A great meal has a way of bringing people together. Nancy’s Family Meal at Red Tail Ridge Winery celebrates that idea with an evening centered on good food, expressive wines, and lively conversation.
Hosted by winemaker Nancy Irelan, this special dinner invites guests to gather around the table for a relaxed, family-style experience in the heart of the Finger Lakes. Instead of a traditional tasting or formal wine dinner, the evening focuses on connection. Guests share dishes, pour wines, and enjoy the atmosphere of the winery overlooking Seneca Lake.
Each course highlights seasonal ingredients paired with Red Tail Ridge wines. Nancy will guide the evening and share stories from the vineyard, harvest, and cellar. Her perspective offers a deeper look into how the wines evolve from grape to glass.
The Finger Lakes region has become one of the most exciting wine regions in the country. If you are curious about the area, you can learn more through organizations like the
Finger Lakes Wine Alliance: https://www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com
and New York Wine & Grape Foundation: https://newyorkwines.org
Events like this help showcase the community and culinary culture that make the region unique. Guests will experience not only the wines, but also the welcoming spirit that defines the Finger Lakes wine scene.
Whether you are a longtime fan of Red Tail Ridge or visiting the area for the first time, this dinner offers a memorable way to experience the winery.
Reserve your seat for the event here:
https://redtailridgewinery.com/product/nancys-family-meal
Space is limited for this intimate gathering.
Red Tail Ridge Wine Club Members are invited to an exclusive Barrel Tasting of the 2025 Vintage inside our working cellar. This guided experience offers early access to our 2025 Vintage wines while they develop in barrel.
During this Wine Club member exclusive, Co-owner and Winemaker Nancy Irelan and Associate Winemaker Meagz Goodwin will lead a guided walk through the Red Tail Ridge cellar. Members will taste wines directly from barrel and explore how the 2025 Vintage is evolving. You will learn how oak influences structure, texture, aromatics, and aging potential. This is a rare opportunity to taste the vintage long before bottling.
Barrel tasting gives members a behind-the-scenes look at our winemaking process. You will experience the personality of the 2025 Vintage in its earliest stage and gain insight into blending decisions, vineyard expression, and cellar technique.
After the guided cellar tasting, members are welcome to continue the experience with an additional tasting in the Main Tasting Room.
On the 22nd from 11:30am to 4pm, we will offer a preview of our new food program launching in April. Wine Club Members can pair their tasting experience with select offerings from this upcoming menu.
If you are visiting from out of town for the Barrel Tasting of the 2025 Vintage, your membership includes exclusive travel benefits.
Members receive room discounts at:
1897 Beekman House
FLX Treehouses (please contact us to activate this discount)
Members also receive a transportation discount with Grapevine Country Tours if you prefer not to drive.
This Barrel Tasting of the 2025 Vintage is available exclusively to Red Tail Ridge Wine Club Members. Please log in to reserve your spot.
Step back into mid-century America for a night of nostalgia, indulgence, and bold personality at Red Tail Ridge Winery. This drag dinner experience on March 28, 2026 at 6:00pm pairs a reimagined 1950s menu with live performances from some of Rochester’s favorite Queens. Expect classic flavors, lively banter, and theatrical moments throughout the evening.
The night begins with a cocktail half-hour designed to set the tone. Guests will enjoy bubbly wine alongside passed hors d’oeuvres inspired by iconic mid-century entertaining. These opening bites invite conversation and connection while easing everyone into the evening’s playful energy.
After the reception, guests will take their seats for the first of three drag performance sets. Each performance brings music, humor, personality, and audience interaction. Between sets, dinner unfolds course by course. Chef Matt Hummel updates classic 1950s dishes with thoughtful modern touches while preserving their nostalgic charm.
The menu opens with passed hors d’oeuvres, including deviled quail eggs with crispy chicken skin, tomato aspic with poached shrimp, and fried Castelvetrano olives with whipped feta. The second course presents a refreshed Waldorf salad. For the main course, guests will enjoy a rich and satisfying short rib Wellington. Dessert closes the evening with a flaming surprise that delivers drama worthy of the final bow.
This drag dinner experience reflects Red Tail Ridge Winery’s commitment to hospitality, creativity, and memorable food-and-wine moments. Guests should arrive ready to laugh, celebrate, and embrace the unexpected.
Date: March 28, 2026
Time: 6:00pm
Ticket Price: $150 per guest
For your convenience, you may choose to add an 18% gratuity at checkout.
Seats remain limited, and this event will sell quickly.
👉 Add to cart and reserve your seat at Red Tail Ridge Winery today.