The Tasting Experience
The simple truth of the matter is that your tasting experience here at Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards will vary somewhat depending on when you visit. Sure there are some basics. You’ll be greeted by a friendly staff member inviting you to one of the tasting bars where you’ll find a wide assortment of wines to try, and a bowl of fresh popcorn to nibble. After paying just a three dollar tasting fee, you’ll receive a $3.00 coupon to apply toward your purchase in our wine and gift shop. A staff member will then guide you through your tasting selections and answer any questions you may have about the wines or the farm. Weekdays are generally a better choice if you’d like more one on one attention. And if you’ve been visiting Hazlitt winery for many years, weekday visits give you a better chance of seeing a family member or other familiar face. Of course, if you’re a case club member, we get to see a familiar face too, and your tasting experience is always complimentary!
Fall is the most popular time of year for visitors in the Finger Lakes wine region. In much the same way that loads of people choose to go to the mall the day after Thanksgiving, loads of tourists choose to go wine tasting during harvest. The region is abuzz with tour groups and travelers. If the bustle of crowds is your thing, visit in the fall. Mid September through early December is peak season in wine country. If you prefer your visit to be a bit more subdued, and you wish to spend more time asking questions and touring facilities, schedule your visit on a weekday. Saturdays can be a lot of fun, but you will encounter enormous numbers of people in the tasting room. You may find yourself waiting in line to sample and purchase on fall Saturdays with Sundays being nearly as busy in peak fall weeks. Even Friday afternoons are commonly a full house, although rarely will you have to wait to taste.
Winter months are a wonderful time to visit the regions wineries. Mid-December offers the bonus of beautifully decorated tasting rooms, fresh cut pine trees and mulled wine. January can be a great time to visit for the entire weekend as you can often find room availability and deals at area bed & breakfasts. Tasting room staff may have the time to personalize your wine tasting or offer a barrel sampling, and you may find yourself tempted to go sledding, play pond hockey, or party with the locals.
Spring is stunning in the Finger Lakes. Your visit to the wineries may include new vintage releases, a tour of a budding vineyard, the local waterfalls at their peak volume, longer daylight for hiking, or the smells of fresh cut grass and newly plowed soil. Spring doesn’t involve the lines associated with the tourist explosion in fall. Take your time in the tasting area, tour the winery, meet the Red Cat, picnic in the yard and watch the horses frolic in the bordering pasture.
I can’t imagine not choosing to visit Hazlitt Vineyards or any other Seneca Lake Winery in the summer. Rarely a need to stand in line, you can tour in shorts and T’s. Check out a park with a great beach on Seneca Lake just a mile down the road and take a cool dip in the middle of winery visits. All the water front bars and restaurants are open, and there’s usually a wine event of some sort every night around the lake.