Glenora Winery

The Glenora winery is located on Seneca Lake in the heart of the Finger Lakes wine country.

It is a world-renowned winery that has won both national and international medals for their diverse wines. Visitors can expect informative wine tours, generous accommodations and views that rival wineries found in the German countryside.

Gene Pierce, Eastman Beers, Edward Dalrymple, and Howard Kimball founded Glenora Wine Cellars in 1977 on the site of an old sheep barn. In their first year they produced 5,000 cases of wine and it won several medals at the State Fair wine competition in Syracuse. Today, the winery produces 45,000 cases of wine annually and it is one of the best wineries in the world, according to Wine Spectator magazine.

The beauty of the landscape along Seneca Lake is well worth the trip for any vinophile. Once you arrive at the 40-acre estate, visitors can enjoy a guided tour or settle down in luxurious accommodations on-site at the Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars or at the Vineyard Cottage.

Glenora winery has over 35 wine selections to choose from including Reisling, Syrah, Gewurztraminer and Cabernet Sauvignon, to name a few.

The winery is open 364 days a year, with the exception of Christmas Day. The hours of operation for their shops and winery are as follows:

• Memorial Day through Labor Day – 9AM to 8PM
• September 1 - October 31 – Sunday through Thursday, 10AM – 6PM. Friday and Saturday from 10AM – 7PM
• November 1 - April 30 – Sunday through Thursday, 10AM – 5PM. Friday and Saturday from 10AM – 6PM.

Due in part to the rough winters along the lakes in New York, visitors may enjoy the winery best in the warmer months of the year, from May through September. However, visitors during the colder months may get to enjoy privileges, such as assisting in the corking of champagnes in the cellar.

Visitors should also spend some time at the Veraisons restaurant on-site. They serve a variety of Glenora wines and use locally grown fresh produce. The 45-foot high cathedral ceilings, equally majestic stone fireplace and breathtaking views of the lake offer a great way to wind down from a wine tour or a long day spent touring other wineries along the lake.

Many people use the Glenora Winery for their weddings, especially during the warmer months of the year. The Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars has 18 Vintner guestrooms, two deluxe guestrooms and ten select guestrooms that feature fireplaces and Jacuzzis.

For those that can't get enough of Glenora winery selections or simply want to share their great finds with friends, there are two wine clubs offered by Glenora Wine Cellars.

The FLAGships Wine Club offers wine from Glenora Wine Cellars as well as three other local wineries on Seneca Lake:

• Fox Run Vineyards
• Lakewood Vineyards
• Anthony Road Wine Company

There are six shipments each year, with four wines in each shipment--one from each winery. The cost is $495, which includes shipping and handling.

Each Forbidden Fruit wine club member receives four shipments of wine each year. Members may choose eight different bottles of wine during the length of the yearly membership. Each shipment costs $39, though the retail value of the wines usually exceeds $75 or more. In addition to the delicious wines, members will receive a ten percent discount in the gift shop as well as other perks, such as discounted rooms, VIP seating during the summer concert series and advance email alerts on new wine offerings.

Membership in the Forbidden Fruit wine club is limited to 100 people each year. Sign up early to avoid disappointment!

A trip to the Finger Lakes wine country should include a visit to Glenora Winery. The stunning vistas, charming wine tour and delicious food and wine pairings at Veraisons are as much a part of local culture as the grape vines. It is located off of exit 42 on the New York State Thruway at the southwest end of Seneca Lake.

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