Finger Lakes winery guide

Scout Vineyards

Scout Vineyards is a family owned and operated farm winery on the western shore of Seneca Lake, established in 2017 by the Budmen and Todd families.

Scout Vineyards

About Scout Vineyards

Scout Vineyards is a family owned and operated farm winery on the western shore of Seneca Lake, established in 2017 by the Budmen and Todd families. Daniel and Olivia Budmen met at Hobart and William Smith Colleges and set out to travel after graduating in 2015, working harvests in Napa Valley and in Marlborough, New Zealand before returning to New York for the 2016 Finger Lakes harvest. Their first jobs in the wine industry were as vineyard scouts, and the name is a tribute to that habit of exploration and curiosity: to explore, observe, wonder, and search.

The winery describes itself as modern-traditionalist, pairing centuries-old technique with modern technology to make wines that are minimally influenced, sustainably sourced, and reflective of terroir. In 2018 the family purchased a 16-acre farm that is managed organically while the land is prepared for future vineyard planting. The focus is on Chardonnay, a variety they find pairs across a wide range of cuisine and speaks clearly to the place it is grown, alongside Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Saperavi rosé, and small-batch bottlings of varieties emerging in the region.

Visits center on the cellar door, a small indoor tasting space with three tables seating a maximum of six guests each, plus a patio with a filtered view across NY-14 toward Seneca Lake. The Wine Tasting Experience is a guided, seated tasting of five wines served with a snack plate. Community runs through the project as well: each vintage Scout partners with an artist who creates a portfolio of work, so that every wine carries a unique piece of original label art.

Plan your visit

Address
468 State Route 14, Penn Yan, NY 14527
Phone
(315) 220-0336
Hours
Open Daily: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Wines to explore

  • Chardonnay — Mineral-driven, gently oaked
  • Stainless Steel Chardonnay — Unoaked, tropical, creamy
  • Riesling — Dry, tropical, spontaneously fermented
  • Pinot Blanc — Round, balanced, slightly off-dry
  • Rose of Saperavi — Full-bodied and distinctive
  • Pinot Noir — Light-bodied, red-fruited
  • Gamay Noir Nouveau — Fresh, juicy, early-release
  • Marquette — Baking spice and chocolate
  • Aromella Pet-Nat — Aromatic, lightly sparkling

More at this winery

Artist Label Collaboration Program

Each vintage Scout partners with an artist who creates a portfolio of artwork so that every wine features a unique original piece on its label. Past collaborators include Hallie Weiss, Judy Blakelock, Julie Kunzman, Aubrie Cole, Samantha Sorensen, Anna Krajewski, and Issac and Stephanie Budmen. The Collaborations page profiles each artist and shows the work behind the bottles.

The Cellar Door Tasting Room and Patio

An intimate indoor tasting space with three tables seating up to six guests each, plus an outdoor patio with greenery and a filtered view toward Seneca Lake. Tastings are guided and seated, with the last tasting beginning at 4:15 PM and final call for wine by the glass at 4:30 PM. Groups larger than six can be arranged by email; buses and limos are not accepted.

The Wine Club at Scout

Three shipments a year in March, June, and November, each six bottles, featuring pre-release wines, library selections, and club-exclusive small-batch bottlings. Members receive 20% off all wine purchases and a complimentary Wine Tasting Experience for up to four guests on every visit. Shipments can be picked up at the winery or delivered.

Nearby wineries