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.
đź“… May 23, 2026
đź’˛ $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.
đź“… June 7, 2026
đź“… November 21, 2026
đź•š 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.
Red Tail Ridge Winery continues to stand out in conversations about the power of wine to bring people together. In a recent WineLine article by Dave McIntyre, Red Tail Ridge appears among a curated list of wines that reflect both quality and connection within today’s wine community.
The article explores how wine creates meaningful moments between people, even across differences. That idea aligns closely with the experience Red Tail Ridge Winery delivers every day in the Finger Lakes. From the tasting room to the vineyard, Red Tail Ridge builds a space where guests can connect, share stories, and enjoy expressive, thoughtfully crafted wines.
Among the wines highlighted, Red Tail Ridge’s Blau Franc Blend 2024 earns attention for its vibrant and energetic character. This blend of Blaufränkisch and Cabernet Franc captures the winery’s innovative approach while staying rooted in the Finger Lakes terroir. The wine offers a lively, spice-driven profile with balance and structure, showcasing the precision and creativity that define Red Tail Ridge.
As the article suggests, wine is more than what’s in the glass. It creates shared experiences. Red Tail Ridge Winery continues to embody that philosophy by producing wines that invite conversation, discovery, and connection.
👉 Read the full article here
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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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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