Cayuga Lake Wine Trail

A self-guided trail of wineries in the Cayuga Lake AVA, mostly along NY Route 89 on the west shore of Cayuga Lake, with stops near Seneca Falls (US-20, NY-414) and one outlier east of Ithaca. There is no fixed start or end point.

Checked October 1, 2026 on the trail’s and each winery’s own website. Official trail site

10wineries listed
1983trail founded
5towns
6serve food
6dog-friendly

The wineries (10)

8 of 10 wineries publish a tasting price. Sorted by town.

Lucas Vineyards
Interlaken
The first winery on Cayuga Lake, run by the Lucas family, known for its nautical-themed Tug Boat and Nautie wines.
- not listed (choice of 3 or 5 wines)
- dog-friendly
- picnic
- live music
- lake view
Six Mile Creek Vineyard
Ithaca
Ithaca's oldest winery and distillery, in a restored 19th-century Dutch barn; its 2016 Cabernet Franc won the 2019 NY Governor's Cup.
- $10 for 6 wines; spirit tastings $2 each (max 3)
- distillery
- picnic
- event venue
- live music
Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery
Ovid
Challen family estate winery making wines from its own vineyards, poured in a rustic barn tasting room.
- $8 for four wines of your choice
- food
- dog-friendly
Hosmer Winery
Ovid
Family estate winery making wine since 1985 from 70 acres of vines, known for Riesling and Cabernet Franc.
- dog-friendly
- lodging
- picnic
- live music
Sheldrake Point Winery
Ovid
Estate winery founded in 1997 on a former orchard and dairy farm, growing ten vinifera varieties; known for its Cabernet Franc dry rosé and ice wines.
- $15 for 5 wines of your choice; Vintage Room library tasting $50
- food
- live music
- lake view
Six Eighty Cellars
Ovid
Small winery founded in 2020 that ages wines from certified sustainable grapes in terracotta, clay, concrete and sandstone vessels.
- not listed (5 wines of your choice)
- food
- lodging
- picnic
- lake view
Thirsty Owl Wine Company
Ovid
Lakefront estate winery pouring more than 25 wines, from Riesling and Pinot Gris to Malbec, Syrah and Pinot Noir; has its own boat dock.
- $5 for 5 wines ($2 back as a coupon on a bottle); $10 for groups over 20
- food
- dog-friendly
- lake view
- picnic
Buttonwood Grove Winery
Romulus
Governor's Cup winner growing Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Riesling, with newer Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Gewurztraminer plantings.
- food
- lodging
- live music
- lake view
Swedish Hill Winery + Cider Co.
Romulus
Winery founded by the Peterson family in 1986, now owned by the Martin family; also makes Donkey Kick hard ciders.
- not listed (6 wines plus a sip of the month)
- brewery/cidery
- dog-friendly
Montezuma Winery
Seneca Falls
Martin family winery and meadery that grew out of beekeeping; also home to Hidden Marsh Distillery and its honey-based BEE Vodka.
- From $10 for 6 wines plus a sip of the month; spirit tastings from $6 for 3
- food
- distillery
- dog-friendly
- live music

Filter the trail

How to do the trail without driving

The trail does not run its own transportation; it lists local tour, limo and designated-driver companies. Ride-share (Uber, Lyft) is limited in the area, and the trail advises booking a driver ahead, especially for groups of 6 or more. Main Street Drivers and Grapevine Country Tours offer a driver for your own car. Two wineries can be reached by boat: Sheldrake Point has eight slips (boats up to 35 ft) and Thirsty Owl has a 14-slip dock with a ride up to the tasting room.

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Where to stay

Staying on the trail means no long drive after the last tasting. Towns with wineries on the Cayuga Lake trail:

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Best time to go

Wineries are open year-round (all but one, per the trail; a few go weekends-only in winter). Trail ticketed events run in late October and on November-December weekends; Hosmer names August-October as its peak season.

Trail events

Event	When
Sips and Spells	October 31, 2026
Jingle & Mingle (Holiday Shopping Spree)	November 20-22 and December 4-6, 2026
Ports of Call	TBD

Dates as published by the trail. Confirm tickets on the official site.

Frequently asked questions

How many wineries are on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail?

We list 10 current wineries on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail; the trail itself says 10. They sit in or near Interlaken, Ithaca, Ovid, Romulus and Seneca Falls.

Is there a shuttle on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail?

The trail itself provides no transportation, but it lists nine local tour, limo and driver companies that serve the wineries.

Can you use Uber or Lyft on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail?

Not reliably. The trail says ride-share options are limited and recommends booking transportation in advance.

How much do tastings cost on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail?

The trail says most wineries charge about $5-25 per person; specialty wines like ice wine can cost extra.

Do I need reservations?

Policies vary by winery. The trail recommends reserving at each winery for groups of 6 or more.

Where does the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail start?

There is no set start or end. The trail is self-guided, so you can visit the wineries in any order.

How long should I spend at each winery?

The trail suggests 45 minutes to an hour per winery, including travel time.

Can you visit Cayuga Lake wineries by boat?

Yes. Sheldrake Point Winery and Thirsty Owl Wine Company both have docks on Cayuga Lake.

Are the wineries open year-round?

According to the trail, all but one member winery is open year-round, and a few open only on weekends in winter.

Is Cayuga Lake the oldest wine trail in America?

The trail calls itself America's first organized and longest-running wine trail, founded in 1983.

Sources

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