A Perfect Keuka Lake Wine Weekend from The Hideaway
Two days of Finger Lakes wineries, lake views, local food, and a secluded cabin in the woods near Hammondsport, NY.
One of the best parts about staying near Keuka Lake is that you don't have to choose between a relaxing getaway and exploring the Finger Lakes Wine Country.
You can have both.
Start the morning slowly with coffee surrounded by the woods, spend the afternoon tasting your way around Keuka Lake, and still be back at North Forest FLX – The Hideaway with enough time for the sauna, a soak under the stars, and a quiet evening in the forest.
To make planning even easier, our friends at Finger Lakes Wine Map put together a two-day Keuka Lake wine itinerary beginning right here at The Hideaway.
We turned their route into this weekend travel guide.
Day One: Wine, Riesling & a Slow Evening at The Hideaway
10:30 AM — Coffee at The Hideaway
Don't rush out the door.
One of our favorite ways to begin a Finger Lakes morning is simply making a cup of coffee and heading outside.
The Hideaway sits on approximately 30 private wooded acres outside Hammondsport, giving you a peaceful place to start the day before heading toward Keuka Lake.
Enjoy coffee on the deck, listen to the woods wake up, and then get ready for your first tasting.
Your Keuka Lake wine weekend begins just down the hill.
11:00 AM — Living Roots Wine & Co.
Hammondsport, NY
Your first stop is Living Roots Wine & Co., located just outside the village of Hammondsport with beautiful views overlooking Keuka Lake.
Living Roots is an especially fitting way to begin a Keuka Lake wine weekend. The winery brings together two distinct wine regions — the Finger Lakes and South Australia — reflecting the backgrounds of founders Sebastian and Colleen Hardy. That combination gives Living Roots a style and personality all its own while still celebrating the cool-climate wines that make the Finger Lakes such a special destination.
The Finger Lakes Wine Map itinerary suggests easing into the day with a Sparkling Riesling on the patio, and we can't think of a much better way to officially start your weekend in wine country. Settle in, take in the view of Keuka Lake, and resist the temptation to rush off to the next stop. Part of the experience here is simply enjoying where you are.
Before you leave, find a bottle you love and bring it back to The Hideaway for later.
12:30 PM — Weis Vineyards
Hammondsport, NY
Next, continue along Keuka Lake to Weis Vineyards, where Finger Lakes wine country meets the winemaking traditions of Germany.
Located on the eastern side of Keuka Lake, Weis Vineyards was founded by German-born winemaker Hans Peter Weis and Hammondsport native Ashlee Weis. That German influence is an important part of the winery's identity, particularly when it comes to the cool-climate varieties that thrive here in the Finger Lakes.
And if you love Riesling, this is a stop you'll want to give some time.
Rather than treating Weis as another quick tasting, Finger Lakes Wine Map recommends making this your lunch and wine stop for the day — and we think that's the right approach.
Start with lunch, at the winery's on-site restaurant, and settle in for a little while. Pair your meal with a glass of wine, take in the Keuka Lake wine-country atmosphere, and then continue into your tasting.
Riesling is naturally one of the highlights here. Explore the different expressions produced by Weis, and if they're available during your visit, look for the Winzer Select Rieslings. “Winzer” means winemaker in German, and the series is a fitting way to experience the German influence behind the winery alongside the distinctive growing conditions of the Finger Lakes.
Most importantly, don't rush.
One of the things we love about this itinerary is that it isn't designed around checking as many wineries as possible off a list. A great Keuka Lake wine weekend should leave time to have lunch, enjoy a tasting, discover a new favorite bottle, and actually experience the places you're visiting.
And if another bottle happens to follow you back to The Hideaway, we certainly won't judge.
After all, you're building a collection for the sauna and soaking tubs later.
2:30 PM — Domaine LeSeurre Winery
Keuka Lake
After lunch, you don't have to travel far for your next stop.
Continue to Domaine LeSeurre Winery, where French winemaking tradition meets the unique growing conditions of the Finger Lakes. French-born winemakers Céline and Sébastien LeSeurre bring generations of winemaking heritage to their beautiful location overlooking Keuka Lake.
While you can certainly enjoy a traditional tasting, Domaine LeSeurre offers a few experiences that make this stop particularly memorable.
Pair your wine with one of their charcuterie boards, or take the experience a step further with their Wine & Food Pairing. For something a little sweeter — and distinctly French-inspired — try the Wine & Macaron Pairing, which matches their wines with carefully selected macarons. If one of these experiences catches your eye, we recommend reserving ahead.
Afterward, make your way outside to their Lakeview Terrace. Find a seat, enjoy the view across Keuka Lake, and give yourself permission to stay awhile.
By this point in the afternoon, you've experienced three very different sides of Finger Lakes wine country: the Australian influence at Living Roots, the German heritage of Weis Vineyards, and now the French traditions of Domaine LeSeurre.
And you've done it without spending the entire day driving.
That's intentional.
A great Keuka Lake wine weekend isn't about squeezing in as many wineries as possible. Order the charcuterie. Try the macaron pairing. Enjoy the view. Find a bottle you wouldn't normally choose.
Late Afternoon — Back to The Hideaway
Now comes one of our favorite parts of the itinerary:
Go back to the cabin.
A Finger Lakes getaway shouldn't feel like a checklist.
Return to The Hideaway, change into something comfortable and let the rest of the afternoon slow down.
Warm up the barrel sauna.
Relax on the deck.
Take a hot or cold soak in the outdoor cast-iron tubs.
Open that bottle you picked up earlier.
Or simply relax to the sounds of the quiet of the woods for a while.
This is exactly why we created The Hideaway — to give travelers a secluded home base close enough to explore the Finger Lakes but far enough away to actually escape.
6:30 PM — Dinner at Dean Lane Food & Farmstead
Finish your first day with dinner at Dean Lane Food & Farmstead, where the focus shifts from the vineyards of Keuka Lake to the farms and flavors of the Finger Lakes.
Finger Lakes Wine Map recommends planning ahead for one of Dean Lane's multi-course dinners, and it's an experience worth building your evening around when available. Their intimate dinners highlight seasonal ingredients and locally sourced food, creating the kind of meal that feels perfectly at home after a day spent exploring Finger Lakes wine country.
Rather than simply grabbing dinner on the way back to the cabin, make this the final experience of the day. Slow down, enjoy each course, and let someone else decide what's coming to the table next.
Because these dinners are offered on select dates and availability changes seasonally, reservations are strongly recommended. Check the current schedule while you're planning your weekend rather than waiting until you arrive.
Then it's time to head back into the woods.
The drive back to The Hideaway marks the transition from wine country to your own private retreat. And if the sky is clear when you arrive, don't head inside just yet.
Pour one last glass from a bottle you discovered earlier in the day, settle around the fire lounge or soaking tubs, and look up.
With the cabin tucked away on 30 private wooded acres, away from the brighter lights around town, clear nights can bring beautiful views of the stars overhead.
After a day of wineries, lake views, food pairings, and a farmstead dinner, there's something pretty special about ending the night with nowhere else to go.
Just the forest, a glass of Finger Lakes wine, and the stars.
A starry night and a view of the Milky Way from the Hideaway (Hammondsport, NY) in the Finger Lakes Region of New York.
Day Two: The Classic Keuka Lake Wine Trail
After a quiet morning at The Hideaway, day two explores some of the wineries that have helped make Keuka Lake such an important part of Finger Lakes wine country.
Today's route includes:
Keuka Lake Vineyards → Bully Hill Vineyards → Heron Hill Winery → Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery
It's a journey through very different chapters of Finger Lakes wine.
11:00 AM — Keuka Lake Vineyards
Begin day two at Keuka Lake Vineyards, a great first stop for wine lovers interested in small-production wines that reflect the vineyards and growing conditions around Keuka Lake.
Keuka Lake Vineyards has built its reputation around a more hands-off approach to winemaking, allowing the fruit and individual vineyard sites to do much of the talking. You'll find a particular emphasis on dry, cool-climate wines, including Riesling and other varieties that showcase just how diverse Finger Lakes wine can be.
This is also a great place to slow down and explore beyond the wines you might already know. Ask what's currently being poured, learn about the vineyards behind each bottle, and try something you may not normally order.
Rather than rushing through your first tasting of the day, give yourself time to settle in. After all, one of the best parts of staying at The Hideaway is being able to start your morning surrounded by the woods and then head out for another day exploring Keuka Lake wine country.
Grab a bottle of a favorite discovery for later and enjoy the experience.
It's your second morning in wine country.
There's no reason to hurry.
12:15 PM — Lunch at Bully Hill Vineyards
Next, head to one of Keuka Lake's most recognizable destinations: Bully Hill Vineyards.
Perched high above the lake, Bully Hill is much more than a tasting stop. Its hillside location offers sweeping views across Keuka Lake and the surrounding vineyards, making it an ideal place to slow down for lunch during your second day in wine country.
Grab a table at the Bully Hill Restaurant and enjoy lunch overlooking the Finger Lakes landscape before exploring the rest of the property. The winery is also home to the Greyton H. Taylor Wine Museum and Walter S. Taylor Art Gallery, giving you an opportunity to experience some of the history, artwork, and personality behind the winery.
And there's quite a story here.
Bully Hill is closely connected to the Taylor family's long history of winemaking in the Finger Lakes, and Walter S. Taylor became known for his unconventional personality, colorful artwork, and determination to forge his own path in the wine industry. You'll see that independent spirit throughout the property — from the labels and artwork to the winery's famously playful character.
Take some time to wander around after lunch, visit the museum and gallery, enjoy the view, and, of course, taste some wine.
It's a completely different experience from the smaller, more intimate wineries elsewhere on this itinerary — and that's exactly why it belongs here.
Great views, Finger Lakes history, lunch, wine, and plenty of personality — all in one stop.
2:00 PM — Heron Hill Winery
Continue to Heron Hill Winery, one of Keuka Lake's most picturesque winery stops, perched high on a hillside overlooking the lake and surrounding vineyards.
Founded in 1977, Heron Hill has been part of the Finger Lakes wine story for decades, with a particular connection to Riesling and cool-climate winemaking. It's a great place to continue exploring just how differently wineries around the same lake can interpret one of the region's signature grapes.
But before you even start your tasting, there's something else worth experiencing here:
The view.
Heron Hill's distinctive tasting room sits above Keuka Lake, creating a dramatic setting that feels almost designed around the landscape. Give yourself a few minutes when you arrive to simply take it all in — the vineyards rolling down the hillside, the surrounding countryside, and Keuka Lake stretching out below.
Then head inside for a tasting. Explore the Rieslings, ask what's currently being poured, and compare them with the wines you've experienced throughout the weekend. By now, you'll probably have a much better appreciation for just how varied Finger Lakes Riesling can be from winery to winery.
Afterward, don't rush back to the car.
Walk the property, take a few photos, and find a spot to enjoy the scenery for a little longer.
Sometimes the best part of a Finger Lakes wine weekend isn't another glass of wine.
It's simply stopping long enough to appreciate where you are.
3:00 PM — Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery
There's perhaps no more fitting place to finish a Keuka Lake wine weekend than Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery.
Perched above the western shore of Keuka Lake, the winery holds an important place in Finger Lakes wine history. Dr. Konstantin Frank helped demonstrate that European Vitis vinifera grapes could thrive in the cold climate of the Finger Lakes — helping transform what was possible for winemaking throughout the region.
Today, that history is paired with one of the most memorable tasting settings on Keuka Lake. Reserve a guided seated tasting, settle in with views overlooking the vineyards and lake, and give yourself time to explore the wines that have helped define the winery's legacy.
You'll certainly want to experience the Rieslings, but Finger Lakes Wine Map recommends asking about the Rkatsiteli — and we agree.
Rkatsiteli is an ancient white grape variety with roots in the country of Georgia and a fascinating connection to Dr. Frank's own winemaking history. It's still produced by the winery today and offers the chance to taste something completely different from the Rieslings that have accompanied much of your weekend.
Ask questions, compare your favorites, and choose a bottle to bring back to The Hideaway. After two days of exploring Keuka Lake wine country, you'll have earned one final glass around the fire or beneath the stars.
Reservations are strongly recommended for Dr. Frank's tasting experiences, especially during busy Finger Lakes weekends.
And when the tasting is finished, there's no need for another stop.
Head back to the forest, open your favorite bottle from the weekend, and toast to two days well spent on Keuka Lake.
Then Head Back to the Woods
Two days.
Eight distinctive Finger Lakes experiences.
Plenty of Riesling.
And one quiet cabin waiting for you at the end of it.
That's our idea of a Keuka Lake weekend.
The Hideaway's location near Hammondsport makes it possible to spend your days exploring wineries, restaurants and lake views without giving up the feeling of actually getting away.
Once you're finished exploring, leave the tasting rooms behind.
Drive back into the woods.
Start the sauna.
Pour a glass of your favorite discovery from the weekend.
And enjoy having nowhere else you need to be.
Plan the Route with Finger Lakes Wine Map
This itinerary was inspired by a custom route created for The Hideaway by Finger Lakes Wine Map, an independent resource for discovering wineries and planning trips throughout the Finger Lakes.
Rather than bouncing between maps, winery websites and search results, their interactive map can help you see how wineries fit together geographically and build a route that makes sense for your trip.
They've already created the route featured in this guide:
“A Keuka Weekend from The Hideaway.”
Use their interactive itinerary to see the route, explore the wineries and plan your own version of the weekend.
→ Explore A Keuka Weekend from The Hideaway on Finger Lakes Wine Map
Then book your stay at North Forest FLX – The Hideaway and make the forest your home base for exploring Keuka Lake.
Winery hours, tasting experiences, restaurant schedules and reservation requirements change seasonally. Always confirm current information directly with each winery before your trip. Please enjoy Finger Lakes wine responsibly and arrange transportation or a designated driver when needed.
Where to Stay for a Keuka Lake Wine Weekend
If you're planning a wine getaway near Hammondsport and Keuka Lake, North Forest FLX – The Hideaway offers a unique secluded experience.
