Wagner Vineyards on Seneca Lake in the fabulous Finger Lakes is one of the top wineries overlooking the scenic Seneca Lake. They also feature a wonderful brewery and the delightful Ginny Lee Cafe. The interior of the tasting rooms and the cafe along with the extensive outdoor seating areas can host hundreds of people with a breathtaking view of Seneca Lake, the deepest of the 11 Finger Lakes at up to 618 feet deep. Wagner Vineyards is just a short drive north of Schuyler County and Watkins Glen, where we also spent several fun-filled days.
Watkins Glen to Wagner Vineyards on the East Side of Seneca Lake
There are over 150 wineries in Finger Lakes, and dozens around Seneca Lake. Driving from Watkins Glen, some of the noteworthy wineries we passed on Highway 114 to Wagner were Ryan William Vineyards, Catharine Valley Winery, Silver Springs Winery, Damiani Wine Cellars, J. R. Dill Winery, Red Newt Cellars, Hector Wine Company, Leidenfrost Vineyards, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards, Rasta Ranch Vineyards, Flatt Rock Wine Cellars, Standing Stone Vineyards, , Ria’s Wines, and Caywood Vineyards. And that’s just the first third of the eastern shore of Seneca Lake! Also, the west side of Seneca Lake, Keuka Lake, and Cayuga Lake are less than an hour’s drive away.
In addition to numerous wineries, our path took us past Grist Iron Brewing, Two Goats Brewing, Scale House Bewery, Lucky Hare Brewing, and numerous restaurants and BnBs. There is so much to do and see in this part of the Finger Lakes. We were so happy we had an afternoon to spend at Wagner Vineyards and Brewery.
Our Tour and Tasting at Wagner Vineyards
Our amazing guide on the Wagner Wine Tasting and Tour was John Pulos. John is a very knowledgeable, articulate, and funny man who made our visit so enjoyable. We learned about Wagner, wines, grapes, history … and the Titanic! A former teacher, restaurant owner and chef, and now a wine educator, John has written two published books: Looking at Wine Through a Different Window and Titanic: My Story.
John is an extremely intelligent man with a gift for storytelling. His informative, educational, and humorous tour of the vineyards, facilities, and tasting room was one of the best I’ve ever experienced. And I have been on a lot. The two other travel writers who joined us echoed these sentiments, and we all felt lucky to hav John show us around Wagner.
We learned details of how American grapevines and the insect they carry, phylloxera, devastated European vineyards in the 19th century. The Phylloxera, a tiny yellow louse that feeds on the roots of vines, killed many of the European vines within a few years after some vines were brought over to the New World. The solution? Old World vines above ground were grafted to aphid-tolerant American rootstock. So today, almost all the world’s wine owes its existence to American rootstock.
John also told us the story of how Merlot got its name. Experts noticed that the blackbirds come in droves when the grapes ripen, a sure sign that the grapes were about ready to harvest. Because of this connection, this type of grape was given the name Merlot – the French name for blackbird. The name also applies to the dark purplish color of the grapes, similar to the color of blackbirds. John showed us how the Cab Franc vines are planted and guided vertically and then horizontally on guide wires to maximize exposure to air and sun. We were also amazed to learn the roots of some vines penetrated as much as 20 feet below ground.
A Variety of Wine and Beer Tasting Options
Wagner Vineyards offers a wide variety of experiences at the winery and brewery as described at their website:
- A NEW offering at Wagner are the Library Wine Tastings for those interested in learning and experiencing how wine varies from vintage to vintage and changes over time. These special tastings include the opportunity to try very limited availability wines.
- Wine flights (or beer flights) for self-guided tastings are always available for walk-ins at the Vantage Point on Seneca (our seasonally enclosed deck) or on the lawn at our picnic tables (weather permitting). We do not take reservations for flights or deck/outdoor seating.
- Guided tastings for those that love to learn and would like help finding the best wine for your palate (reservations are strongly suggested for Guided Tastings, especially weekends and holidays).
Ginny Lee Cafe
We had a delicious lunch at the Ginny Lee Restaurant, adjacent to the Wagner Wine Tasting Room and Brewery. Our group chose fresh beef barley soup, a flavorful meatball parmesan pizza, and some delicious Crabmeat Rangoons – a blend of crab meat, cream cheese and herbs wrapped in a deep fried wonton, served with sweet ginger soy sauce. Each dish was well done and just right before our tasting and tour. The café also offers a variety of sandwiches, burgers, wraps, and cheeseboards, all excellent to pair with a Wagner wine or beer.
The Ginny Lee Cafe, named after the founder’s granddaughter, is actually run by that same granddaughter today. Ginny is in charge of the restaurant, weddings, and special events held at the winery. With ample space in the dining facility and in the open fields below near the vineyards and overlooking the lake, the Ginny Lee Café and the adjoining tasting room are a popular choice for hosting weddings, reunions, and other special events. Did we mention the view is spectacular?
Don’t Miss Wagner Vineyards and Brewery in Finger Lakes
Wagner Vineyards and Brewery and the Ginny Lee Cafe are must-see destinations in the beautiful Finger Lakes.
Read about are other adventures in Finger Lakes in these PlayStayEat articles and videos.
Thanks to Wagner Vineyards and the Ginny Lee Cafe for hosting us. All opinions are my own.
