Region · New York, USA
Finger Lakes
FING-ger layks
Riesling, lakes, and winter
What should I drink from here?
New York's serious cellar: deep glacial lakes that store heat, Riesling that can be dry or off-dry, and a cool-climate Cabernet Franc.
- lime
- slate
- green apple
- petrol
- red currant
Seneca, Cayuga, and Keuka moderate a climate that would otherwise be too cold. Riesling is the flagship — often closer to Germany than to Australia. Cabernet Franc and sparkling are the supporting actors worth watching.
Hybrid grapes still matter for volume. The bottles that travel are mostly vinifera, and they travel better every vintage.
Trout, pork, and spicy takeout.
At the table
Service
Riesling 45–48 °F (7–9 °C); Franc 55–59 °F (13–15 °C).
Places
Go see Finger Lakes.
Riesling country with a lake on one side. Seneca and Keuka. Cool nights, serious whites.
Tasting rooms and itinerary
