Experience! The Finger Lakes
Experience! The Finger Lakes
4.9
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Full view
About
USA Today 10Best Wine Tour Company in the US. Tripadvisor Traveler's Choice Winner for over 10 years. Experience! The Finger Lakes is the premier tour company in the Finger Lakes. We specialize in premium guided tours unlike anything else available in the region. Our experiences include wine tours, gorge and waterfall tours, and cultural tours of the area. We also offer Boat Tours and Food Tours out of Ithaca NY. Owned by a certified sommelier, our wine tours are fully-immersive, exclusive experiences where guests meet owners and winemakers at some of the best producers in the region. Private vineyard and cellar tours, reserve wines, and sommelier-curated food and wine pairings are designed into each tour. On-line booking available 24/7 on our website.
Similar Experiences
Experience! The Finger Lakes
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show optionsTravelers talk about
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.9
689 reviews
Excellent
652
Very good
33
Average
2
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Blessed17
Quincy65 contributions
Aug 2021 • Friends
I’m not sure that bargain shopping and wine touring really go together. I think that if you’re more interested in how much you’re spending than you are what you’re doing, then don’t hire a wine touring company. However, if you want to experience something quite memorable, then hire these guys.
I think natural hospitality and natural humility go together. Laura and Michael serve. We felt like we were being taken care of. Every little detail. From the very selection of the 6 wineries in two days, and the two lunch spots, then the water bottles and candy and selection of music on the tour bus, these people don’t miss a beat. Get the premium package and let them plan for you. Just go. Let them do the rest. Laura (coordinator) and Michael (guide) are phenomenal ambassadors for the wine industry around Finger Lakes. If I do this 10 more times, 10 times I’d call them.
Just hire them. Let them put it together while you work your butt off to pay for it, and then go. And enjoy!!!!!!
I think natural hospitality and natural humility go together. Laura and Michael serve. We felt like we were being taken care of. Every little detail. From the very selection of the 6 wineries in two days, and the two lunch spots, then the water bottles and candy and selection of music on the tour bus, these people don’t miss a beat. Get the premium package and let them plan for you. Just go. Let them do the rest. Laura (coordinator) and Michael (guide) are phenomenal ambassadors for the wine industry around Finger Lakes. If I do this 10 more times, 10 times I’d call them.
Just hire them. Let them put it together while you work your butt off to pay for it, and then go. And enjoy!!!!!!
Written August 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Brad,
It was our pleasure to be able to share the Finger Lakes wine region with you and your family. We also appreciate you enthusiastically sharing your comments on the value of a curated wine experience. Laura Sanders expressed to me how much she enjoyed planning the two tours with you from the very start, (and was kind of jealous that she couldn't take you out on the tour herself) 😉 But she knew you were in excellent hands with Michael, and that you would enjoy sharing the two days of touring with him.
I LOVE our premium option where we can share special reserve and library wines that the wineries offer just to our groups! We do it because those who choose to experience it are always blown away with the quality wines that they get to try (and bring home). It has been one of my favorite program enhancements added since starting the company 14 years ago.
Thank you for choosing to spend two of your days exploring our wonderful wine region with us. It's guests like you all that reinforce why we love what we do!
Enjoy all your wine and memories, and we hope to see you back again. Still so much more to share!!
Cheers,
Laura Winter Falk
Written August 28, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michael J
3 contributions
Mar 2023 • Business
Our group of 7 was a bit unusual in that we had all met for the first time less than 24 hours before our wine and lunch tours of Buttonwood Grove and Sheldrake Point wineries. Our guide Liz was wonderful in that she used the time driving from Ithaca up to Buttonwood Grove to share with us about the history of the region, the rise of the wine industry in the region, and the standout types of wine in the region and what makes that possible. Those working at the wineries knew and seemed to have a high regard for Liz, which in turn made us in the group feel well taken care of too (which we were!). We had a fantastic lunch at Buttonwood Grove, which we learned was something new that they are trying for this season. She kept us on schedule, but we never felt rushed. Before our drop off back in Ithaca, we were treated to get out and view the spectacular falls at Taughannock Falls State Park. It was a fun, educational, and relaxing afternoon in the area. I highly recommend a tour if you want to learn about the area as you're seeing it, and the wine as you're enjoying it! Five Stars!
Written April 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this amazingly thorough review, Michael! You so clearly articulated what we are all about - creating strong relationships with some of the best wineries in the FLX to create elevated experiences that get to the heart of who we are as a region. Thanks also for recognizing the excellent work Liz does in seamlessly guiding our guests through their day.
Please come back and experience another one of our tours in a difference season to get another wonderful perspective of this special place we call our home!
Cheers!
Laura Winter Falk
Written May 8, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MaryA
Salisbury, MD20 contributions
May 2022
Experience the Fingerlakes private tour was amazing! We had a group of three ladies, my daughter took me and my very good friend on this amazing experience and we were all so impressed. Our tour guide George, was very attentive informative and great fun. He helped us all to feel comfortable and we all walked away feeling much more confident about wine! George provided a lot of information about the Cayuga Lake area, the three wineries that we toured and most of all about wine and how to best enjoy the experience. The wine experts at Buttonwood, Sheldrake and Bet The Farm wineries were all SO very knowledgeable without being pretentious. It is not often a person walks away from an expensive tour and says, we would do that again, but we all agreed this experience is worth the price!
Written May 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for this special review! It warms my heart to know that not only did you have a wonderful time in our region, but that you walked away feeling more confident about wine. It is definitely one of our aims on our tours! We too think George is awesome, and the same goes for our fantastic Cayuga West winery partners. I am also glad you see the value in what we do. A lot of peoples' passion and energy go into delivering our tours, and it means so much to all of us when its appreciated.
We do hope you come back and experience another one of our tours. So many more wonderful places and flavors to experience!
Cheers,
Laura Winter Falk
Written May 18, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Taylor M
2 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
We were so lucky to get this experience with our tour guide, George! All of the winery owners/associates on the tours were so knowledgeable. It felt really personal with the way they took our groups’ questions, I really felt like we learned about everything we wanted to know. Delicious wine and lunches. George was on time, very personable, and was a wealth of knowledge about the wine region as a whole. You can tell he has a great relationship with the winery owners and knows the fine details about winemaking in NY, but makes it very quaffable and easy to understand. Thank you for a wonderful tour!
Written September 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the lovely review! I am so glad you enjoyed your tour, the wineries, the wines, food, and of course George! One of the things we love most about the Finger Lakes is the approachability of the wines and the authenticity of the people! I'm so glad you noticed too!
Cheers,
Laura Winter Falk
co-owner
Written November 25, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ashleigh
1 contribution
Oct 2021 • Couples
We had an incredible winery tour with Experience! The Finger Lakes. They had excellent protocols for COVID-19, and our tour guide, Laura, was prompt, knowledgeable, and passionate about wine. The tour took us to three local wineries, all of which gave us customized tastings and looks behind the scenes at how wine is made. Our tour also included lunch, snacks and bottled water on the shuttle, and insights into the Finger Lakes and winemaking from our tour guide. We would highly recommend this company if you’re looking to enjoy some local wine and learn more about winemaking. We will definitely be using Experience! The Finger Lakes should we find ourselves in Ithaca again!
Written October 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your review, Caitlin! I am glad you enjoyed your tour and felt safe, as that is our number one goal during these times! Thanks also for recognizing what makes our tours unique and unlike anything else available in the region. We're glad to hear that you will look us up again if (when!) you return to the region. There is still so much more to share with you!
Cheers,
Laura Winter Falk
Written December 12, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kristen P
Albany, NY12 contributions
Aug 2021 • Friends
It was our first time to the Finger Lakes and this tour was worth every penny. My mom and I went on the East Seneca Lake tour and we stopped at three different wineries (each unique and different in their own way) and a cute little lunch spot in between. Recommend this particular tour for those who lean toward drier wines. We learned information about the vineyards and wine making process - which really makes you appreciate the wine you’re tasting. I don’t think we tried a wine we didn’t like! Michael was our tour guide and he was fantastic. He shared some fun facts about the area and suggested some places along the way that we went to on our own time the next day. It was also a huge plus that he tracked and carried any bottles we purchased at each spot. Kudos to him for great customer service. Would absolutely recommend and cannot wait to return and try another tour.
Written August 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Kristen,
Thanks for detailed review! I'm thrilled you and your mother and enjoyed your East Seneca Lake tour, and loved the wines. You are right on point by clarifying that this tour is best for people who love dry white and red wine, as the Banana Belt really delivers so stellar examples. We really appreciate you recognizing the value of our tours, and the appreciate all the little details we take care of to ensure that your experience is exceptional. We look forward to the two of you returning, at there are still so many amazing examples wineries to discover!
Cheers!
Laura Winter Falk
Owner
Written August 28, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Flyer778008
1 contribution
Aug 2020 • Couples
We booked the private tour for the East Seneca Lake region (pickup at The Inn at Taughannock) and let me tell you we were NOT DISAPPOINTED! We felt very safe and the proper precautions were in place to ensure we had a good time and were safe! The vehicle had plexiglass between us and our AMAZING tour guide Laura S. Our temperatures were taken and a questionnaire was filled out prior to entry into the vehicle. We were also given hand sanitizer.
Moving on to the wine tour...
We had an amazing time, we visited 3 wineries and had an awesome lunch at Steelcat. All 3 wineries were fatastic and the staff was courteous and fun. However, Laura made the trip. She provided us with fun information about the area and her personal wine recommendations from her expertise (since we aren't seasoned wine tasters). We 100% recommend booking with them and see how much depth they can add to a wonderful experience in a unique and captivating area. You won't regret it!!! Cheers! 🥂
Moving on to the wine tour...
We had an amazing time, we visited 3 wineries and had an awesome lunch at Steelcat. All 3 wineries were fatastic and the staff was courteous and fun. However, Laura made the trip. She provided us with fun information about the area and her personal wine recommendations from her expertise (since we aren't seasoned wine tasters). We 100% recommend booking with them and see how much depth they can add to a wonderful experience in a unique and captivating area. You won't regret it!!! Cheers! 🥂
Written August 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the wonderful review, Nick and Courtney! I am so glad you enjoyed your private tour. Our premium tour experiences start with providing premium safety so that you can feel comfortable and relaxed on your tour, so I am so glad that we met that goal so you could enjoy your tour.
We agree that Laura Sanders is awesome. All our tour guides are wine professionals, and in my opinion, are the best in the business, hands down! (and yes, I am biased😉 )
Thank you for entrusting us with you special getaway to the Finger Lakes, and we certainly hope you will return.
Cheers,
Laura Winter Falk
Written August 12, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jim G
3 contributions
Jun 2022
Had a great day with George from Experience. We were vacationing in the Finger Lakes Region and hadn't done a lot of pre planning. When we arrived in the, we were overwhelmed with the number of Wineries in the area. Not being seasoned wine connoisseurs, (but pretty regular wine drinkers) we decided to do a wine tour as opposed to trying to find the best wineries on our own. Really glad we did! George picked us up at a local hotel and we shared the tour with one other couple. (nice folks) During the drive we heard lots of local history, facts about the lakes and lots about the Finger Lakes wine industry. We toured 3 wineries that day, each with its own character and all had great wines. The tour included lunch at a colorful local eatery. It was very good! George was very attentive, concerned about our comfort and just an all around great guy. The bonus is we bought several nice bottles of wine to remind us of our time spent in the Finger Lakes. Go with Experience, you won't regret it!
Written June 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your thorough review! We love it that you captured the essence of what we are about, and recognize the value of our curated wine experiences! We also agree with you that George is an all around great guy, and like all our tour guides, love to share the wonders of our wine region with our guests.
We know that there are a lot of choices on how to visit the Finger Lakes wine region, and we are so glad you entrusted your experience to us! Please come back again, as we have so many more amazing producers, wines and stories to share!
Cheers,
Laura Winter Falk
Written July 11, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Janessa D
Rochester, NY7 contributions
Apr 2021 • Friends
We were blown away by how amazing Laura (the owner) was. She took us on a personalized wine tour to 3 quant and vibrant wineries and 1 cidery for lunch. I would, hands down, recommend this tour to anyone looking for a fun, enjoyable, customized tour that you not only get to drink great wine but learn about the process they use to make the wines and with Laura's expertise, what kinds of wine go best with your pallet. I have gone on several wine tours in Europe and at the end of this one, we all agreed that this was by far the best we have ever had.
Written April 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you such a kind review, Janessa! I must say that I also had a wonderful time with your mom, Sam, and Renee! I loved opening your eyes and palates to the wonderful wines of the Finger Lakes and the world of wine in general! I look forward to coming to Rochester for the wine dinner that I hope Pane Vino and Bet the Farm do together!
I hope the rest of your special weekend went well, and that your mom loved her spa treatment at La Tourelle to cap off the trip.
Please come back again, as there is still so much more to share with you all!
Cheers,
Laura Winter Falk
Written April 28, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BKinIthacaNY
Ithaca, New York, United States56 contributions
Feb 2021
We participated in the virtual "New Frontiers" Finger Lakes Wine & Cheese Experience, led by Laura. We received the wine - two reds and one white, three cheeses, and one jar of preserves well ahead of the event. Laura's team checked in with us several times between our registration and the event to make sure we had received our supplies correctly and we had the appropriate information to prepare to have an enjoyable event. Laura was a superb virtual guide, posing questions to get the group thinking and talking, answering questions we had, and providing a wealth of information about Finger Lakes wines and cheeses. The virtual session accommodated participants throughout the US and even in the UK. The size of the group was ideal -- we all fit on the Zoom screen. The technology, including interactive polling, worked seamlessly. A truly enjoyable evening, and the pairings were tasty! This was our third event with Experience! The Finger Lakes, second virtual. We will be back for more!
Written February 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the wonderful review, Barbara! I am so glad you have enjoyed our virtual experiences and exploring some of the wonderful wines in your backyard! I look forward to sharing what is coming down the pike with you and Kurt! Maybe we'll even be able to take you out in person one day!!
All my best,
Laura Winter Falk
Written April 28, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I am coming to the area for work, and have two days to explore beforehand. If we wanted to take this tour, what hotel or area would you recommend us staying in? Seems like the Finger Lakes Wine region is pretty large!
Written June 14, 2019
Thank you for your question! We recommend staying in Ithaca, NY. The slogan "Ithaca is Gorges" is 100% right. The natural beauty is limitless and there are so many great restaurants and local businesses to enjoy. If you are looking for accommodations, La Tourelle Hotel & Spa, a beautiful French-style country inn has gorgeous views and quality service. The Hotel Ithaca, conveniently located in the hip downtown neighborhood, is a great choice if you want to be in the center of it all! We offer to pick up and drop off our tour guests at both of these lovely hotels.
Written June 27, 2019
If visiting these tours from out of state, which is the best airport to fly into? Also, what about overnight accommodations such as B&Bs or hotels?
Thanks!
Written April 7, 2017
Hi Maddox,
Ithaca is our airport and is serviced by a number of airlines.
Our tours pickup right from La Tourelle which is definitely our top recommendation is you want a country inn experience.
If you want to see what tours we are running during your visit, go directly to our tour calendar on the Experience! The Finger Lakes website.
Look forward to having you tour with us!
Written April 8, 2017
possibly coming and touring in your area in September or October. What is the Experience tour and does include accommodations for visitors?
Written May 25, 2016
Hi Linda!
Experience! The Finger Lakes has a number of different tours from which to enjoy. Just a matter of matching one up with your interests!
We do wine and culinary tours
Ithaca based tours that include our gorges and waterfalls
and special events like cooking classes with regional chefs
You can read all about them on our website by googling "experience the finger lakes"
We package our tours with accommodations for groups of 4 or more. If it is just two of you, we can certainly recommend a number of great places to stay! On our website is a link to our favorite acommodations.
Booking can be done online for any of our tours, but if you have any further questions, feel free to call us !
Cheers!
Written May 25, 2016
Thinking about visiting the finger lakes and doing a wine tour . Are any of them pet friendly ?
Written July 13, 2015
Hi! Thanks for your email. Many of the wineries are pet friendly, and accept pets in the tasting rooms. Unfortunately, we can not accept pets on our public tours, as we do not know how they will react to them (allergies, fear, etc). If you have a private tour of 10-12 guests, we may be more flexible given that the others ok having them on board, but in general, we can not allow pets on the tours.
Hope you can still join us on a tour.
Written July 14, 2015
Millydred M
Cleveland, Ohio
Yes. Going to Finger Lakes foe our birthday and anniversary celebrations. We love wine. We are spending 4 days and trying to put together a memorable itinerary. Thnks
Written April 1, 2015
Hi Millydred,
We would love to help you and your husband celebrate your birthday and anniversary! We have a number of different tours going out on both April 17 and 18. You can either go to our tour calendar at our Experience! The Finger Lakes website, read about them, and book online, OR just give us a call at 607-233-4818 and we would be happy to go over all the great options with you!!
Written April 1, 2015
Is there a brochure with information that could be emailed to me?
Or is there something on-line?
Looking for options for the May 10-11 timeframe.
Prices?
Written March 24, 2015
Absolutely!
For the most complete information about our wine tours, visit our website by googling Experience Finger Lakes. We offer both full day and 1/2 day wine tours throughout the Finger Lakes region. There is an online booking calendar where you can see what is already scheduled, or look to open a new tour on a day that doesnt currently have a tour booked.
If you have any questions at all, feel free to call our office at 607-233-4818, and our tour coordinator will assist you in setting up the tour that is perfect for your interests!
Written March 25, 2015
Hello,
What do you charge for 1/2 day or 1 day wine tours? We were thinking about coming in early July 2015. Thanks for any information on prices and what the price includes. Thanks
Bill
Written February 23, 2015
Hi Bill,
Half day tours are $99 per person and ful day tours (that include lunch) are $130 pp. All transportation, tasting fees, food pairings and extras (snacks and water onboard the vehicle) are included. Gratuity for your tour guide is not included, as we leave that amount to your discretion.
Written February 23, 2015
Showing results 1-7 of 7
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.