Best Wines from Finger Lakes

Finger Lakes is one of the most important wine regions in United States — a cool-climate New York region producing exceptional Riesling and increasingly fine Cabernet Franc on the steep slopes around its glacial lakes. This guide is for anyone who wants to understand why these wines taste the way they do, what makes them age-worthy, and which bottles are worth buying first. Every wine listed at Prism Fine Wine is available with US shipping.

What makes Finger Lakes special

a cool-climate New York region producing exceptional Riesling and increasingly fine Cabernet Franc on the steep slopes around its glacial lakes. The combination of climate, soil and centuries of winemaking craft gives Finger Lakes a distinctive identity that no other region can quite replicate. Producers here have spent generations refining how their land speaks through wine.

Signature grapes of Finger Lakes

The dominant grapes are Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Each one expresses the terroir of Finger Lakes differently — some take on weight and depth, others stay light and aromatic — and the best producers know how to coax the most expressive version of each from their vineyards.

What to drink and what to eat

Finger Lakes wines pair beautifully with pork loin, smoked trout, sharp cheddar and apple desserts. The traditional pairings developed alongside the wines themselves and remain the truest test of a bottle's worth at table.

Where to start

If you are new to Finger Lakes, start with a dry Riesling from a Finger Lakes estate. These are the gateway wines — affordable enough to explore freely, classic enough to give you a real sense of the region's character.