There are a number of very reputable companies that offer wonderful wine tours in the Finger Lakes region. Some of their drivers serve as Guides, sharing information about the region, the trails, the wineries and their wines and winemakers. Others act as chauffeurs, simply driving you from location to location. Your preference may depend on your group’s prior wine tasting and trailing experience, and your knowledge of the Finger Lakes region and its wineries.
If you’ve decided to take a Finger Lakes Wine Trail Tour with a company that specializes in this, here are some things you’ll want to decide and investigate:
- Do you prefer a Guide or a Chauffeur? A guide will offer a more customized tour based on your taste and will provide commentary and information about the places you visit. S/he will help you select the destinations you would prefer. A Chauffeur will take you whereever you wish to go.
- Which Wine Trail do you want to visit? Your tour guide or driver should be able to help you decide this, but for more information, see Resources for Wine Trail Visitors (Part 4, to come). Be sure the company you’re considering covers that trail.
- Do you want to go on a wine trail event weekend or a normal weekend? There are many fun giveaways and delicious food on Wine Trail Event Weekends, but you have to order tickets far in advance (most events sell out early) and there will be crowds. For a more leisurely experience, choose a weekend where no trail-wide event is happening.
- Questions to ask: What are the wine tour company or transportation fees? How many hours of trailing are included? What type of vehicle does that include? How many wineries/stops does that usually include? Does the fee include gratuity and tax? Are wine tasting fees* included or additional? What are the refund policies? How do they handle auto malfunction? Where is the the starting point?
- If using a guide, what training has your guide received? Does s/he know the trail well that you want to tour? Does s/he know the wineries, winemakers and wines well enough to help you customize the tour to your interests. Make sure the responses seem in line with the type of tour you’re seeking.
- Do you want to include stops at attractions and retailers along the way? There are many lovely shops and attractions throughout the Finger Lakes region. If you’d like to include non-winery stops, you may want to plan additional time for your tour or plan on hitting less wineries.
- Do you want to do a package or a stand-along tour? There are many lovely hotels and B&Bs that partner with transportation and wine tour companies to offer excellent package options. Each wine trail lists nearby lodging, and by reviewing individual accommodations, you can identify packages that may be of interest. Some of the wine trails also have a separate listing of packages that are available on their trail.
One thing to keep in mind regarding your wine tour: the lowest price should not be the deciding factor. What is important is that you get the type of tour that suits your needs and that of your group, whether that is a customized tour or simple transportation.
Do you have any other tips of things newbies to wine trailing should ask when seeking a wine trailing or transportation company to work with?
*Note: Some wineries charge a tasting fee. If you prefer not to pay a fee, you can select wineries that do complimentary wine tastings.
Are there other questions you’d suggest when considering a wine tour or transportation company? Please share your thoughts.
If you found this helpful, you may also want to read:
- On the Finger Lakes Wine Trails with Quality Wine Tours
- Touring the Finger Lakes Wine Trails – Part 1: Wine Tour Guide or Do-It-Yourself?
- Touring the Finger Lakes Wine Trails – Part 3: Do-it-yourself Wine Trailing
- Touring the Finger Lakes Wine Trails – Part 4: Resources for Wine Trail Visitors