5 Geneva
Geneva, one of the larger
towns on this route,
has interesting, historic
architecture and a lively
vibe with both Hobart
and William Smith
colleges calling it home.
South Main St is lined
with turn-of-the-century
Italianate, Federal and
Greek Revival homes in
immaculate condition,
products of its former
status as the region’s
commercial hub. The
restored 1894 Smith
Opera House (%315-781-
5483; http://www.thesmith.org; 82
Seneca St) is the place to
go for theater, concerts
and performing arts
in the area. Stop by
Microclimate (38 Linden
St, Geneva; h6pm-midnight
Mon, 4:30pm-1am Thu-Sun),
a cool little wine bar
offering wine flights
where you can compare
locally produced varietals
with their international
counterparts.
4 p73
The Drive » On your way
south on Rte 14 you pass Red Tail
Ridge winery, a gold Leadership
in Energy & Environmental
Design (LEED) certified place on
Seneca Lake. Then turn right on
Rte 54 to Penn Yan.
6 Route 54, Keuka
Lake
Y-shaped Keuka is about
20 miles long and in
some parts up to 2 miles
wide, its lush vegetation
uninterrupted except for
neat patches of vineyards.
Keuka is surrounded on
both sides by two small
state parks that keep it
relatively pristine. One
of its old canals has been
converted into a rustic bike
path, and it’s a favorite
lake for trout fishers.
Just south of Penn Yan,
the largest village on
Keuka Lake’s shores, you
come to Keuka Spring
Vineyards (%315-536-
3147; http://www.keukaspringwinery.
com; 54 E Lake Rd, Penn Yan;
h10am-5pm Mon-Sat, from
11am Sun summer, weekends
other months) and then
Rooster Hill Vineyards
(%315-536-4773; http://www.
roosterhill.com; 489 Rte
54, Penn Yan; h10am-5pm
Mon-Sat, from 11am Sun) –
two local favorites that
offer tastings and tours.
Keuka Spring has won
many awards for its
oaky Cabernet Franc
and Rooster Hill’s fine
whites spark a buzz
among wine aficionados.
A few miles further south
along Rte 54 brings you
to Barrington Cellars
(%315-536-9686; http://www.
barringtoncellars.com; 2690
Gray Rd, Penn Yan; h10:30am-
5pm Mon-Sat, from noon
Sun summer, Fri-Sun spring,
Sat winter), flush with
Labrusca and Vinifera
wines made from local
grapes. Barrington’s deck
is a favorite place to stop
for a drink.
On Saturdays in
summer everyone flocks
to the Windmill Farm &Craft Market (h8am-
4:30pm) just outside Penn
Yan. Check out Amish and
Mennonite goods, from
hand-carved wooden
rockers to homegrown
veggies and flowers.The Drive » After about 5.5 miles
on Rte 54A take a detour south
onto Skyline Dr, which runs down
the middle of 800ft Bluff Point, for
outstanding views. Backtrack to
Rte 54A and Branchport is only a
few miles further along.7 Branchport,
Keuka Lake
As you pass through the
tiny village of Branchport
at the tip of Keuka’s left
fork in its Y, keep an eye
out for Hunt Country
Vineyards (%315-595-2812;
http://www.huntwine.com; 4021
County Rd 32, Branchport;
h10am-6pm Mon-Sat, from
11am Sun summer) and
Stever Hill Vineyards
(%315-595-2230; 3962 Stever
Hill Rd, Branchport; h11am-6pm
daily summer), the latter of
which has its tasting room
in a restored old barn.
Both wineries are family
run and edging into their
sixth generation. On top
of tastings there are tours
of the grape-growing
facilities and snacks
from the vineyards’ own
kitchens.54 p73
The Drive » Rte 54A along
the west branch of Keuka passes
by the Taylor Wine Museum just
north of Hammondsport. Carry
on to Bath where you connect
with I-86 east/NY-17 east for
another 19 miles to Corning.TRIP HIGHLIGHT
NEW.YORK.TRIPS.4
.FINGER LAKES LOOP