- The Finger Lakes AVA was established in October 1982.
- We have 10,790 producing acres with 832 acres of Riesling (Based on New York Wine and Grape Foundation 2024 Vineyard Report).
- Our small, specific producers craft wine that reflects our place and our personality.
- We are known for strong, regional aromatic whites with a focus on Riesling.
- The average producer in our region makes 2 to 3 styles of Riesling wine a year.
- The Finger Lakes were carved thousands of years ago by successive waves of glaciers, creating cuts as deep as 618 feet below sea level.
- The lakes themselves are vital to Finger Lakes viticulture. Because this is a cool-climate region, the temperature-moderating influence of the deep lakes supports quality grape growing.
- The Finger Lakes is a pre-Prohibition wine region, with the first vines planted in Hammondsport, New York, in 1829. By 1900, more than 50 wineries had been established along the lakes.
- The Finger Lakes AVA boasts two sub-AVAs: the Cayuga Lake AVA (established in 1988) and the Seneca Lake AVA (established in 2003).
- Prominent vinifera varieties grown here are Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir.
- Hybrids and native grapes also have a proud history and home in the Finger Lakes.
- Sustainability is paramount in the Finger Lakes. A majority of grape growers and wineries maintain stewardship of the land by minimizing the use of synthetic fungicides and pesticides in their vineyards and utilizing renewable energy for tasting room and cellar operations.
