The Finger Lakes Winemakers Alliance Presents
Terroir · Craft · Community · Innovation
"The Finger Lakes don't make wine the way anyone else does. We shouldn't talk about it the way anyone else does, either."
Three days on the southern shore of Seneca Lake. The Finger Lakes Winemakers Summit brings together the producers, viticulturists, researchers, and innovators shaping one of North America's most distinctive wine regions - for frank conversation, deep dives into craft, and the kind of knowledge-sharing that only happens when the right people are in the same room.
From the challenges of climate variability and Riesling's evolving identity to the practical realities of sustainable viticulture and direct-to-consumer sales, the Summit addresses the real pressures and real possibilities of making wine in New York State today.
Keynote Speaker
Cornell Viticulture & Enology
Leading researcher in cool-climate grape breeding and the science of flavor development in Riesling and Gewürztraminer. Her work directly shapes what grows in the Finger Lakes.
Viticulture Track
Standing Stone Vineyards
Third-generation farmer turned winemaker. Has pioneered low-intervention farming practices on Seneca Lake's eastern slopes for over two decades.
Business & DTC Panel
Forge Cellars
Known for building a thriving wine club program from scratch, Renata will lead a candid session on what actually converts a tasting room visitor into a loyal customer.
Climate Adaptation
Damiani Wine Cellars
James has spent the last five harvests documenting micro-climate variability across the Seneca and Cayuga AVAs, with implications for every producer in the region.
Natural Wine Panel
Boundary Breaks Vineyard
A provocateur and pragmatist, Sonja makes the case that "natural" and "commercial" are a false binary - and that the Finger Lakes is uniquely positioned to prove it.
Policy & Regulation
New York Wine & Grape Foundation
The person who actually knows what's in the legislation. Tom will translate Albany's recent labeling and distribution changes into plain language and practical impact.
Opening
An honest assessment of where the Finger Lakes stands - commercially, reputationally, and climatically - heading into the next decade.
Science Track
Dr. Mansfield presents new consumer research on how Finger Lakes Riesling is perceived nationally - and what producers can do about it.
Viticulture Track
How farms that invest in sustainable viticulture can communicate that investment in ways that actually move bottles.
Lunch & Tasting
Side-by-side pours from the three major lake AVAs, facilitated by a panel of producers. Informal and conversational by design.
Business Track
Renata Solis leads an open panel on direct-to-consumer strategy for producers of all scales - from 500 to 50,000 cases.
Evening Reception
A long table dinner featuring wine pairings selected by summit participants. The best conversations happen here.
Watkins Glen, Schuyler County, New York
Perched above the southern tip of Seneca Lake, within sight of the gorge that carved the Finger Lakes, Seneca Chalet is deliberately removed from the noise - and deliberately surrounded by the vines, the water, and the landscape that make this region worth talking about.
Lodging, meals, and all conference sessions are on-site. Leave the car at check-in. The point is to be present.
Registration is limited to 120 producers and industry professionals. The Summit has sold out each of the past four years.
This event is not real. It is a fictional summit created exclusively for training and demonstration purposes.