour at the listed price. These tours will typically consist of 2-3 separate parties joining together in a shared experience, offering exceptional value for couples and small groups.
In the event that the 4 guest minimum is not met, we will contact you one week prior to the scheduled date where you will be offered the following options depending on the number of guests currently booked:
- Upgrade to a shorter private afternoon tour just for you
- Reschedule the tour for a future date at no penalty
- Cancel the reservation and receive a full refund