Flatt Rock Wine Cellars

About Flatt Rock Wine Cellars

Flatt Rock Wine Cellars sits on the east shore of Seneca Lake above the hamlet of Valois in the town of Hector, on a rocky slope that the owners credit, along with the lake's warming water, for ripening the vinifera they grow. Dave and Darla Flatt spent three years living in France and set out on their return to recreate the wine experience they found there; the tasting room opened in late summer 2017 pouring wines made from purchased fruit while their own young vines came into production.

The house focus is stated plainly: dry reds. Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc (the wine they call "the hearty one"), Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are the core, joined by a Bordeaux-style blend that leans on Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc and a smaller share of Merlot. Whites are limited to a crisp Sauvignon Blanc and an Alsatian-styled Pinot Gris, and there is a traditional-method Brut of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that the Flatts describe as their favorite French-style aperitif.

This is a small, owner-run stop rather than a resort: the Flatts usually pour themselves, the room is furnished with barrel furniture, and a deck looks over the vines to the lake. Walk-ins are fine for small parties, but groups of seven or more must book ahead and limousines and buses are by appointment only; tastings are strictly 21 and over. A vaulted event pavilion called The View, with sliding walls opening toward the water, handles weddings and private events.