Silver Thread Vineyard

While visiting the Finger Lakes, our second time and now one of our favorite areas, my fiance and I booked a couple of tastings. We booked a tasting and vineyard tour at Silver Thread and were so delighted. We were fortunate to be the only people who reserved a tour so we had the pleasure of having owner Shannon provide the tour. She was so lovely and informative. We learned things about wine making, grape vine growth, and the Finger Lakes area and history. Shannon's passion for their vineyard and craft was an added bonus to our visit. Our wine tasting took place in a beautiful room surrounded by the vineyard wines. We had five tastings and a delicious local goat cheese served with pumpkin pepitas. Shannon allowed us to taste an additional wine while we were talking about our favorite wines. I highly recommend visiting Silver Thread and enjoy a tour of the vineyard!

We arrived on a Sunday around 11:30 and we were the only ones there. We stayed in a camper down the road so it was a short drive. Winery was small and private. We enjoyed the tasting however it was rather small pours of 1oz each but came with a small slice of cheese and crackers.

I’m so happy we found this spot! We happened upon it somewhat randomly while doing a typical weekend wine tasting adventure. This place is such a breath of fresh air from some of the super touristy spots. You get much more attentive, personalized service and the owner (who did our tasting) was happy to talk to us about their methods, background, and other great information about what they do. I also loved that their tastings come with a cheese pairing because, after a few tastings, a little snack is definitely necessary! Really happy with the wines here and bought one to take home. It also has a gorgeous view from their tasting porch!

Silver Thread is one of the true hidden gems in terms of wineries in the Finger Lakes. I've been visiting for quite a few years and have never been disappointed. The owners Shannon and Paul are great people. I recently enjoyed a private indoor tasting in their wine cellar library room with Shannon. She's incredibly knowledgeable and it is always great to taste through their lineup with her. They are a small winery and going out of their way to ensure safety of all guests during this time with reservations being required for wine tastings. It is absolutely worth it though and helps ensure not only everyone's safety but also that you are able to get a highly personalized tasting experience. If you have the opportunity to try several of their single vineyard rieslings side by side you should take advantage of it. It is fascinating to see just how different each vineyard expresses itself in the wine. I really can't recommend this winery enough. The wines and experience are always fantastic. I've introduced several people to Silver Thread over the years and they've always loved it as well.

What a hidden gem! We had a wonderful experience. The wines were all truly excellent - we didn't have a bad one. The view was incredible. The people were great and spent the time to talk us through the wine and history of the winery. Not to be missed! We ended up leaving wine club members and can't wait to visit again!

Edit: Summer 2021. They now have a ramp to the front door (upstairs). Edit: There is now wheelchair access to the restroom downstairs and the building is wheelchair accessible. The wine is still excellent, the people are still friendly, and the view is amazing as ever! Very good wines but not wheelchair accessible. There is a step (about 6 inch) at front door. The restrooms are downstairs. However, if you can make it in the wine is excellent, the people are very friendly, and the view is amazing.

Silver Thread was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!! Colin was so knowledgeable, nice and catered to our every need. We came back the next day for a vineyard tour and one of the co-owners gave us a complete tour of their operation and answered every random question I had. The only vineyard we visited multiple times in our visit. If you can only visit one vineyard in the finger lakes region this is it, the hand-picked wines were delicious. The best part is the extremely friendly staff, I cannot say kind enough words about the owners and staff. Pair it with amazing views and you have a one of a kind vineyard. 11/10!

We loved our visit! They are only taking two group tasting reservations (for flights)p hour for the back deck, with a view of the lake. It is a very personal experience. There are also a couple of tables up front in the shade for no-reservation picnics/glass of wine. Really relaxing visit, gracious service, highly recommended.

If you're visiting the finger lakes and have a serious interest in fine wine, you need to visit Silver Thread. The tasting is always a delightful snapshot of their current offerings. We seem to always enjoy and bring home their Riesling and Pinot Noir wines. We always find something unexpected as well. They manage their vineyards for quality not quantity and with a sustainability mindset and this shines through in the finished product. When tasting, there are ample cheese and cracker choices to pair with the wine. The tasting room is surrounded by vineyards which adds to the experience. It's a bit off the road but there's ample signage to follow. They really enjoy what they do here and are happy to share that passion with their customers!

Silver Thread Vineyard is a hidden gem on Seneca Lake. I never knew this winery was here, until my boyfriend brought me here. There is a sign on the main road, and it takes a little bit to drive to the winery, down by the lake. It is worth the trip though, so follow that sign! Shannon, the owner and winemaker's wife, was friendly and personable. Sarah and the other employee there, which I apologize for not remembering her name, were so friendly as well. It was a pleasure talking to them all and learning more about Silver Thread. When you drive down and look at the different vines growing, you can immediately tell which grape vines are Silver Thread and which aren't. Silver Thread doesn't use harmful chemical when spraying their vines. You can tell this because there is still grass growing in between the vines. This is a good sign and means the wine is better for you and not containing nasty chemicals. Look at the vineyards next time you are at a winery. The wine here is excellent. I really fell in love with the rose here. I'm not a riesling fan, but that changed when I tried the riesling here. It is incredible and not like 99.9% of the others. Try the riesling here. If you don't like riesling, try the riesling here, because you will not be disappointed. Their wines are a game changer and I am seriously considering joining their wine club because it is that amazing. The experience here was wonderful and I can't wait to go back.

A gorgeous little spot, Slightly off the beaten path and worth the drive down the unpaved road! All the wines are dry here, which is our preference and we enjoyed them all, especially the Rieslings! Staff was friendly, knowledgeable, engaging and helpful!

It's definitely a boutique kind of winery. The tasting room is small. So, it's a good idea to call ahead. There were 8 of us and luckily we were able to be seated outside, even though it was a bit chilly. Shannon gave us a very interesting explanation of how they make the wines and how they like to make everything as natural as possible. All of the wines we tried were very delicate and enjoyable. The best part was learning about the wines from Shannon without any air of wine snobbery.

Don't be daunted as you drive off the main road and down over a tiny bridge and through the vineyards to the triangular wooden house where this winery does there tastings. Do know you cannot come here with limos, large buses or vehicles (groups must be less than 8), plus you'll never make it over the little bridge. The building is great with a high ceiling in the main tasting room and glass on both sides to see down to the production areas or to a large table for special tastings by reservation or if part of their wine club. They also have a nice back porch to enjoy a glass and watch the lake when you need a breather from tastings. For walk-in tasting, they are open daily from 11a-5p. They have a couple options for tastings including a standard (5 of the options on the menu), Riesling flight, or wine & chocolate. They also have wine by the glass & some small local food tastings. Many of the wines are dry, but a couple are off-dry or semi-dry. We also got to try the rosè as a "welcome wine" with a bite of a local cheese. I enjoyed many of the wines I tasted and the Cab Franc was a good surprise. I'll have to check out the reservation tastings next time.

Favorite vineyard on Seneca Lake I've been to thus far. My friend's parents are wine enthusiasts and love this place too - they have a membership here. Would recommend calling ahead before visiting so you can get a table on their back patio area.

We pulled up on this one and the sign at the top of the driveway said reservations only. I called and the guy said that we can come down. We drove down a long driveway to there. The older man came out and was very friendly with us. Provided us the directions on choosing what wines that we wanted. He then had another old lady bring out the sampling. The wine was amazing. The guy and lady were very friendly and helpful with the wines. He mentioned that a young couple purchased the winery in 2011, but it had been here since the first planting in maybe 1980's. Anyhow they were very nice and all of the wines were amazing. This was one of our favorite stops. We were able to relax in the front of the yard, enjoy sampling of wine, and purchased maybe 4 or 6 bottles of wine to go. I recommend this place.

Silver thread is a beautiful place to enjoy a good glass of wine. The tasting experience is low key yet informative. We've enjoyed visiting the winery as well as participating in their virtual tastings in the winter off season when the snow keeps the winery closed. Definitely worth visiting.

We did not taste any wines due to the rude woman working. There was another group that walked in directly after us that also left. All wines are dry wines. Gorgeous view, though. Hate we did not get to enjoy the scenery!

Our tour and tasting experience with Shannon was exceptional!!! Highly recommend this bio- sustainabile vineyard to everyone who enjoys an educational and enjoyable wine tasting experience "off the beaten path" of the larger more highly commercialized ones in the Finger Lakes Region. Great wine too!

Sliver Thread has been one of my favorite wineries to visit in the Finger Lakes during pre-pandemic times, and the changes they have made to accommodate for COVID still make it a pleasurable experience. The online reservation system is easy to use, and they adapted the upstairs tasting room to allow for social distancing. My group of six people (the max allowed at any winery in the region right now) was accommodated in a private room downstairs, and we had a marvelous time. You can select your own wines to taste, or you can try one of their curated selections, which I recommend. I love doing the Riesling series, as you can taste all of their Riselings side-by-side and taste the differences between the various vineyards the grapes are from. NYS regulations require food be served, so as part of your tasting fee ($15) you get about 2 oz cheese to pair with your wine. They are local cheeses, and they are hand-chosen to go with the wine series you choose. I've always enjoyed coming here - they do really nice Rieslings, and their 2020 rose is elegant and sippable. Be sure to check out the patio at the back, with lovely views of the lake and vineyard!

Nice wines overall. Some we're a bit too sweet for my taste but the gerwurtaminer was awesome. Best of the day. Larger tasting room but it fills up. You definitely want to sit on the back porch... CALL AHEAD to reserve a time

When our daughter asked for a glass of water with lemon only to be told "this is not a bar" is rude. Shannon Brock and an older woman did not make us feel welcome whatsoever. But to take back cheese from our plate after it was served to us .....being told it was because we were only supposed to get 1 speaks volumes. Did you re-serve that small piece of cheese to the next customers!!! You opened both packages and we touched both packages. WOW!!! Shame on you both! Treat people better.

The wines are great and the experience met all expectations. The owner, who was our tasting server, was charming and delightful. We really enjoyed the owners passion for their wine making and the Finger Lakes region came through. Highly recommend this as stop for those that enjoy good wine and good people. John C.

We showed up at closing time and the staff still allowed us a tasting- good thing, because I think we will become mail order patrons. The view alone was amazing, a bit off the beaten path and more "farm" feeling. My husband loves their sustainable and eco-friendly model of growing. The wine was the best he tasted on our trip... don't miss the Riesling or the Blackbird red. If we make it back to the finger lakes, this will be a definite stop!

The vineyard and tastings were excellent. We met owner Paul and were treated to a wonderful tour and tasting by Peter. Please go - you will not be disappointed. It was a fantastic experience!

You wont see this place directly from the main road like you can some of the other Seneca Lake wineries. I came here around 4:35 and was thankful that we got to enjoy our wine in the timeframe between then and closing (5PM). You have to drive down a loose gravel road to get to the location. I liked its proximity to the lake, the view of the lake and vineyard, the small patio out back, and the natural vine and wooden tall table on their patio. The entire place is architecturally interesting. There was a wasp nest in the back patio area that was a little concerning and the chairs were wet from the rain the night before, but other than that, the entire experience was relaxing and peaceful. Inside, they sell gifts like chocolate and wine openers. It cost $10 for a wine tasting that included a Chardonnay, Riesling, pinot noir and one other red wine plus a few pieces of goat cheese. There is another $10 option that includes chocolate instead of the cheese. You can pay $7 for tasting 5 wines as another option if you don't want the food. I thought the price was very fair. The woman who helped us today was nice. I felt bad we held her over 5PM by 15 minutes but she never rushed us. They've been around for 27 years. Their mascot is a turtle. You can find turtle images everywhere in the store as well as on their labels. This is the only winery I've visited in the Finger Lakes so far. I liked the metal art they had on the wall of the Finger Lakes. I learned from the woman there that colder climates = more acidic wines and acidic wine means they can age longer.

It was our first time ever wine tasting and we couldn't have picked a better spot. Their website was updated with information and we could make reservations. We booked the tour which was followed by a tasting. It's a different experience when the owners personally give you a tour and select the wines for tasting. Went to several more places during our stay at FLX but would definitely recommend this place!

Probably one of the good ones I've always failed to visit. Silver Thread Vineyard's tasting room has seasonal hours, so naturally, much like other small but amazing wineries, they are out of commission thru the winter season. They have some of the cleanest and crisp white wines on the lake. And lucky for us, they are not as pretentious about it as Herm...*ahem*...some of the other wineries that produce a quality product. So yes, we felt very welcoming and I urge anyone to check them out before the snow fall and/or after snow lift, teehee. Their standard tasting runs $5 for 5 pours. And it's really all you need as they do not have a heavily extensive list. Easy for those who have a hard time winding down their choices to 5. They also do a "Riesling Experience" tasting, which consists of a flight of with cheese pairings. Wine by the glass can also be enjoyed. Something I plan to do in the warmer months since they have a beautiful balcony with a remarkable high table.y

A very quiet, peaceful tasting experience. This was our last one of the day so we were pretty tired. The woman helping us was so kind, however none of the wines really stood out to us.

I love the winery signs that say no limo or large groups. Exactly what I love, just as personable of a wine pour that you can get. Silver thread is not located on the road. It's quite far from the road actually. I was quite nervous driving my car at points, wondering where this dirt road was taking me, especially when we have to go over this small wooden bridge. However we got there, and it was quite an usually building. A triangle-like building, that was really close to lake level. We walked in and had the pleasure of having the wine maker be the wine pourer. Silver Thread is a sustainable vineyard that produces organic wine. We were able to ask a bunch of questions, and found out that they have been around since the 80's. Really wanted to like the wine, a few pleased my palette, but nothing jumped out at me. The last wine was a different story, the Blackbird, which is a a blend of 2/3s Cab Franc, 1/3 Cab Sauv is where it's at! It was such an unique flavor combo that I purchased a bottle. If you are about organics, and like deep reds, come on down the dirt road!

What a wonderful coincidence occurred to allow us to stumble upon this gem during our vacation. They were hosting an annual dinner catered at the vineyard with hints of the wine inspiring all of the dishes. The owners were more than welcoming to us as we stumbled upon this even on the internet and bought tickets. The gorgeous views coupled with the delicious food perfectly accented the wines including both reds and whites. Brought back a few bottles and truly enjoyed a splendid sunset evening complete with bonfire. I can't recommend that experience enough if you are fortunate enough to find available tickets you should go!

Well I did like that this winery was off the beaten path. I loved the fact that the winery was solar power based, and the service was fine, but the wines were lack luster. I am a dry wine drinker, and when I saw the list I thought I was in for a treat. Unfortunately, everything was very overpriced for the mediocre wine they have. Lovely location and lovely people, but their wine is not up to par.

This little winery is an oasis in the mass of wineries on the southeast corner of Seneca Lake - a microclimate created by the "unusually deep waters" (about 500 feet, according to one winery) in this area of the lake. You drive down the hill from the main road, on a gravel driveway, and enter a borderline mystical spot, surrounded by trees and crickets. The tasting room is inside a building that resembles a half-submerged A-frame. We found out that this winery makes organic wine, although they didn't advertise that in the Finger Lakes map. I'm usually not a fan of organic wine or beer; I admire the creations of such libations, but they usually give me massive headaches. The wine at Silver Thread had no such effect on me. I bought two bottles to go, and enjoyed two glasses on their grounds. There is a balcony out back that looks over the lake, which is a lot closer than other wineries in this section of Seneca Lake. Only one wine is over $20--their pinot noir. I find most Finger Lakes pinot noirs to be sort of watery, due to the short growing season here. This one was a little bolder than others, but still a little below par. The best wines here are the other reds---one called "Blackbird," 2/3 Cab Franc (the Finger Lakes region is now making a terrific Cab Franc, equally good but different than those in VA) and 1/3 Cab Sauv. They also have a table red for $15 that's a winner. As for the whites, the typical Finger Lakes selections (chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, and an off-dry Riesling) that are good to excellent. This winery is right down the road from the incredibly popular Wagner. We skipped Wagner, as it reminded us of some of the busy wineries in Virginia (based on the look of the tasting building and the number of cars in the parking lot). The young lady handling the tastings (a liberal arts major at Cornell) was a bit shy at first, but warmed up quickly, and charged us a whopping $2 per glass--she had no idea what to charge, so came up with a figure that she thought we'd approve of. APPROVED!) Silver Thread is "one with the Earth" (the green footprints--literally, green footprints--lead you to the restrooms downstairs), and a terrific spot tucked away in the trees. I suspect this winery is similar to ones found in the Pacific Northwest. Recommended.

We really enjoyed their Riesling. Very pretty view, calm and off the main beaten path. A great addition to your wine touring.

The wines were nice here. Semi-dry for the most part. The standout for me was their Gewurztraminer - a dry, peppery wine. Check their website for hours as they are not open every day.

Silver Thread is a hidden secret on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake. The drive down to the winery is as pretty as it gets, and their wines are impressive. You must try their wine labeled as Blackbird!

Horrible experience! Was really looking forward to this vineyard. I called day of on a Thursday and Janice said she had availability at 3:30 PM. When I got there for my reservation Janice looked at me and my girlfriend from head to toe (we are Hispanic) and decided to seat us out front where there is no view whatsoever. My girlfriend walked the property and noticed there were a couple of seats available on the balcony with a beautiful view. When she approached Janice to ask if we can sit there she said rudely "we only sit people there who book days and days in advanced". It felt horrible to be told that and we had such great hospitality at other vineyards - ones that we had called day of to make reservations for example - Hermann Weimer was exceptional and Lamoreaux Landing. I ended up speaking with Shannon who is the OWNER of the establishment and instead of listening to my concerns she talked over me and did not let me speak. I will never come to this establishment or refer anyone to come here. Bummer. Hoping this establishment isn't racist all around.

Off the beaten path. Gravel road to the winery. Beautiful view. Wines were drinkable but not amazing. $5 for 5 wines, higher prices than most in the area. Small mom and pop place.

Had a private tour and tasting with one of the owners. It was a birthday gift for my husband and we both loved it. She was so friendly to us and gave us a great tour. The wines are really good, especially the Rieslings. They are off the beaten track and have a small tasting room but worth it!

Loved this little winery! Delicious wines. At the wine tasting they actually taught us about each wine and we did a compare and contrast on whites and reds. Loved them all!

Silver Thread is our favorite winery on the seneca trail. We had the most professional wine tasting of our trip, conducted by the winery owner herself, at this delightful and scenic winery. The single estate reislings were quite good as well. If you like learning about the wine you buy, want to avoid the tour bus crowds, and enjoy dry whites, we strongly recommend Silver Thread