This New York Wine Region Was Just Named the Best in the U.S.-and It Has 140+ Wineries

"With more than 140 wineries spread across 11 glacial lakes, the Finger Lakes Region is home to one of the most distinctive wine regions in the U.S. The long, cool growing season of upstate New York produces bright, expressive wines, with riesling at the forefront, alongside chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet franc, and sparkling wines. Last October, the region's growing influence was recognized when Wine Enthusiast named Finger Lakes Wine Country the "American Wine Region of the Year.""

"While wine has been made in the Finger Lakes Region for more than 150 years, the region's modern success is closely tied to viticulturist Konstantin Frank. In the 1950s, Frank proved that European vinifera grapes could survive the area's cold winters, despite local belief at the time, sparking a period known as the Vinifera Revolution, and subsequently transforming the future of Finger Lakes wine. Today, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery is one of the region's most visited and respected estates, known for its Old World-inspired wines."

"Established in 1860, Pleasant Valley Wine Company was the first winery in the region and the first American winery to win prestigious European awards, including a first prize at the 1873 World Exposition in Vienna for its sparkling wine made from native Catawba grapes. The winery even survived Prohibition by producing wine for local churches, which helped to preserve the region's winemaking legacy."

The Finger Lakes Region contains more than 140 wineries across 11 glacial lakes and produces bright, expressive wines due to a long, cool growing season. Riesling leads the region's plantings, while chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet franc, and sparkling wines also thrive. The region received national recognition as the "American Wine Region of the Year." Modern success followed Konstantin Frank's 1950s demonstration that European vinifera could survive cold winters, sparking the Vinifera Revolution and elevating estates like Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery. Pleasant Valley Wine Company, founded in 1860, earned early European awards and preserved winemaking through Prohibition. The area offers scenic tasting rooms, lakeside towns, historic sites, and parks.

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