Frequently Asked Questions

The first step to planning a wine tour is to ensure the wineries can take your size group. (Check out the PDF on this page for a full list.) Since 2020, a lot has changed with the way the wineries operate (it’s a good type of change!), and the group size and reservation policies might be different than you remember.

If they can accommodate your size group, the next step is to find transportation. Since you have a general idea of how many people will be in your group, the next thing you’ll need to know is how long you want the transportation for. To the transportation company, your day starts when the group is picked up and ends when you’re dropped off.

Some of the transportation companies will help you set up where to go and when, and others simply want your planned schedule. Many of the wineries require reservations if you’re a group over the size of 6. Again, this handy PDF will help you navigate that.

How long you have your transportation for is a big factor in planning your day, so take that into consideration. Plan on spending 45 minutes to an hour at each winery so everyone can taste, shop, take photos, etc. Allow yourself plenty of time. If you’re behind at one winery, you’ll be behind the rest of the day, which could also affect other groups touring.

Each winery varies, but it’s generally $5-15 per winery per person. Some specialty wines, with limited supply, such as ice wines, may have an additional charge. Like winery operations, tastings have also changed a bit so some are served in flight form, with form, or like it used to be ‘back in the day.’

Yes and no. Although each winery has a different group policy, if your group is 6 or more, we recommend that you make a reservation with each winery so they can make sure they’re staffed appropriately for your group. Again, this handy PDF will help you.

Unfortunately, no. Since each winery is its own entity, it’s difficult to put together tasting packages that fit into each of the winery’s policies and operations. We do, however, have a coupon book. The Vino Visa Coupon Book has a coupon from each winery that range from free tastings, to discounts on wine purchases, or free swag if you spend a certain amount on wine.

This may vary depending on how large your group is, but to allow travel and tasting time as well as time to browse the gift shop and use the restrooms, plan on having 45 minutes to an hour between each winery.

Montezuma Winery to Swedish Hill Vineyard: 10.7 miles / 14 minutes
Swedish Hill Vineyard to Knapp Winery: 4.1 miles / 5 minutes
Knapp Winery to Buttonwood Grove Winery: 2.9 miles / 4 minutes
Buttonwood Grove Winery to Six Eighty Cellars: .8 miles / 1 minute
Six Eighty Cellars to Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery: 2.2 miles / 3 minutes
Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery to Thirsty Owl Wine Company: .3 miles / 1 minute
Thirsty Owl Wine Company to Hosmer Winery: .8 miles / 1 minute
Hosmer Winery to Lucas Vineyards: 4.8 miles /6 minutes
Lucas Vineyards to Americana Vineyards: 4.8 miles / 7 minutes
Americana Vineyards to Six Mile Creek Vineyards: 17.5 miles / 29 minutes
Six Mile Creek Vineyards to Long Point Winery: 27 miles / 40 minutes
Long Point Winery to Montezuma Winery: 20.9 miles / 29 minutes

The trail does not provide transportation; however, here is a link to some stellar local tour companies.

Starts at your first sip and ends with your ride home. 🙂 There is technically no particular beginning or end. The trail is self-guided, so you can start and stop and travel anywhere you choose.

A tasting consists of half to an ounce of wine of different varieties to sample. Tastings are meant to help guide you to the wine(s) you would like to purchase.

Yes! All but one of the wineries on our trail is open year-round, and a few are only open during the weekends in the winter months. Be sure to check the wineries page for hours before visiting.

All of the events are listed here. Trail Events include all member wineries and Winery Events are hosted by individual wineries.

Yes. Our wineries also consist of a cidery, 4 distilleries, a meadery, and a brewery. Many offer NYS beer by the bottle or can, as well.