We tend to be busier on afternoons and weekends so, if you would like to be guaranteed a spot for wine tasting immediately upon arrival, we recommend making a wine tasting reservation. We welcome WALK-INS for wine tasting on a first come first serve basis. If you cannot get in for a tasting right away, we are also happy to sell you a glass or bottle of wine and snacks to enjoy on our gorgeous deck or lawn-no reservation required!
We are currently accepting groups of up to 8 PEOPLE MAX and WE DO NOT ACCEPT SPLIT GROUPS for tasting. MASKS are no longer required for fully vaccinated individuals however, we ARE still requiring masks if not fully vaccinated. Leidenfrost Vineyards is a small, family owned Farm-winery found in the heart of the Finger Lakes in Hector, New York.
We are currently accepting groups of up to 8 PEOPLE MAX and WE DO NOT ACCEPT SPLIT GROUPS for tasting. MASKS are no longer required for fully vaccinated individuals however, we ARE still requiring masks if not fully vaccinated. Leidenfrost Vineyards is a small, family owned Farm-winery found in the heart of the Finger Lakes in Hector, New York.
Services
Since 1947, the Leidenfrost family has raised grapes and produced wine on a picturesque lakeside farm in Hector, New York. Located on the east side of Seneca Lake, Leidenfrost Vineyards is considered one of the finest growing sites for premium wine grapes in the Finger Lakes. Founder John Leidenfrost Sr. planted and grew American and hybrid varieties for the Gold Seal and Great Western wineries for many years.
At Leidenfrost Vineyards, all of our wines are specially hand crafted in small batches from 100% estate grown wine grapes. We are proud to shine a spotlight on Finger Lakes wines with a clean, crisp, straight-forward expression of varietal character and taste. You can have your favorite wine shipped right to your door or available for curbside pickup!
Get fantastic hand crafted, small batch wines curated especially for you by the Winemaker and delivered right to your door, automatically! When you sign up you get to customize your order based on your preference for Red or White. You have the option of having the wine shipped to your doorstep or available for pickup in our tasting room!
Reviews (26)
Irving A.
Feb 01, 2022
Report
Every other visit to wineries in Watkins Glen has been accompanied by professional and accountable staff and customer service relations -- this place not only misses that standard, but it embarrassingly misses it by a mile. Based on the issue that transpired, it seems to emanate from owners down to management and employees -- with lacking accountability and belligerence even bordering on aggression towards patrons
Patricia D.
Dec 07, 2021
Report
The tasting experience was awesome! We are from the Bay Area CA so are used to expensive, rushed, packed tastings in Napa and Sonoma. Not here though. We were the only folks the entire time (it was like noon on a weekday just before Thanksgiving). Our host, Joe, was really knowledgeable and helpful, yet wasn't intrusive. The wines surprised us in how much we liked most and it was a nice wide variety. I think the German white was our favorite . We had just gotten engaged so he even took photos of my partner and I. The barn type building was nice and the water views were fabulous. The snacks
Vanessa B.
Nov 12, 2021
Report
We visited here last week and absolutely loved it! Not only does this winery have amazing views but the wine is very good too! There's something for everyone here from dry to sweet. I have to say the best part was meeting Liz and Connor. They are THE most friendliest people and always have smiles on their faces. Please make sure you stop by!
Cassidy Molina
Nov 02, 2021
Report
We stopped here yesterday and had a wonderful experience. The wines and snacks were all delicious. The service was also fantastic. The staff was so friendly, they clearly all enjoy working here. We got married this past weekend, and they helped us celebrate. Overall, we were made to feel incredibly special, and it was a very memorable experience. Highly recommend!
Jax Syms
Oct 22, 2021
Report
Patrick Davin
Sep 15, 2021
Report
Good wine but not a very peaceful place to relax, due to the noise makers they use to scare off birds. There's a loud cannon blast every few minutes and a recorded bird caw soundtrack every 60 seconds or so which gets pretty irritating. The cannon would be quite alarming to anyone with PTSD or gunshot sensitivity.
I see from a response to another review they're pretty defensive of this being a necessity, however other wineries in this area weren't using loud noise making devices.
I see from a response to another review they're pretty defensive of this being a necessity, however other wineries in this area weren't using loud noise making devices.
Liz A.
Aug 17, 2021
Report
Taja Hall
Aug 02, 2021
Report
We visited as a walk in group of four on a Monday and there was only one other person (a regular) there. Connor was great! They welcomed us like good friends and provided great information about the wines we tried. The wines were delicious and the experience was great overall! We bought 6 bottles and got a 7th for free. If you like semi dry and sweet wines, this is for sure a place to check out! And say hi to Connor if you do visit!!
Stevo Wonderland
May 21, 2021
Report
Visited this winery last week with my wife. Reservation is recommended but not enforced, and we were able to walk in without one. We tried 6 wines for $10. My wife is not big on wine so we asked if we could share, and the hostess is OK with it. This is very nice since many wineries in the area don't allow sharing. the hostess is knowledgeable and friendly. We bought 2 bottles and the view of the vineyard by the lake is amazing. I highly recommend Leidenfrost Vineyards.
Taylor Dyer
May 17, 2021
Report
My boyfriend and I were on vacation and spent the afternoon visiting wineries along Seneca Lake, and this was our favorite stop! We ordered a couple glasses of wine each and enjoyed them on their beautiful patio overlooking the lake. The woman serving us (unsure of her name) was lovely- so welcoming, helpful and attentive, even when it began to get busy. The wine was very good, generously served, and reasonably priced.
Leidenfrost should definitely be on your list if you are visiting the Finger Lakes! It is absolutely one of the better locations with an incredible view, and the service was far
Leidenfrost should definitely be on your list if you are visiting the Finger Lakes! It is absolutely one of the better locations with an incredible view, and the service was far
Natalie S.
Dec 06, 2020
Report
Great service and great mix of reds and whites. This is a small place, with a focus on quality. We especially liked their Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir, and white port.
During Covid: They take reservations online, though they're not required. There are two tasting rooms for everyone to spread out. Restrictions are followed and everything was clean. Snacks are in the form of a selection of bags of chips.
During Covid: They take reservations online, though they're not required. There are two tasting rooms for everyone to spread out. Restrictions are followed and everything was clean. Snacks are in the form of a selection of bags of chips.
Valerie C.
Nov 28, 2020
Report
Diana H.
Oct 24, 2020
Report
Nicky O.
Jun 29, 2020
Report
Best winery on the trail hands down! Heather was awesome and knowledgeable. She knows her wine for sure. She took time to explain and answered any questions we had. Once we were done with our tasting, we got glasses of wine and enjoyed the beautiful view of the Seneca River. We bought six bottles of wine and the seventh one was free. It was also nice seeing the men pressing the grapes. This is a must visit winery.
Emily K.
Jun 29, 2020
Report
Kyra C.
Mar 07, 2020
Report
My friend and I stopped in here yesterday for a little afternoon wine tour. The wine was really good, but what really made the experience was the person working in the tasting room. We've both worked on the wine trail before so we know how mundane it can get repeating yourself over and over again to the people who come in to taste but this guy was FANTASTIC. He was very personable and energetic and definitely influenced me to buy multiple bottles of wine. He truly made my experience at this winery great.
Paul L.
Feb 16, 2020
Report
A small family business vineyard and winery with Award winning wine since 1984. A great variety of Reds and Whites, from dry to semi-dry to semi-sweet. A great landscaped property of the vineyards off the rear deck of the tasting room of the majestic Lake Seneca. Pet-Friendly, and local artists display art and or entertain with music. 4 Rustic Country cabins sit on the Estate and are available for an overnights stay during the months of May thru October. Wine is also available to be shipped to certain States. GO, visit and Sip some "Leidy Wine".
Mary D.
Nov 09, 2019
Report
Loved our tasting here, one of many stops on the wine trail! We enjoyed the semi-dry Riesling, burlesque (semi-dry red blend), gewurztraminer, and rhinestone (a sparkling Riesling, which we ended up purchasing because it was so unique). They have a lovely view of Seneca Lake out back. All in all, a really enjoyable experience.
Rich Q.
Sep 22, 2019
Report
How this is one of the often-overlooked wineries is beyond me. My preferences lean more towards dry/big reds, and they do NOT disappoint, but what impresses as well is that the whites are very drinkable too!
The product is of course the main reason to go on "the trail", but the staff can make it or break it.. Some wineries have good wines but perpetuate the "nose in the air" stereotype, making me not want to return.. Some wineries have very few that I enjoy, but their atmosphere and people make you want to return, but you end up not enjoying the wine. WHY NOT BOTH? Liz and everyone
The product is of course the main reason to go on "the trail", but the staff can make it or break it.. Some wineries have good wines but perpetuate the "nose in the air" stereotype, making me not want to return.. Some wineries have very few that I enjoy, but their atmosphere and people make you want to return, but you end up not enjoying the wine. WHY NOT BOTH? Liz and everyone
Maggie B.
Jun 10, 2019
Report
Stopped in here for a tasting while we were exploring Walkens Glenn. The space itself is actually quite small, and there is no seating indoors. They have quite a few wanting to offer as well as soft drink some water. There are peanuts out on the bar so please be cautious if you have an allergy.
I can't say that I really enjoyed the wine, even though I wanted to. It all had a flavor that I really just wasn't fond of. One of the sparklings was OK, but nothing to write home about. I actually switched to soda while we were there because I wasn't enjoying the wine. The location and views
I can't say that I really enjoyed the wine, even though I wanted to. It all had a flavor that I really just wasn't fond of. One of the sparklings was OK, but nothing to write home about. I actually switched to soda while we were there because I wasn't enjoying the wine. The location and views
Dabe M.
Oct 15, 2018
Report
My favorite Finger Lakes winery. Spectacular views from the deck and fantastic wines which occasionally stray just a bit from the norms that I've come to expect from NY wines... which is a good thing. The Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the few NY reds that I really love. I'm also not really a Chardonnay person but theirs is really excellent. Their people make it extra special with a real knowledge and genuine enthusiasm for their wine. Connor did a great job with our tasting today. The bigger wineries have fun tasting experiences but this small, family winery is special... Because they
Evelyn F.
Sep 05, 2018
Report
Comparing to the wineries next door, Leidenfrost has Very friendly staffs and very generous portion for wine tasting. They also have mimosa and other cocktails. For $3 you could taste almost half glass of 6 wines ( including some slightly more expensive port wine. ) and of course, you could have as manu peanuts as you want.
The view is gorgeous and dont miss the terrace overlooking the seneca lake.
The view is gorgeous and dont miss the terrace overlooking the seneca lake.
Johnny C.
Aug 26, 2018
Report
Jeffrey S.
Jun 08, 2018
Report
Disappointing winery
I watched the video on Finger Lakes Winery website. The winery looked neat and good. It's small inside. The staff was friendly and helpful. It's $5 per tastings of 5 or 6 wines.
The reds and whites were not that great. It doesn't mean that this is a bad winery. We weren't feeling it when we were there. The winery wasn't for our palettes.
I watched the video on Finger Lakes Winery website. The winery looked neat and good. It's small inside. The staff was friendly and helpful. It's $5 per tastings of 5 or 6 wines.
The reds and whites were not that great. It doesn't mean that this is a bad winery. We weren't feeling it when we were there. The winery wasn't for our palettes.
Jess L.
Apr 01, 2018
Report
I loved visiting Leidenfrost!! I was just in Napa a few weeks ago and tastings ran $30-50 in almost every winery I looked at...so learning that tastings here were $3 for 6 pours was GREAT.
The staff were super friendly (maybe it's because they were drinking with us..) but they honestly made genuine efforts to walk us through the different types of wines at Leidenfrost, made sure that we never spent too long without attention, and were really helpful in picking out wines that we liked, and there was never any pressure to buy anything. The tasting fee is waived if you buy bottles- buy 6 and
The staff were super friendly (maybe it's because they were drinking with us..) but they honestly made genuine efforts to walk us through the different types of wines at Leidenfrost, made sure that we never spent too long without attention, and were really helpful in picking out wines that we liked, and there was never any pressure to buy anything. The tasting fee is waived if you buy bottles- buy 6 and
Lourdes M.
Aug 30, 2016
Report
Love the place. Small, neat, homey and has very personal service. The servers were knowledgeable . All of their wines are affordable.
My husband bought me a glass of rose wine that I enjoyed in the deck. Beautiful view of the winery and the lake from their deck. I fell in love with what I have tasted, the sweetest in their selections...the log cabin rose. Of course, I bought a bottle on my way out.
My husband bought me a glass of rose wine that I enjoyed in the deck. Beautiful view of the winery and the lake from their deck. I fell in love with what I have tasted, the sweetest in their selections...the log cabin rose. Of course, I bought a bottle on my way out.
