Thank you for checking,
but the Finger Lakes Trip is SOLD OUT.
June 23-25, 2023
WHO is invited?
Who: Wine Club Members, Friends & Family
As a benefit of the Seven Birches Wine Club, members may invite their friends & family to join us, if space permits. We are limited to 20 people for this trip, so please don’t hesitate and miss out. Your tour leaders, are Mark & Stephanie (2 of the 20 that are going) and they have put together a great itinerary of wineries to visit for this trip.
WHAT is the itinerary for this trip?
What: Exploring Wineries in the Finger Lakes of NY
Itinerary for the weekend:
- Friday (or earlier) – drive yourselves to the Finger Lakes and Check in
- Friday Evening – join us for a social reception
- Saturday (all day) – limo/bus service to visit wineries & taste wine
- Saturday Evening – dinner as a group or on your own
- Sunday (or later) – drive yourselves home
Here’s what we included for you:
- Private Limo Transportation (a small bus really) to visit 5 different wineries on Saturday, June 24th. Nobody is drinking and driving!
- Reservation and tasting fees, plus gratuity at each of the 5 wineries are included.
Here’s what you will need to provide on your own:
- Transportation to the Finger Lakes (Friday, June 23rd) – about 7 hours drive from Boston
- Transportation home on Sunday, June 25th.
- Lodging accommodations (Friday, 6/23 and Saturday, 6/24).
- Meals, aside from what is included in tastings at some locations (some charcuterie, etc.)
WHEN is the Finger Lakes trip?
When: Friday, June 23 – Sunday, June 25, 2023
FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2023 – Arrive in Geneva, NY
- Check into your hotel.
- Meet us for a cocktail Friday evening. Location TBA.
SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2023 – Tour the Wineries
- Meet the Limo (tour bus) at 41 Lakefront Hotel, Geneva, NY at 9:30am
- Visit 5 different wineries, taste their amazing vintages, shop, and return to hotel at 6:00pm
- Join the group (or dine on your own) for dinner. Location TBA.
SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2023 – Travel Back Home
- You may want to make a personal visit to 1 or 2 wineries we did not hit on Saturday. This is completely up to you.
WHERE are we going?
Where: Finger Lakes, New York – Starting and Ending in Geneva, NY
The wine trails of the NY Finger Lakes are arguably the best in the world. The concentration of wineries around lakes such as Cayuga, Seneca, Keuka and others makes traveling to multiple wineries in a single day feasible. Of course, if you are consuming alchohol, you do not want to drive, which is why we have a private limo (coach) reserved to take us around to 5 different, hand-picked wineries.
Here are the wineries we are visiting and the itinerary for Saturday:
9:30am – Bus departs from 41 Lakefront Hotel
10:00 – 11:00 – Fulkerson Winery
11:15 – 12:15 – Castel Grisch Winery
1:00 – 2:30 – Buttonwood Grove Winery
2:45 – 3:45 – Cayuga Ridge Winery
4:00 – 5:30 – Six Eighty Cellars
6:00pm – Arrive back at 41 Lakefront Hotel
7:00pm – Dinner Reservations (on your own)
HOW do we get there?
How: Up to you. But, once you are there, we’ve got transportation covered.
Most people will drive themselves from home to the Finger Lakes. From Boston, it is about 7 hours drive. Since everyone is coming from a different location, it is best that we simply all meet up in Geneva, NY.
Transportation on Saturday, including all the wine tasting you will do, is covered! We have a limo coach reserved and paid for that will be driving our group (max 20) around to the 5 different wineries.
Then, on Sunday, its back to you to figure out how to get home. I would suggest stopping at a couple of other wineries on your way out of town!
WHY should we choose this club trip?
Why: Because you’ve heard about the Finger Lakes and you have always wanted to visit their wineries with a guide!
“The Finger Lakes are a magical place, and a must-visit destination for any wine lover.” ~ Winemaker, Mark LaClair
Mark grew up in Syracuse, NY not far from the Finger Lakes and has visited many times. The area is special because of the terroir, but also because it allows us to drive to a world-class wine region, cutting down on transportation costs.
New York is just behind California for the number of wineries and wine production in the USA. Both v. vinifera and hybrid grapes are planted there and due to the micro-climates of the lakes, they are able to produce some unmatched wines. The lakes are also very well known for their cideries and meaderies. Those you’ll have to visit on your own. But, the fact that you’ll have a whole weekend (or more) you’ll get the chance to do it all on this trip.
The cost: $200 per person
covers all of the wine tasting and transportation on Saturday
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
If the answers aren't right here, please contact us. We're here to help.
Where are most people staying overnight?
Since you are completely on your own for lodging accommodations, you are welcome to stay wherever you like. Obviously, Geneva, NY is the starting point for the winery tour on Saturday, so the closer to Geneva for you, the better.
The tour on Saturday will start and end at the 41 Lakefront Hotel. This is also where we are most likely to meet for drinks on Friday and have reservations for dinner Saturday night. For that reason, we have selected 41 Lakefront Hotel as the main hotel for this weekend. Most of us will be staying here.
There is a Hampton Inn, not too far from the starting hotel and walking distance. This would also be a logical place.
How do I reserve my spot on this trip?
When you are ready to reserve your spot on this trip, simply click on the “BOOK NOW” button above. We must have a minimum of 15 people to go on this trip. IF we do not get to 15, then the trip will not happen and you will be refunded the $200 cost. Otherwise, once you book, you are commited. We cannot refund this unless the trip does not go.
The $200 fee that we are charging covers the cost of all the wine tasting & reservations, the transportation, and gratuities for the winery visits on Saturday. It does not cover your transportation to and from NY, lodging accommodations, and meals. We leave that up to you.
What is the payment plan for this trip?
$200 Fee per person is paid to Seven Birches Winery for the wine tasting, transportation, and gratuities on Saturday. The rest is up to you.
Cancellations:
The $200 fee is non-refundable, unless we do not get 15 participants and the trip does not go. In that event, we would simply refund your $200.
How do we get to/from the NY Finger Lakes?
Travel to and from the New York Finger Lakes is up to you. Since the main activity is on Saturday, June 24th, most people will drive to NY on Friday, June 23rd and return home on Sunday, June 25th. This doesn’t mean that you couldn’t go early and/or stay longer. That is up to you.
Mark & Stephanie will be driving over on Friday and may stop at a couple of cideries on the way. We will keep everyone in the loop, in case you want to join us somehow. We might even hit a couple wineries on Sunday too!
Transportation on Saturday, June 24th is covered in your $200pp fee. As are the wine tastings and gratuties.
What is the refund policy for this trip?
IF we do not get 15 people to commit to the trip, the trip will be canceled. In that event, you will get your $200pp fee refunded to you.
IF we do get 15 people to commit, then the $200pp fee is non-refundable.
We will make this determination on June 1, 2023.
What food and beverages are included on this trip?
On Saturday, June 24th we will be visiting 5 wineries. Included in your $200pp fee are the wine tasting charges, taxes, and gratuities plus any food (charcuterie generally) that are included with the tasting fee. At least 1 of the 5 wineries planned will have a good portion of charcuterie around lunchtime included. But, we would highly recommend that you eat along the way (on your own). Most of the wineries we are stopping at offer snacks, sandwiches, etc.
The $200pp fee does not include meals. We will be meeting up for cocktails on Friday evening, if you like. We also will have a reservation at 1 restaurant for the entire group on Saturday evening. You are absolutely welcome to join us or you may decided to dine elsewhere on your own. We figured that everyone has a different budget and different desires.
Will we have a lunch break on Saturday?
The short answer is No. But, you are able to get snacks at each winery, plus at least 2 of the wineries we are visiting will be serving us charcuterie along with our tasting flights. Most of the wineries have food available. You could always bring some snacks for the bus as well!
Will the bus have room for wine that we purchase?
Most certainly. The “limo” bus that we have reserved actually seats 21 and there is room in the aisles and the back. We’ll make it all fit!