Long Point Winery

About Long Point Winery

Long Point Winery takes its name from the stretch of Cayuga Lake's east shore it sits above, a few miles south of the village of Aurora. The property runs to 72 acres, eight of them under vine, and the tasting room is built around the view down to the water; the dock at Long Point State Park is close enough that the winery will collect visitors who arrive by boat. Gary Barletta learned winemaking from his grandfather and spent years as a Syracuse home winemaker collecting amateur medals before he and his wife Rosemary broke ground here in January 1999. They still run it.

The estate vineyard grows Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Grigio, but the list runs well beyond that and the house leans dry. Riesling comes dry and semi-dry, the dry one built on peach, apricot and grapefruit. What sets the cellar apart in the Finger Lakes is its run of warm-climate reds: Zinfandel (plus a peppercorn-edged Reserve), Petite Sirah, Syrah, Barbera and Sangiovese sit beside the more expected Cabernet Franc and Merlot, along with Rubitage, a dark, currant-and-eucalyptus blend. Two sweet reds, Moon Puppy and Zinderella, cover the other end of the spectrum.

Tastings are guided at the bar, five pours of your choosing with staff talking through the vineyard and the wines. Walk-ins are welcome; reservations are required only for groups of ten or more. Amelia's Deli operates from the same building Friday through Monday, turning out sandwiches on house-made focaccia, wraps, salads and antipasto platters, so a tasting can easily become a long lunch over the lake.