“If we want to change wine culture, we need to show customers how to have wine with soup or a ham sandwich,” said Scott Osborn, owner of Fox Run Vineyards, overlooking Seneca Lake. It was an unusual claim, but perhaps not a surprising one, considering the winery’s well-stocked cafe located adjacent to its handsome lakeside tasting room. I asked Osborn which wine he’d pair with a ham sandwich. “Riesling,” he replied. How fitting. After all, the Finger Lakes Region is recognized as one of the premier Riesling terroirs in the world. I’ve been craving a ham sandwich-Riesling combo ever since.
With 125 vineyards spread along eleven linear lakes, the Finger Lakes area in upstate New York comfortably fills the role of Napa Valley’s east coast sibling with a gift for producing winning, acidic whites—with the added bonus that you can reach these grapes by a bio-diesel-fueled bus. With its naturally striking glacier-carved landscape, the Finger Lakes cater to city-dwellers seeking a generous pour and a weekend getaway from the urban melee just five hours outside of New York City.
Whether you’re seeking a romantic retreat complete with Jacuzzi or affordable inns for simple shut-eye, the Finger Lakes region offers a host of accommodations—from quaint historic bed and breakfasts like Aurora Inn (from $250) on Lake Cayuga to the more regal Belhurst Castle & Winery on Seneca Lake—to meet your needs.
We set our sights on Geneva on the Lake (from $479/couple for the all-inclusive “summer getaway package” and $174/night in the off-season) where the likes of Bill and Hillary Clinton have stayed. In the evening, complimentary wine and cheese tastings whet the palate for dinner by candlelight at the Lancellotti Dining Room. If the piano man doesn’t win your date’s heart with his rendition of Sous le Ciel de Paris (“Under the Skies of Paris”) then the breaded, deliciously tender rack-of-lamb surely will. Seal the deal with Crêpes Suzette for dessert. You can always hike or bike off surplus calories along placid Seneca Lake tomorrow. In addition to activities like croquet, bocce, sailing, paddle boating, kayaking, golf, tennis, and ice skating, bikes are available to guests. For those interested in a guided bike tour of the Finger Lakes, consider the Highlander Cycle Tour this September 6-7.
To travel from Geneva bus terminal to Geneva on the Lake, ask the concierge for pick-up service in advance. The inn is located a few minutes drive from the station. Consider visiting neighboring wineries over the weekend by booking a chauffeured tour with the option to design your own itinerary through a known agency, such as Finger Lakes Winery Tours. Packages are $399 per couple and include transportation, tastings at five to seven wineries plus a champagne house, a complimentary bottle of champagne, two wine glasses, and a gift certificate for dinner. If you’re arriving on your own, expect to pay $2-$5 for a wine tasting.
How to get there: The Shortline Bus and Greyhound offer daily scheduled service to Ithaca and Geneva. The journey may take five to six hours from New York Penn Station. Buses stop at Ithaca town center where a variety of accommodations are available. To reach Geneva on the Lake, arrange to be picked up from Geneva bus station for the short ride to the resort.
Photo: Courtesy of Visit Finger Lakes and Aurora Inn
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram