February invites reflection, celebration, and wines that balance freshness with texture. Sparkling rosé wine captures all of that in one glass. From vineyard to bottle, every step shapes a wine that feels both joyful and intentional.
Pinot Noir clusters bring quiet beauty to the vineyard. Small oval bunches hold tiny berries that respond quickly to their surroundings. These sensitive clusters demand attention, yet they reward care with precision and depth. Many of the world’s most expressive wines begin right here, in these compact bundles.
Harvest requires patience and restraint. Our team hand-picks each cluster at the moment acidity feels bright and sugars remain lean. This balance matters. It gives the finished wine energy, structure, and clarity.
Pressing follows with a gentle approach. The membrane press allows juice to flow freely without force. Nancy watches closely as the press runs, selecting only the fraction that best serves the wine. That attention protects purity and texture from the very start.
Indigenous yeasts guide fermentation. These native yeasts express the Finger Lakes honestly, drawing character from the vineyards along Seneca Lake. This choice honors place and reinforces our commitment to wines that reflect where they grow. At Red Tail Ridge Winery, that sense of place always leads the process.
Time in tirage transforms the wine. Champagne yeast works slowly inside each bottle, creating fine bubbles and layered texture. This stage builds complexity and depth while preserving freshness.
Sparkling rosé wine loves food. Bright acidity and texture make it one of the most versatile pairing wines on the table. That versatility explains why it shines during our Valentine’s Day Caviar Experience, where balance and celebration share the spotlight.
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.
Welcome Passed Hors d’Oeuvres
Deviled Quail Egg with Crispy Chicken Skin and Cornichons
Tomato Aspic with Poached Shrimp & Celery Granita
Fried Castelvetrano Olive and Whipped Feta
Second Course
Waldorf Salad
Third Course
Short Rib Wellington
Dessert
A Flaming Surprise
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: $177 per guest
(Includes dinner, tax, and 18% gratuity)
Seats remain limited, and this event will sell quickly.
👉 Add to cart and reserve your seat at Red Tail Ridge Winery today.
Red Tail Ridge Winery is featured in the Wall Street Journal’s Discerning Drinker’s Guide to American Rosés.
The Wall Street Journal rosé feature shines a national spotlight on Red Tail Ridge Winery, celebrating the rise of high-quality American rosé and the distinctive character of the Finger Lakes wine region.
In The Discerning Drinker’s Guide to American Rosés, the Wall Street Journal explores producers who craft rosé wines with intention, balance, and a strong sense of place. Red Tail Ridge Winery stands among those featured for its commitment to cool-climate viticulture and expressive winemaking. This Wall Street Journal rosé feature reinforces the growing recognition of Finger Lakes rosé on the national stage.
Located on the west side of Seneca Lake, Red Tail Ridge Winery focuses on estate-grown fruit and sustainable practices. Our rosé program reflects that philosophy. Each vintage highlights freshness, structure, and food-friendly acidity. These qualities define great cool-climate rosé and continue to attract attention from top wine publications.
This Wall Street Journal rosé feature also signals a broader shift in how American rosé is viewed. Once treated as a seasonal afterthought, rosé now commands serious respect. Producers like Red Tail Ridge Winery help lead that evolution through thoughtful grape selection and precise winemaking.
Guests who visit our tasting room can explore these wines firsthand. Our rosé offerings pair beautifully with a range of foods and shine in every season. To learn more about visiting, explore our Visit Us page or browse our 2024 Dry Rosé.
We invite readers who discovered us through this Wall Street Journal rosé feature to dive deeper into what makes Finger Lakes wines unique. From vineyard practices to cellar decisions, every step reflects our dedication to quality and place.
👉 Read the full article on the Wall Street Journal here.
Published on May 30, 2025
The New York Times highlighted New York Cabernet Franc in a dining and drinks feature that explores how this varietal continues to elevate New York’s wine reputation. The article focuses on producers who shape the future of cool-climate red wine across the state. Red Tail Ridge Winery earned recognition among the wineries driving quality and character in New York Cabernet Franc.
Cabernet Franc thrives in New York’s cool climate, where long growing seasons and glacial soils create wines with freshness, structure, and aromatic depth. In the Finger Lakes, Red Tail Ridge crafts Cabernet Franc that emphasizes balance, precision, and site expression.
Vineyard and cellar decisions at Red Tail Ridge focus on clarity and varietal character. Each vintage reflects the season and highlights the grape’s natural vibrancy, savory spice, and refined tannin profile.
National media attention strengthens the Finger Lakes’ reputation as a serious cool-climate wine region. Recognition from The New York Times places Red Tail Ridge Winery within a broader conversation about the rise of high-quality American Cabernet Franc and New York’s growing influence on the national wine stage.
Published on March 13th, 2025
Finger Lakes Libations highlighted Red Tail Ridge Winery in its Spring/Summer issue, placing the winery among producers shaping the Finger Lakes beverage scene. The publication focuses on makers who define quality, creativity, and a strong sense of place across the region.
Finger Lakes Libations spotlights wineries that push the region forward while staying grounded in terroir and craftsmanship. The feature recognizes Red Tail Ridge for its expressive cool-climate wines and its role in the evolving Finger Lakes wine conversation.
Red Tail Ridge Winery crafts wines that reflect the land, the vintage, and the winemaker’s vision. Estate vineyards overlook Seneca Lake, where glacial soils and a cool climate shape wines with energy, structure, and precision.
Our approach sets us apart:
Distinctive cool-climate wines
We produce vibrant sparkling wines, elegant whites, and character-driven reds that highlight Finger Lakes terroir.
Intentional winemaking
Every decision in the cellar supports balance, freshness, and varietal character. Each vintage tells a clear story.
Immersive tasting experiences
Guests enjoy wines in a welcoming tasting room with sweeping vineyard and lake views.
Strong connection to our community
We actively support the Finger Lakes wine region and contribute to its continued growth and recognition.
This feature reinforces Red Tail Ridge Winery’s place within the Finger Lakes wine landscape. Recognition from Finger Lakes Libations reflects a continued focus on quality, precision, and wines that speak clearly of place.
Published in Spring/Summer 2025
The New York Times Highlights Our Riesling 🍾 | November 2025
Our Finger Lakes Riesling recently caught the attention of the New York Times, earning national recognition for its quality and sense of place. This feature highlights both our Riesling and the strength of Finger Lakes wine on a global stage.
👉 Read the New York Times article here
Our Finger Lakes Riesling reflects the region’s cool climate and distinctive soils. Bright acidity drives the wine. Citrus notes lead. Green apple and stone fruit add balance and clarity.
The New York Times highlighted what defines our Riesling style. We focus on precision. We value freshness. We let the vineyard speak first. This recognition reinforces our commitment to crafting expressive Finger Lakes Riesling with depth and energy.
Great Riesling should feel vibrant. It should pair easily with food. It should also shine on its own. Our Finger Lakes Riesling delivers on all three.
If you haven’t tasted it yet, now is the time. Experience the Finger Lakes Riesling that earned attention from one of the world’s most trusted voices in wine.
Published on November 13, 2025
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”.
While the winters in the Finger Lakes are icy, the warmth of our neighbors keeps us in good spirits. It’s only fitting that we warm everyone up with this spicy 5 course dinner in collaboration with Imelda & Johannes of Kemmeter Wines. While her dumplings are famed, we are excited to see Imelda’s full culinary talents on display. Nancy and Johannes, meanwhile, will each take a course to pair with one of their wines. It’s going to be an evening to remember.
Please note that we can accomodate some food restrictions, but you must be able to handle spicy dishes. We cannot modify the level of heat for this dinner. Please contact us prior to ticket purchase if you have a food restriction.
Deep in winter here in the Finger Lakes brings a desire for the deeply comforting food that Jamie Davis creates. His unique take on the cuisine of North Carolina has garnered him the distinction of being a James Beard Award Finalist. His restaurant, The Hackney, in Washington, NC is a much beloved fine dining destination for Carolinians. We hope that you will join us as we welcome Chef Jamie to the Finger Lakes.