Red Tail Ridge Winery

Winery · Yates County

Red Tail Ridge Winery

Winery · Yates County

1

846 NY-14, Penn Yan, NY 14527

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Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null
Red Tail Ridge Winery by null

Highlights

Red Tail Ridge is a charming boutique winery on Seneca Lake that crafts delightful sparkling and dry red wines, perfect for a cozy tasting experience.  

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846 NY-14, Penn Yan, NY 14527 Get directions

redtailridgewinery.com
@redtailridgewinery

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846 NY-14, Penn Yan, NY 14527 Get directions

+1 315 536 4580
redtailridgewinery.com
@redtailridgewinery
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@RTRwines

$$

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Last updated

Jul 11, 2025

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Here Are NYC’s 2019 James Beard Awards Semifinalists - Eater NY

"A winery in Penn Yan, NY, led by Nancy Irelan, noted for its exceptional wines." - Stefanie Tuder

https://ny.eater.com/2019/2/27/18242945/james-beard-awards-semifinalists-2019-nyc
View Postcard for Red Tail Ridge Winery

Lauren L

Google
Loved our experience at Red Tail Ridge! The wines are delicious, I did a flight of sparkling and they were all top notch! Went home with a bottle of the awesome Riesling pet nat. Bruce was lovely!!! I enjoyed chatting with him and learning about the wines during my tasting and visit.

Paul Vanasse

Google
Red Tail Ridge The best winery I went today has the fewest pictures because they had the best wine all-around (No time for photos). No fancy pavilions or restaurant style seating (I stood the whole time), just great tasting wine. I bought an entire case for my home stock. Please go by and support the true craftsmanship of Red Tail Ridge Winery. This is the place you were trying to find. Stop by and get yourself some great wines.

Becky I

Google
The hosts/servers were lovely! They also had live music- it was a little loud, but it was still good music. The wine was good. The inside of the tasting room was pretty and their outdoor area looked beautiful!

Aireonna McCall

Google
Hands down the absolute BEST vineyard in all of the Finger Lakes! My fiancé and I had a wonderful wine tasting with Bruce followed by a tour of the Vineyard and their facilities. We are already planning our next trip once the renovations and hospitality center have finished being built, but if you’re in the area make it a point to visit—I promise you won’t be disappointed and the quality of their wines supersedes that of any other one in the area!

Sophie Doherty

Google
We were recommended to go here by another winery, and boy, are we pleased that we managed to get a reservation! The tasting room is smaller and without a view, which may put some people off, but it just provided a more intimate setting where we could spend time learning about, and of course, tasting the wine. Our guide, Ed, was fantastic and very knowledgeable. The wines themselves are great. We only the tasted the dry wines, as that's our preference, and all were great. We definitely left with a few bottles!

Craig Herrick

Google
Our host was very knowledgeable and engaging. $10 bought 5 rather small tastings in a plain Jane facility. We enjoyed our visit but there are better wineries to stop at.

Dan Reiner

Google
Easily the best quality of wines we've found in the FLX. Had an awesome experience in the tasting room. Definitely going back.

Tina Wida

Google
Excellent tasting experience with Ryan!!! Wonderful information and great wines!!!! Highly recommend!
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Gina F.

Yelp
Matt did a nice job explaining our wines during our tasting. The wines were great and I was shocked to find a bubbly I really liked as well. Kristen rang us up and chatted with us for a little while since we visited during a slow time. The winery itself is very pretty and has great views.
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Eric D.

Yelp
Very pretty winery that specializes in dry wines and bubbly reds. Neither of my favorite types of wine but I'm glad we tried it! The winery itself was very beautiful I loved the drive in and their new tasting room and outdoor sitting areas were beautiful as well!
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Rebecca F.

Yelp
We loved our tasting at Red Tail Ridge! Our server was so friendly and knowledgeable about the wine selection offered here. She had a ton of people to serve and balanced everyone's needs so well. The views here are incredible- it's a large winery with tons of great views and open spaces. Really glad we stopped here on our way through the Fingerlakes!
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Missy D.

Yelp
Based on the kind message I received from Kristin public and private, I want to update my review based on the wonderful customer service after having a bad experience. Her kind words made us change our minds. We went from being ignoring being seen and her willingness to reach out made a huge impact. We will come back to the winery and give it another chance. Thank you Kristin.
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Doug Y.

Yelp
Red Tail has a fantastic new tasting facility including both indoor and outdoor bar areas. The staff is very knowledgeable on the products and spent extensive time explaining each wine. They have some fantastic but unusual wines such as LaGrein and Teroldego. We ended up buying a few bottles here and some of these can be quite pricy.
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Beth R.

Yelp
This was one of my higher rated wineries of our trip. Loved the sparkling wines, and my partner really enjoyed the Blaufrankish.
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Kellie M.

Yelp
Great winery to visit. Very thorough description of every wine you try. Nice staff. We really enjoyed the wines we tried. Nice outside area too but we stayed inside.
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Andrea O.

Yelp
The staff is friendly and helpful. The winery has a massive building project going on that's going to be amazing! They have a beautiful location to view the lake while tasting wine!
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Jen R.

Yelp
A friend and I wanted to go to a few places in the Finger Lakes for a wine tasting. Considering our world because of Covid things are a bit different. Basically now you have to reserve and pay for your tasting beforehand. I have no issue with this and neither should you. This is a lovely vineyard.. it overlooks the lake in the slight distance. The rows of vines are beautiful, tidy and situated. Be aware there is a sign telling it's the next right or whatever depending which side you arrive on.. you will either see the red tail insignia and name or you will just see a small sign depending where you are coming from. It's a long road up to the tasting room. It's a small, simply furnished room. This place is about wines people.. plain and simple they don't play. This place has been nominated for the James Beard Award (look it up) a few times. We took a few outdoor photos, saw the sign outside about no walk ins and etc and proceeded inside and we saw Drew who helped us thru our tasting. Now dear reader we came on a week day.. a Thursday to be exact at 2 pm it was just us two and him. In all honesty I liked this because normally prior to Covid it could be loud and people could be slightly obnoxious at tasting rooms in general. We got to enjoy the tasting, ask questions and relax. Drew took us thru the explanation on the tasting, if you wanted to add on and other things. He's knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. The Cab-Franc Rose' is a must get as it just blew me away. This says it all! "Fresh and floral aromatics with a big punch of minerality, wet limestone and orange oil. Crunchy strawberry with a slightly minty edge; juicy citrus and fleshy mid-palate followed by a zippy, zesty crisp and mouthwatering finish." the 2016 Sekt Extra Brut Sparkling this is a wine made in the traditional method. "This Riesling hosts bold aromas of orange blossom and lime zest accentuated with hints of lemongrass. Its fine bubbles are elevated by a focused acidity and a lean crisp body. A plucky front palette bursts with Granny Smith apple and key lime integrated with structural undertones of minerality. Lean and precise." My friend picked up a bottle of the Sparkling Pinot Noir Rose Pet Nat this was lovely as well. A must get. "It had intense herbaceous aromatics of mint, rhubarb, cranberry, crunchy apricots and strawberries; there was more of the same in the mouth." I think most people here in the area have tried at least one of their bottles "Good Karma" Riesling and a percentage goes to charity. It's an excellent wine to try. They do some nice Pinot Noir's, Rieslings, Chardonnay and the like. You need to try a wide breadth of them seriously. Thé Noble Pursuit reminds me of the most expensive Sauterne you've ever had. It's that good. As Drew told us before we left we should come back as they put out more things outside of the green during the nicer days/months ahead so you can enjoy your wine and the view. Just go.. They have a parking lot cause it's a vineyard yo! Cheers

Marisa D.

Yelp
We walked in and the hostess was not really friendly. We wanted to do a flight of wine rather than the tasting and she immediately seemed annoyed. As we walked over to the the tasting area to pick our wines, she asked us if we had been out for other tastings and as my husband stated to answer, she turned away and started waiting on another couple. We do not recommend.

Danielle F.

Yelp
My husband and I did a tasting on Saturday and walked in at 4:30, knowing you were about to close. Charles welcomed us with open arms and didn't rush us at all. We had one of the best tasting experiences with him and it was so enjoyable that I wanted to share that with you. He was the perfect conversational expert and we truly enjoyed our time and wines. Thank you for providing such a wonderful experience, fabulous wines and for fitting us in. Please let Charles know he made our day!
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Amy S.

Yelp
We stopped by on a Sunday without a reservation and were surprised that we were the only people in the tasting area. We had several people recommend Red Tail Ridge for their sparkling wines (my favorite) at other wineries, and the menu did not disappoint! We split 2 tastings (10 total( and tasted 7 out of 8 sparklings (all the employees agreed the sparkling rose was their least favorite, so we eliminated that), which included 3 Pet Nats. Our favorite was the NV Rebel With a Cause. My husband enjoyed the Miscreant, which was an orange wine that smelled sweet but tasted very unexpected (in a good way).
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Jen J.

Yelp
Three stars from me--if you like dry wines, this may be your place, though. They have a small tasting room, so I recommend reservations. We came on a rainy day, but otherwise there is an outdoor space you can enjoy. The staff were friendly and the grounds were beautiful despite the rain. We bought a bottle to take home after our tasting and it was pretty expensive compared to other local wineries.

Gary S.

Yelp
Very nice location. All the wines we had were very good, but feel the whites were the better. Young lady that served us was very friendly and knowledgeable. Overall just a wonderful experience.
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Cindy K.

Yelp
We went here, without a reservation, luckily they were able to accommodate us. We had a very knowledgeable tasting room attendant. She was friendly. I wish I had gotten her name. She stole us stories about some of the wines we picked. I loved the good karma wine. One of the prettiest vineyards as well.
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Jan M.

Yelp
I just finished my first trip to the Finger Lakes Wine region, and did a TON of research beforehand to select the 4 wineries we'd visit on our day trip to Seneca Lake. I read blogs, articles, reviews, visited their websites, looked to see if they were mentioned in any news or won any awards. We are all California natives who go wine tasting on a regular basis, and we all enjoy dry wines, specifically reds and don't really care for sweet wine. So, this was a challenge I accepted in an area that does a lot of sweet wine. I'll save you the hassle of doing your own research - I ended up taking my friends to Herman J Wiemer, Barnstormer, Fox Run and Red Tail Ridge. Red Tail Ridge was on my list because it has the most information online regarding the winery, local recommendations, and other wineries recommending them, and on every list of boutique, small lot wineries to visit in the area. Upon arrival, I figured we were somewhere special. They are the first LEED certified winery in NY and they care a lot about the environment. The tasting room and experience reminded me of the small places we visit around California, simple tasting room that care about the wines, and not particularly worried about the atmosphere. It's industrial and simple. But, I came here for the wines, and this place rounded out the day and is very different from the three other places we visited. Regarding the wines, I really enjoyed their Blaufränkisch, it was my favorite. But I also really liked the Rebel with a Cause. The Pinot was nice as well. They have unique wines for sure and I would recommend coming here.
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Peggy B.

Yelp
Their construction expansion shows their success with featured dry wines. Both reds and whites. The Gewurztraminer was particularly nice. Once the new tasting room is built this will be SOON an amazing winery to try. Recommend
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Shaima C.

Yelp
This was one of my top 3 wineries in the finger lakes. The tasting room is small, but it's intimate and you essentially have the employees answer all your questions and they're very informative on the wines and how they're produced. This is owned by a husband and wife duo, they produce some interesting blends and they're fantastic. One of the reasons why I picked this place was because they won a James beard 19, but I can see why. My friends and I all loved the wines, and actually ended up buying a few bottles.
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Chris B.

Yelp
Stopped in here in between tastings in the area. They didn't have any room for a full tasting but we were able to grab flights and glasses and sit outside. Pours were fairly generous for the price of the flight ($3-5 per tasting) but not so much for the actual glasses ($12-13). Wine itself was hit or miss. Felt the sparkling rose was a bit lacking but the Sekt was very very good. Bright, bubbly with nice crisp flavors.

Joe M.

Yelp
Stopped by yesterday, there were 4 of us. No one else in the place. Server got rude when one of our group had a phone call from spouse and answered. Made snide remark about having to wait. Seriously? The wine isn't good enough to tolerate rude workers. This is the second time in 2 months we've had a bad (1 star) experience. Plenty of other 4+ star choices nearby. I never to go for the 3rd strike; won't be back.
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April L.

Yelp
My absolute favorite stop in the Seneca Lake wine trail. I love red stand they had two of the best. The had limited seating so you will needs to book a reservation. The grounds are beautiful and it's one of the larger vineyards. The Teroldego wine was amazing! It's a great dry wine made with Italian grapes. They also sell wine by the glass and tent seating outside on the vineyard as well. Drew, our sommelier, was very knowledgeable and made our experience very enjoyable. I highly recommend stopping here if you're on the Seneca Lake wine trail. I will definitely return!!
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Cathryn G.

Yelp
This winery has an amazing selection of red, white, and sparkling. So here there is really something for everyone. We had the first tasting of the day and had the tasting room all to ourselves which was really nice. It is a rather small tasting room, so you should definitely make a reservation. Our host Kathleen was so sweet and knowledgeable. She told us this place has even been recognized by James Beard! That's pretty cool! The Rebel with a Cause sparkling was a real standout for me. It's so unique and really delicious. The Sans Oak Chardonnay hasdsome beautiful fruit on it and without the oak the fruit showcases beautifully. I very much enjoyed their gewurtztraminer. It was very restrained. These were my favorites of the visit. They also have some interesting grapes that you don't see as often as well like Blaifrankisch (Limberger)) and the lagrein which is an Alto Adige ( N Italy grape) that drinks a little heavier than a North American Pinot Noir. The teroldego would go perfectly with a steak or burger. They have some great deals for buying a case or more and shipping is reasonable. This was definitely one of the best stops on our trip. I highly recommend.
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Emily P.

Yelp
We came here this past weekend for a wine tasting. They were nice enough to accommodate our earliness to our appointment. With this tasting, you have to select 5 wines off of a list. There are two wines on the bottom of the list that count as two servings instead of one. The sommelier then takes you through each wine and tells you a little about how it is made and where the grapes derive from. The 2013 Bloc 907 wine was phenomenal. So phenomenal that I took a bottle home! Apparently it's made by a rare mold that forms on the grapes; which doesn't sound very appetizing at first but is completely disregarded when you take that first sip. It's perfectly balanced with sweetness and acidity. Perrrfectly. The Noble Pursuit was another favorite among my group. This one is much sweeter though it would greatly depend on the individual palate. My experience was at Red Tail was good! I would return.
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Anne Marie F.

Yelp
This is one of my favorite wineries of the finger lakes. The progressive approach that Nancy and Mike are taking with their vineyard is apparent in the wines. The choice of grapes, styles and production is unique in the Eastern United States. For instance, the lagrein is deliciously complex and only grown in a few locations in North America. In googling it on Wikipedia RTR is actually named! One of the best and most knowledgable tasting sherpas there is Shomari! With a new tasting room coming in 2023 this is a MUST on your finger lakes tasting tour.
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Kara B.

Yelp
Please see the attached pictures for the size of the pours for the wine tasting. Basically 3 drops per wine. What a joke!!!! The grounds of this place are beautiful, but the tasting room itself is lacking on so many levels. I got an uninviting feeling from the moment I walked in. There's no place to sit and nothing to really look at. The guy working there wasn't all that friendly. I felt rushed, like he wanted to taste the 2 drops of wine that I PAID FOR and move along. Also, the prices for their wine are all over the place. $55, $35, $15?? There are wayyyyy to many wineries in the Finger Lakes for you to waste your time coming here. I will not be back!
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Shawndra S.

Yelp
We visited a couple dozen wineries on our trip last month and we both agreed this was our favorite! The wine was fantastic, the place is beautiful even with the construction going on, and we were lucky enough to have Erin (I hope I have the name right) take care of us in the Tasting Room. We had soooo much fun! Such sweet and knowledgeable people! Then we got a bottle and hung out in the pavilion for a while. Beautiful space. Would recommend stopping by to everyone on their wine tasting excursions!!

Patricia B.

Yelp
I did a tasting with Family on Saturday 9/30/23. There were 5 of us, two of whom were more beer drinkers than wine drinkers. I wish I got the name of the person serving us because she was AWESOME! She was knowledgeable, kind and so adjustable to our different personalities! Good variety of wines. It was a very enjoyable experience for all of us! Also, I bought a sweatshirt, which I originally was going to give my daughter. It is so soft and comfortable, I'm keeping it for myself (and I live in FL)!

Ailene S.

Yelp
Best service, friendly great environment.. seneca shores could take a note from this place
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Marios D.

Yelp
First visit. Did a sampling of five. A couple of reds and 3 reds. All nice. The Riesling's were dry and the oak blend was not to my liking but good. The place is dog friendly and spacious. The variety was good and the clone for Pinot very light. The Rebel was delicious. The dornfelder was also good but light. Overall a nice experience PS. suggestion. Don't ask for the tasting fees up front. Wait for the purchase of wine
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Tracey A.

Yelp
Red Tail Ridge was the polar opposite of the busy Fox Run. The tasting room was quiet and, besides myself, there were only a couple of others at the bar doing tastings. Perhaps it's due to their "no bus/no limo" policy, but if you're looking for good wine (from this region) without a bachelorette party impinging on your experience, this might be the place. Tastings were $6 (5 wines) and for a couple dollars extra you could taste one of your choice of additional pours (I was not fond of their special "orange" wine). People on yelp here seem to say that Red Tail's wines are more expensive than other places on Seneca Lake but in my experience, they also tasted better. I left here with only some merch (a nice t-shirt) but the friend I went with made a wine purchase. If you're looking for a low key, quieter experience than some of the more popular wineries Red Tail Ridge is a worthwhile stop. There's nowhere to sit and drink or picnic but they do allow leashed dogs and, if you time your visit from 10 a.m. - noon, you can get in on the "early bird tasting fee" deal of only $3.
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PJ C.

Yelp
We stopped here early on a Friday morning and were the only ones in the tasting room. This was our first stop and it set a high bar for the rest of the day. The person serving us could not have been friendlier or more informative. My guests from out of town peppered her with a lot of questions about wine making in the Finger Lakes. She did a great job educating us about the area and their wines. The wines here are solid.
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Clare C.

Yelp
Wine here is really good! Enjoyed their tasting room immensely. Very knowledgeable staff and dog friendly!!!! Got a bottle of Riesling as it was one of the best of the places we visited. They also make a wine with an indigenous Italian grape from Alto Adige - Teroldago that was really well done! And they do a nice job with Gewurtztraminer... if you totally hate the grape, this will be a pleasant surprise. Definitely worth a stop! Especially if you've got the fur babies with you!
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Amanda H.

Yelp
This is a cute little winery that is a little off the main wine trail but definitely worth a visit. Their wines are on the pricier side for the area but still quite reasonable. The tastings are generously portioned, and while I was there they were very cognizant of maximum capacity given COVID restrictions and required making reservations in advance, which I really appreciated. All their wines are excellent quality, but I especially like the Teroldego, Blaufränkisch and the Frost Smoke, a dark red blend beauty. They have tables set up outside on the lawn and even have designated areas for dogs to run around and sniff. A dog friendly business that serves delicious wines? A win-win in my book.
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Gabrielle D.

Yelp
This was one of the last stops on our wine tour. Forgot to take pics but the winery was very nice and peaceful and staff was super friendly. Wine was good. The interior was small but intimate.
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Michael A.

Yelp
We stopped at Red Tail Ridge Winery almost on a whim. We were not planning on going to this location, as it does not have a few of the lake, but decided to stop by as we were making good time on our list of wineries. I'm so glad we stopped at this winery, as I believe it had some of the best wines I've tasted in the Finger Lakes! Upon entering, there is a gorgeous area in the back along the vines to take some pictures. The tasting room is quiet smaller than most other tasting rooms in the area. We were served by Bob, and Bob was amazing!!! He was very witty, and super knowledgable about the wines and the area. Bob really set the bar high for any other pourers. We purchased a bottle of the Teroldego and the Lagrein, both were definitely the best reds I've tasted in the Finger Lakes. Thanks Bob for a great experience at Red Tail Ridge Winery!
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Jeffrey S.

Yelp
Nice winery This place was absolutely surprising. All of the wine was fabulous. We ended up walking away with a $30 Riesling and $35 Pinot Noir. It's a steep price for us but worth it. Bobbi helped us and she was very charming. She made recommendations on where to eat, which we took her up on her suggestions. Along with explaining of the wine very nicely. The only thing about here and most other places is that it's $5 for 6 tastings. I understand that they need to do this but why not waive it if you're purchasing a bottle. Most will provide a $2 coupon per tastings off the wine.
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Amy S.

Yelp
This is one our favorite wineries. The staff explains the wines you are sampling with expertise and examples of what you can pair with the wines.
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Natalie S.

Yelp
Good stop for wine tasting with some surprisingly good wines for the area, including dry reds. I did find many of the wines to be on the pricey end, however.
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Katie S.

Yelp
Worth the stop. The wines were good, but nothing super memorable. We did come from Weimer right before, so that may have contributed. The tasting was inexpensive ($3 for 5 wines), but the bottles were more expensive that I thought they should've been for the quality. They did have a couple of wines I wanted to try but were sold out - not sure why they were even on the tasting sheet (they had typed in Sold Out, so the sheets had clearly been updated). Bonus - Red Tail is dog friendly - they have a spigot out front and treats in the tasting room.
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Richie D.

Yelp
Was better the first time I went here which was back in 2017. Alot has to do with the person supplying you with the tasting. If their cordial and explanatory, then good. If they just want to go home, then not so good. Probably won't be back.
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Karen R.

Yelp
I had excellent, friendly service here and really enjoyed the wines. My favorite wine was probably the white they had that was aged with skins like a red. One of the more interesting things I've had the opportunity to try.
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Stew L.

Yelp
One of the more enjoyable wineries I've been to a tasting at. Driving to the tasting room you get a nice look at the vineyard and how well its kept. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and not pushy. They have a very wide selection for tastings and have some specialty wines available for individual paid tastes. The normal fare of 5$ for 5 wines is also available from the "normal" menu. Everything I tried was good - even the reds are better than most wineries in the area (though not as good as the whites). The tasting room is nice but not particularly fancy.

Greg D.

Yelp
Not that great. Unique reds that were good but not worth the price point so we walked away empty handed.
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Liz T.

Yelp
This was one of my favorite wineries during my recent trip, for several reasons: the wines were very good, the variety of wines was very good, the service was very good, they are unpretentious, they grow their own grapes, and they are environmentally friendly. Red Tail Ridge is famous as the first Leed-Certified green winery in New York. I usually think of terms such as "environmentally friendly" as being more of a gimmick than anything else. Without adhering to set standards, many places pride themselves on being "green" when they are anything but. Not at Red Tail though. They have gone through quite a bit of work to earn a Leed silver certification (you can find out more on their website), and they have rejected the standard "Finger Lakes Winery" look and attitude to accomplish it. Despite their environmental commitment, the crew at Red Tail were completely unpretentious. They have a poster of the Post Standard magazine article about them--and that's about it. If you want to talk to them about eco-conciousness, they love to talk, but they won't preach to you. Mostly, they just love to talk about the wines. And speaking of the wines, we really enjoyed them all. Red Tail excelled at several things most Finger Lakes wineries don't: excellent reds, and excellent dry and semi-dry wines, in addition to the excellent sweet and semi-sweet whites which are more prevalent throughout the region. They really did a good job of nailing the latest "trend" wine for the region: the dry Riesling. It's still not my favorite wine (I prefer the sweet ones), but this was the best one I sampled. All their wines are limited inventory, and you could tell that the focus was quality over quantity. By far out favorite was the Dry Rose. I have heard about the growing trend towards dry blushes and roses for several years now, but had yet to be impressed by one. This one impressed me. The flavors were very complex, with fruit notes up front, and a nice crispness at the end. It also paired well with the pork we had over the grill back at our campsite the next night. Be careful not to over-chill it (temperature is hard to regulate while camping), as over-chilling removes some of the complexity of the flavor. Lastly, I liked that they grew their own grapes. While this used to be a given for wineries, the trend now in the Finger Lakes region is to order custom blends of wine from the few places that do grow their own. This isn't bad, in and of itself, but when you find a place that grows its own, the quality difference really shows.
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Gavin H.

Yelp
Good quality whites, bright tasting room, and a knowledgable and friendly staff make this one of the better wineries on Seneca Lake. We particularly liked the Chardonnays, the Rieslings, and the Gewurtztraminer. Not as serious as HJW or Heart and Hands, but nice, affordable wines.
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Kalie K.

Yelp
I showed up to Red Tail Ridge on a Saturday afternoon initially overwhelmed with how busy the main tasting counter was. We even considered moving on, until Lorrie (our tasting guide) saw us and brought our group of 5 to a smaller, private tasting counter and all went up from there! I really enjoyed all of the wines I tasted (particularly the Blaufrankisch, a surprisingly good, deep red for the Finger Lakes, which I went on to purchase) and really enjoyed having the option for additional pours from the reserved list. I would certainly stop by again for the great wines and even better customer service!
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Lauren S.

Yelp
This is our second trip to the Finger Lakes, this time staying near Lake Seneca instead of Keuka, so we're trying more wineries over here. Red Tail Ridge is a gem of a winery. Friendly staff, nice white wines and interesting reds. We have a range of preferences in our group of 3, and they had something for everyone. We will return before the end of our stay!

Mike A.

Yelp
BIGGEST WASTE OF TIME Our small group of four people (60+ year old professionals) stopped at Red Tail on the July 4th week. Being responsible people, we decided to get a driver from a local limo company for the day. Our driver pulled into the driveway and noticed a sign stating no buses or limos. The driver said he has never been here before but, maybe there was limited room for cars. The driver said he knows of a spot that he could park down the road and we could call when finished. So, he dropped us off at the bottom of the stone driveway and we walked the ¼" mile uphill toward the tasting room. As we approached the tasting room, a lady comes bolting out and confronted us and asked us if we walked here. We said we where dropped off at the drive way and we walked up. She asked us if we came in a limo. We said we were dropped off from a limo. She than informed us that because we where in a limo she can't sell us any wine. I thought that is bold noting that there was only one car in the large parking lot. (which was probably hers). So, we had a few questions back and forth trying to understand the concept of this idea. One person in our group said since we are coming back to the area in September let's taste the wine so we can stop at that time if we like it. The lady tells us we are not even allowed to sample the wine. Few more questions back and forth. What timing. Just then a Chevy Suburban pulls in and 6 people get out. We asked the driver if he was a designated driver. He responded yes. I asked the Lady what the difference was and she said a limo. I asked if we where in a Lincoln Town Car would that be okay since it is smaller than the Suburban that just pulled in. She said no. Well isn't that the same thing? I said, I guess an Uber driver wouldn't be acceptable since it is the same as a limo driver. "Complete silence" She had no answer. This is the first review I have ever written. I felt so strongly that sometimes stupidity has to be exposed. I'm not sure if the owners are against Limo companies, designated drivers or common sense but, DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY HERE. We found many wineries that the people where friendly, the wine was good and they where happy to take our money. P.S. when we told the story to the limo driver, he contacted the other drivers that were out driving that day and told them to stay away.
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Samantha S.

Yelp
We visited the Finger Lakes for a weekend. Virginia wine is much different that wines in the Finger Lakes and we were starting to get dismayed that we wouldn't find much to please our tastes. Red Tail Ridge used unconventional red grapes to make very solid red wines. This was easily one of our favorite wineries on our trip and I highly recommend this winery for a little different taste than the generic Finger Lake wine.