Be it a wedding or a cultural celebration, no matter what kind of event you attend in New York City, as long as you are a legal adult, you will almost always be served a glass of wine.
Although the first ever wine barrel can be traced back to a vineyard in Georgia back in 6000 BC, the New York City region of the USA has also established quite a reputation for itself and has developed a rich winemaking heritage ever since the French and Dutch settlers built the first local vineyard along the banks of the Great Hudson River, in the 17th century.
Today, New York is ranked to be the third largest wine-producing state in all of America, which hence makes New York City an excellent tourist destination for people looking for wholesome and memorable wine tasting experiences.
From some of the most delicious Red and White wines to award-winning Chardonnays and Rose; the New York City wine tasting tour needs to be at the top of every adult’s bucket list who enjoys rich, aged wines right out of an old-school wooden barrel.
However, while New Yorkers take pride in their thousands of local wineries, tourists are often confused regarding which winery they need to tour during their visit.
If you are a tourist interested in visiting New York City for its historical wineries, allow us to make this dilemma easier for you.
Anytime you find yourself in the Northern part of New York, look nowhere else and head straight out to the great Adirondacks Mountains, home to hundreds of the most beautiful and best-reviewed wineries in all of New York.
Continue reading below to learn more about the history of winemaking in the Adirondacks Mountains, the location of these wineries, and the top three Adirondacks wineries you need to tour during your visit.
The History of Winemaking in the Adirondack Mountains
Although the USA is where the wine and barrel originates, it was long after that the practice of wine making and selling arrived in New York City.
Once the French and Dutch settlers planted a vineyard along the Hudson River shores in the 17th century, the local New Yorkers got their ever taste of the heavenly beverage, which soon became their popular celebratory drink.
However, despite the growing popularity of wine, it was not until the 19th century that New York City finally started producing and commercially selling its neatly-crafted wines.
Once commercial production began and the local government started to grant legal licenses to these wineries, the New York City wine business exploded. Soon, the art of winemaking spread all over New York City, especially in its Northern region.
Although it is not clear exactly when the first ever Adirondacks winery began; however, the roots of winemaking in this region can be dated back to the time when early settlers fermented wild breeds of grapes, berries, and other kinds of native fruits, to produce wine.
Eventually, as the hybrid varieties of these fruits became popularly available to the locals in the mountains and people got a better understanding of the regional terrain, the winemaking business in the Adirondacks grew to a greater magnitude than ever before.
Today, the Adirondacks Mountains are a home to hundreds of different local wineries and vineyards, that have produced a whopping 35 award-winning, hand-crafted Adirondacks grape wines, that are loved, by both the local Americans and foreign tourists, for their exquisite taste, organic origins, and rich histories.
Where are the New York City Adirondack Mountains Located and How Can You Get there?
Once you are in Northern New York, know that the region will itself guide you to some of its most famous wineries.
The massive, 9400 square mile Adirondacks Mountains run across ten different counties and encompass almost 92 towns, hence no matter where you are in Northern New York, getting to this mountain range is quite easy.
With hundreds of local wineries to visit, the best idea is to either make a list of wineries you will be touring to find and download their online maps, or you can also ask a local pedestrian or driver for directions to the nearest possible Adirondacks winery.
Top Three Best Wineries in Adirondack Mountains, New York City
The Ledge Rock Hill Winery
This is bye far Mrs. MacLaine’s favorite Winery in the region due to their great selection of White wines. This is often overlooked by many of the New York State wineries that solely focus on their use of the red grape or mixture of thoughts within their.
One of the key attractions of the great Adirondacks Mountains is its sapphire-blue Lake George that proudly sits between tall mountain peaks and a variety of native plant species.
Hence, if you wish to have a once-in-a-lifetime wine tasting and winery touring experience, while also visiting the magnificent Lake George, you need to visit the family-owned and run Ledge Rock Hill Winery, that is hidden away deep in the Adirondacks.
Known for its traditional winemaking practices and its use of natural ingredients, this Lake George winery offers its visitors one of the most unique and wholesome wine tasting experiences of their lives.
Usually, a basic wine tasting tour will include a sample of six delicious wines, along with a souvenir wine glass that tourists are allowed to take home with themselves. Moreover, visitors are also allowed to order a chocolate, meat, or cheese platter along with the wine for a more well-rounded winery experience.
The Adirondack Winery
Another gorgeous local winery that is also built close by the wondrous Lake George is the extremely popular Adirondacks Winery, which is also the most top-rated winery in the entire region.
Known for its delicious award-winning wines and a spectacular tasting room, the Adirondacks Winery is the true reflection of the winemaking heritage of the local region.
Offering a sample of multiple different wines, a souvenir wine glass, and countless refills, the Adirondacks Winerys certainly knows how to create a wine tasting experience that is truly second to none.
Moreover, visitors are also allowed the opportunity to further enhance their whole experience by ordering cheese platters, complimenting chocolates, or nuts along with their wine samples.
Although the Adirondacks Wineries do not have their own vineyard, their Queensbury made wines are certainly something worth making the journey for.
The Galway Rock Vineyard and Winery
The third top local Adirondacks winery, which is also located near Lake George, in the foothills of the Adirondacks Mountains, is the famous Galway Rock Vineyard and Winery.
Known for its exquisite wines and its one-of-a-kind tasting room that allows its visitors the chance to see the whole process of how the grapevines are planted, and how the wine is produced, right before it is served for the tasting, this Lake George winery is not one to miss.
Apart from serving delicious cheese platters along with its popular wines, the Galway Rock Vineyard and Winery is also extremely well-known for its large-scale wine tasting events.
Final Thoughts
If you have a deep love and appreciation for neatly crafted wines, and you happen to be in Northern New York, do yourself the favor by visiting the stunning wineries of the Adirondacks mountains.
Served with a platter of farm-fresh cheese and fruits, the Adirondacks vineries are built to be beautifully nestled between the glorious Adirondacks Mountain peaks, sapphire blue lakes, and tall, lush-green trees.