Friday, August 21, 2026 | 3:30 PM
Experience one of the most exciting moments of the growing season during our Veraison Vineyard Walk, when the grapes are nearing perfect ripeness and harvest is just around the corner.
Join Nancy and the Red Tail Ridge Winery team for a guided walk through the vineyard as you explore the vines, learn about each grape variety, and discover how the 2026 growing season is shaping the wines to come. Along the way, you’ll taste wines produced from the featured varietals while hearing firsthand about the unique characteristics that influence each vintage.
After the vineyard tour, we’ll gather at the Pavilion for a relaxed happy hour featuring seasonal snacks, additional wine tastings, and plenty of time to ask questions while taking in the beautiful vineyard views.
Whether you’re a longtime wine enthusiast or simply curious about the winemaking process, this experience offers the perfect blend of education, wine, food, and the beauty of the Finger Lakes.
Traveling to the Finger Lakes? Join us the following evening for our Visiting Chef Series Dinner featuring James Beard nominee Chef Jasmine Norton.
Guests attending one or both events will have access to a special room block at 41 Lakefront Hotel. Reservation details will be provided after tickets are purchased.
View the Visiting Chef Series event to reserve your dinner tickets.
Red Tail Ridge Winery is proud to be recognized in WineLine, where wine writer Dave McIntyre highlighted outstanding American sparkling wines perfect for summer celebrations. The feature places Red Tail Ridge Winery among exceptional producers across the country and continues to showcase the quality of sparkling wines crafted in New York’s Finger Lakes.
Produced using the méthode traditionnelle, Red Tail Ridge sparkling wines are crafted with the same time-honored technique used in Champagne, France. Each bottle undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle and extended aging on the lees, resulting in elegant bubbles, vibrant acidity, and remarkable depth. These wines are made to celebrate life’s special moments while remaining versatile enough to pair with seafood, fresh cheeses, fried foods, and many seasonal dishes.
Recognition from respected wine journalists like Dave McIntyre reflects the continued rise of the Finger Lakes as one of North America’s premier cool-climate wine regions. Red Tail Ridge has long been dedicated to producing expressive, terroir-driven wines that highlight the unique character of the region while maintaining the highest standards of quality.
This feature is another exciting milestone for our winery and reinforces our commitment to producing world-class sparkling wines. Whether you’re raising a glass for the Fourth of July, celebrating with friends, or simply enjoying a summer evening, Red Tail Ridge Sparkling offers a memorable experience in every bottle.
We invite you to read the full WineLine article and discover why American sparkling wines continue to earn national attention.
While you’re here, explore our Sparkling Wines collection and learn more about our winemaking philosophy to discover what makes Red Tail Ridge unique.
Read the original article, “American Sparklers for the Fourth,” by Dave McIntyre in WineLine.
Published on July 2, 2026
Join us for The Magic of the Mosel, a special Finger Lakes Riesling dinner that celebrates one of the world’s most exciting wine grapes. Red Tail Ridge Winery, FLXcursion, and Chef Matt Hummel have come together to create an unforgettable evening of food, wine, and discovery.
The Finger Lakes has become one of the leading Riesling regions in the United States. At this Finger Lakes Riesling dinner, you’ll taste wines that showcase the grape’s freshness, balance, and complexity.
In addition, you’ll explore Rieslings from Germany’s famous Mosel Valley. By tasting wines from both regions, you’ll discover how climate, soil, and winemaking influence flavor and style.
Throughout the evening, Chef Matt Hummel will serve a carefully crafted multi-course menu. Each dish will highlight the unique qualities of the wines and create memorable food and wine pairings.
Riesling offers an incredible range of flavors and styles. Some wines show bright citrus and green apple notes. Others reveal stone fruit, floral aromas, and rich mineral character.
Because of its natural acidity, Riesling pairs beautifully with many foods. Therefore, it remains one of the most food-friendly wines in the world.
During this Finger Lakes Riesling dinner, you’ll experience several expressions of the grape. As a result, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for its versatility and elegance.
The Mosel Valley has produced exceptional Riesling for centuries. Its steep vineyard slopes and cool climate help create wines with remarkable character and balance.
To learn more about German Riesling, visit https://www.germanwines.de. You can also explore the Finger Lakes wine region at https://www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com.
Whether you’re a dedicated wine enthusiast or simply curious about Riesling, this event offers a unique opportunity to learn, taste, and connect. Most importantly, you’ll enjoy an evening filled with exceptional wines, delicious cuisine, and great company.
Please contact us before purchasing tickets if you have dietary restrictions. We can often accommodate special requests. However, we recommend confirming availability before making your reservation.
Space is limited. Therefore, we encourage guests to reserve early. We look forward to welcoming you to this unforgettable Finger Lakes Riesling dinner experience.
Summer in the Finger Lakes is one of the most beautiful times of the year, and we invite our Wine Club members to gather with us for a relaxing afternoon at Red Tail Ridge Winery. Surrounded by vibrant vineyards, colorful wildflowers, and sweeping lake views, this special event is designed to celebrate the season and the community that makes our wine club so special.
The Pavilion and lawn will be open for guests to enjoy the sights and sounds of summer. From the pollinator field bursting with blooms to the rolling vines stretching across the landscape, there is no better place to spend a summer afternoon in wine country.
Guests will enjoy a delicious menu of locally sourced summer favorites prepared by Matt Hummel, showcasing the fresh flavors of the Finger Lakes region. As you relax with friends and fellow members, you’ll also receive a glass of your favorite Red Tail Ridge wine to enjoy with your meal. Learn more about the Finger Lakes region at https://www.fingerlakes.org.
Whether you choose a seat in the Pavilion or spread out on the lawn, this gathering offers the perfect opportunity to reconnect, share stories, and enjoy the beauty of the winery during peak summer season. We encourage guests to bring a hat, sunglasses, and comfortable outdoor attire for the afternoon.
Nest Club members can also take advantage of the event to pick up their June wine package, which will be available throughout the weekend. If you’ve been looking for an easy and enjoyable time to collect your wines, this is the perfect opportunity.
We look forward to welcoming our members for great food, exceptional wine, and unforgettable Finger Lakes scenery. This annual gathering is one of our favorite member traditions and a wonderful way to celebrate summer together.
Who: Red Tail Ridge Wine Club Members
Location: Red Tail Ridge Winery
Includes:
Please remember to bring a hat and sunglasses for outdoor enjoyment.
The Unusual Pairings Wine Event at Red Tail Ridge Winery invites Wine Club Members to experience an evening where food and wine take unexpected turns. Chef Matt Hummel has created four inventive dishes designed to highlight one of our wines, but the pairings remain a surprise until you taste them together.
This exclusive Finger Lakes wine and food experience is designed for curious palates, adventurous wine lovers, and guests who enjoy discovering how flavor, texture, and aroma can completely transform a tasting experience.
Guests attending the Unusual Pairings Wine Event will enjoy:
Each dish was thoughtfully crafted to interact with the wine in surprising ways. Some pairings may amplify fruit notes, while others highlight acidity, texture, or structure. The experience is equal parts culinary exploration and wine education, wrapped into one unforgettable tasting.
📅 May 23, 2026
💲 $35 per guest
🍷 Wine Club Members Only
Unfortunately, dietary restrictions cannot be accommodated for this experience. Please contact the winery with any questions or concerns prior to booking.
Menu may change based on ingredient availability.
An unforgettable hands-on sparkling wine experience is returning to Red Tail Ridge Winery for our Wine Club Members only.
Join Nancy and the winemaking team for a two-part journey where you’ll create your very own Magnum of Perpétuelle Change Cuvée No. 6 from tirage to disgorgement. Along the way, enjoy thoughtfully paired nibbles from Matt Hummeland an inside look at the sparkling winemaking process.
📅 June 7, 2026
📅 November 21, 2026
🕚 Two seatings available: 11:30 AM & 2:30 PM
🍷 Wine Club Members Only
⚠️ Very limited availability
This immersive experience offers a rare opportunity to work alongside our production team and take home a bottle that’s truly your own, equal parts craftsmanship, celebration, and cellar magic.
Reserve your seats early before this experience fills up.
Wine Enthusiast recently released its NY Wines Guide, an insider look at the regions and wineries shaping the future of New York wine. We are proud to see Red Tail Ridge Winery included in this guide. The article highlights producers who continue to raise the quality of wine across the state.
In the NY Wines Guide, Wine Enthusiast explains why New York has become one of the most exciting wine areas in the country. The magazine points to the Finger Lakes as a leader in cool-climate winemaking. Because of deep lakes, glacial soils, and long growing seasons, the region can produce wines with strong acidity and clear structure.
At Red Tail Ridge, we focus on showing the character of Seneca Lake in every vintage. We farm with care, and we make wine with balance in mind. As a result, our wines reflect both the vineyard and the season. The NY Wines Guiderecognizes wineries that follow this same approach, and we are honored to be part of that group.
The Finger Lakes continues to gain national attention. For example, Riesling, Blaufränkisch, and sparkling wines from this region now appear on wine lists across the country. In addition, more writers and critics now look to New York when they search for wines with freshness and aging potential.
You can explore some of our current releases here:
https://redtailridgewinery.com/product/2023-blaufrankisch/
You can also plan a visit to the winery here:
https://redtailridgewinery.com/visit/
The NY Wines Guide shows how much the region has grown. At the same time, it reminds readers that success comes from hard work in the vineyard and careful decisions in the cellar. We are grateful to stand alongside the many Finger Lakes producers who continue to move New York wine forward.
Read the full Insider’s Guide here:
https://www.wineenthusiast.com/new-york-state-wine/
Published in February 2026.
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.
The Red Tail Ridge James Suckling Report highlights our Cabernet Franc in James Suckling’s Finger Lakes tasting feature, “Fresh and Franc: Finger Lakes’ Post-Riesling Rise.” The report captures a pivotal moment for the region as it gains recognition for cool-climate red wines alongside its world-class Riesling.
In the report, James Suckling’s tasting team places a strong emphasis on cabernet franc. The variety thrives in a cool climate. It reflects site and vintage clearly. Most importantly, it delivers freshness, balance, and restraint.
During the tastings, Red Tail Ridge’s Cabernet Franc Seneca Lake RTR Estate Vineyard captured attention. The wine showed vibrancy and precision. It also expressed a clear sense of place. That recognition speaks directly to our estate vineyard and our hands-on approach in the cellar.
At the same time, the report makes something else clear. The Finger Lakes no longer tells a one-grape story. Instead, it continues to evolve.
Across the region, winemakers now focus on thoughtful farming. They make intentional varietal choices. They emphasize balance over excess. Consequently, the Finger Lakes continues to earn respect on the world stage.
At Red Tail Ridge, we share that vision. We farm with purpose. We work closely with our vineyards. Then, we let the wines speak for themselves. Whether through cabernet franc, riesling, or other cool-climate varieties, our goal remains the same: honest expression of Seneca Lake.
Finally, we invite you to experience these wines firsthand. Visit our tasting room overlooking Seneca Lake. Or, explore our current releases online.
For more insight into the region’s evolution, you can read the complete James Suckling article here:
Fresh and Franc: Finger Lakes’ Post-Riesling Rise.
Being featured by James Suckling marks an exciting milestone. More importantly, it reflects the direction of our region. The Finger Lakes continues to grow, evolve, and impress—and we’re proud to be part of that story.
Published on January 12, 2026
The piece situates Red Tail Ridge Winery’s 2023 Blaufränkisch in the context of the Finger Lakes’ continued exploration of cool-climate red varieties.
Learning New Words, But Make It Blaufränkisch…and by Heather “Coolidge”.