A Finger Lakes Wine Weekend Rental on Skaneateles Lake
Skaneateles makes a smart home base for a Finger Lakes wine weekend: one winery across the lake, a cidery and distillery in the hills, and two of the region's best wine trails within an hour. Come home to a big kitchen, a deck made for evening pours and a fire pit for the last glass.
Cottage Features for Wine Lovers
- A deck facing west for sunset pours as the light goes gold over the hills
- Wine glasses, a full kitchen and island seating for cheese boards and tasting-room finds
- Gas grill and outdoor dining table for long dinners outside
- Fire pit ringed with Adirondack chairs for the nightcap
- Four bedrooms and 2.5 baths, so a group can split the driving and still sleep well
Wineries, Cideries and Breweries Near Skaneateles
Drive times are from the cottage, checked in Google Maps in October 2026. Tasting hours change by season and many rooms prefer reservations, so check each website before you go and always plan a designated driver.
Close to home
- Anyela's Vineyards, Skaneateles (17 min): a family winery on the west shore with lake views, live music on weekends and Skaneateles Festival concerts in summer.
- Beak & Skiff Apple Hill Campus and 1911 Tasting Room, LaFayette (18 min): hard ciders, spirits and wines made from the orchard's apples, plus pick-your-own in season.
- Skaneateles Brewery, Mill Road (14 min): a small brewery and food spot just north of the village.
- Critz Farms Brewing & Cider Co., Cazenovia (45 min): a farm tap room pouring its own cider and beer, with seasonal hours.
Cayuga Lake Wine Trail
- Montezuma Winery & Hidden Marsh Distillery, Seneca Falls (38 min): fruit wines, mead and spirits near the Montezuma wildlife refuge.
- Heart & Hands Wine Company, Union Springs (41 min): small-lot Pinot Noir and Riesling; reservations suggested.
- Long Point Winery, Aurora (49 min): a relaxed, year-round tasting room on the east shore.
- Treleaven Wines, King Ferry (50 min): a long-running estate known for Chardonnay and Riesling, with a kitchen.
- Sheldrake Point Winery, Ovid (1 hr 6 min): lakeside tastings and a bistro on the west shore of Cayuga.
Seneca and Keuka Lakes (a full day out)
- Ravines Wine Cellars, Geneva (1 hr 5 min): acclaimed dry wines at the north end of Seneca Lake.
- Fox Run Vineyards, Penn Yan (1 hr 11 min): a restored dairy barn with a cafe and daily tours.
- Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars, Lodi (1 hr 12 min): a striking modern tasting room above Seneca Lake; reservations encouraged.
- Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, Dundee (1 hr 24 min): one of the most respected Riesling producers in the region.
- Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, Hammondsport (1 hr 45 min): the Keuka Lake pioneer of European grapes in the Finger Lakes.
A Sample Wine Weekend
Friday
Arrive after 4 PM, open something local on the deck and watch the sunset. Dinner at The Krebs or Rosalie's Cucina in the village (about 10 to 11 minutes).
Saturday
Breakfast at the cottage, then head west for a Cayuga Lake loop: Montezuma, Heart & Hands and Long Point. Picnic lunch from the cottage kitchen or the deli at Long Point. Back by late afternoon for a dip at the dock, then grill on the deck and finish at the fire pit.
Sunday
Slow morning, then Anyela's Vineyards across the lake before you leave the area (check Sunday hours first).
Wine Weekend Questions
Is there a wine fridge at the cottage?
The cottage has a full-size refrigerator and freezer, plus wine glasses. There is no separate wine cooler.
Can we book a driver or tour?
Many groups hire a local tour company or driver for trail days. Book well ahead for fall weekends.
When is the best time for a wine weekend?
Harvest season, September through October, is the most festive. Spring and early summer are quieter and tasting rooms are easier to book.
Keep Exploring
