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Not much heat and humidity in the summer, I'm guessing.
Plenty of heat and humidity. From mid-September to October is an ideal time to visit: weather is crisp and fall foliage is at its peak but leaf peepers drive up hotel prices. I think Geneva is more interesting than Penn Yan. Also consider Watkins Glen and Ithaca. The waterfalls around Ithaca are spectacular as is the gorge at Watkins Glen.
I have been to both, but am more familiar with Penn Yan. It's a charming small town. We're going over the summer, and we chose to stay there because we felt it was well located to visit both Watkins Glen (the gorge trail at WG State Park is a must-do if you're up for it- also has a great pool) and Canandaigua (also a really nice walking-around town, with a public beach we like very much. Going to visit Sonnenberg Gardens for the first time.) The wineries in general are great, I think the more famous ones (Dr Frank, Bully Hill to name a couple) are on Keuka. Also, the Windmill market is near Penn Yan which is only on Saturdays- has a huge variety of items and we always find unique things and great food.
We used to spend full days hitting the wineries- we have a school-age child now so we do more recreation- hiking, swimming, etc, but do visit our favorites to restock.
We've only been in summer. I never found it unbearably hot or humid- though we love to swim and find lots of options.
For those who are new to the wine tasting/winery scene: The etiquette is that you are expected to purchase a bottle or two at the winery after you've had a taste of their vintages. Tasting a whole bunch of wines and then driving away empty handed is considered uncouth.
For those who are new to the wine tasting/winery scene: The etiquette is that you are expected to purchase a bottle or two at the winery after you've had a taste of their vintages. Tasting a whole bunch of wines and then driving away empty handed is considered uncouth.
I don't know all of the official rules, but I've been on quite a few privately organized wine tours and understood that we had to pay to sample the wines. I saw the organizer pay someone, so I know this is true. This was for a busload of 30-40 people. Many people purchased. many did not. Also this was at the peak of foliage too.
Does anyone know the real deal? Is there a charge for a bus because it's basically a party? Is it different if you're just a couple , or 2 or 3 couples in a limo, for instance?
I don't know all of the official rules, but I've been on quite a few privately organized wine tours and understood that we had to pay to sample the wines. I saw the organizer pay someone, so I know this is true. This was for a busload of 30-40 people. Many people purchased. many did not. Also this was at the peak of foliage too.
Does anyone know the real deal? Is there a charge for a bus because it's basically a party? Is it different if you're just a couple , or 2 or 3 couples in a limo, for instance?
My last wine tasting trip to the Finger Lakes was in the early 80's and at that time the tastings were free everywhere I stopped. Like just about everything else, what was once free is no longer. I suspect that too many people stopped, sampled a lot of product and then left without buying.
Most will charge a fee and there is zero obligation to buy any. However, if you like wine and they do a good job presenting the tasting you most likely will buy something.
Dr Frank's has a good tasting room and it is individualized.
Penn Yan and Geneva are only 20 minutes apart, but I like the location of Penn Yan more as I like the west side of Keuka Lake, Hammondsport and Watkins Glen more than the northern bits of Cayuga and Seneca Lakes.
If you like hiking/walking then checking out Watkins Glen state park is a must. Also, the Keuka Outlet Trail is a nice 7 mile walk between Seneca Lake near Dresden into Penn Yan. It follows an old rail line and canal system connecting the two lakes. Letchworth State Park is about an hour away and is fantastic.
It can definitely be humid in the summer and the bugs do come out to play. The amount of sun and heat varies a lot.
If you check out Canandaigua, there is also the NY Wine and Culinary Center. https://www.nywcc.com/
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