Finger Lakes winery guide

Toast Winery

Toast Winery is a small family-owned farm winery on the west side of Seneca Lake, about five miles north of Watkins Glen on Route 14.

About Toast Winery

Toast Winery is a small family-owned farm winery on the west side of Seneca Lake, about five miles north of Watkins Glen on Route 14. The name is a nod to the cooper's practice of toasting the inside of oak barrels, a step that shapes the character and flavor a wine picks up while it ages, and the owners also use it as shorthand for their ongoing effort to make better wine and to celebrate the people who come through the door.

Owners Mike and Jayne Gibbs got here by a long road. Years of visits to the Finger Lakes from New Jersey turned into a love of the tasting-room experience; Mike began making wine at home and picked up several amateur medals, and a corporate move south introduced the couple to North Carolina's Yadkin Valley wine scene before they finally chose the Finger Lakes as the place to build their own winery. Today Jayne runs the tasting room and curates the retail goods, while Mike spends most of his time in the back fermenting and experimenting.

The lineup runs from dry vinifera whites and reds to fruit-forward native-variety wines: Riesling in several styles, Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Franc, Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt, dry rosé, sparkling wines, ice wine and a port-style red, plus the playful "Toast'ed" line that includes a margarita-style wine. Tastings are walk-in and first-come, first-served; the tasting room is pet-friendly, sells local cheese, beer and juice, and hosts a seasonal wine-and-pickle pairing that has become something of a regional signature.

Plan your visit

Address
4499 State Route 14, Rock Stream, NY 14878
Phone
(607) 535-4277
Hours
Sunday - Thursday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday - Saturday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Visitor amenities

  • Pet-friendly

Wines to explore

  • Riesling — Honey, lemon & green apple
  • Semi-Dry Riesling — Off-dry, bright & fruity
  • Dry Riesling — Crisp, dry & citrus-driven
  • Barrel Aged Dry Riesling — Oak-aged, textured & dry
  • Skin Fermented Riesling — Orange-style, textural & savory
  • Grüner Veltliner — Dry, zesty & aromatic
  • Pinot Grigio — Lime, nectarine & bright acidity
  • LoveStoned (White Blend) — Pear, green apple & stone fruit
  • New York Groove (Estate White Blend) — Apricot, peach, pear & apple
  • Cabernet Franc — Tart cherry, graphite & herbal
  • Highfalutin (Red Blend) — Structured, rich & complex
  • Zweigelt — Dark fruit, clove & soft tannins
  • Blaufränkisch — Dry, cool-climate red
  • Dry Rosé (Cabernet Franc) — Wild strawberry, cherry & rose petal
  • Celebration Rosé — Festive sparkling rosé
  • Celebration Red — Festive sparkling red
  • Bubbly Brindar — Sweet, luscious & bubbly
  • Bougie (Sparkling) — Crisp, bright & sparkling
  • Pétillant Naturel (White Muscat) — Natural sparkling Muscat
  • Gold Vidal Blanc Ice — Sweet, concentrated ice wine
  • Nefarious (Port-Style) — Cherry, strawberry & anise
  • Toast'ed Rita — Margarita-style, serve chilled
  • Toast'ed Jalapeño Rita — Spicy margarita-style wine
  • Toast'ed Peach Riesling — Ripe peach, semi-dry & crisp
  • Toast'ed James — Berries, apple & peach

More at this winery

Wine & Pickle Pairing

A signature seasonal tasting offered on select weekends during regular hours, pairing a flight of Toast wines with locally made pickles (past pairings have matched the Highfalutin red with a bourbon pickle and Riesling with a jalapeño dill). No tickets or reservations are needed; walk in and ask.

Outdoor Patio & Picnic Area

An outdoor space and picnic area alongside the tasting room, used in summer for Monday-evening happy hours with live music, wine by the glass and bottle, local Finger Lakes beer, and build-your-own charcuterie boards. Open rain or shine with no cover charge.

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