Cayuga Lake Classics: A Lucas Vineyards Tasting & Trumansburg Tips

We recorded this video in May 2021 as part of our Finger Lakes food and wine series, focusing on spots along the west side of Cayuga Lake. Since we live just down the road from Lucas Vineyards, Cayuga Lake’s first winery, we decided to taste their 2018 Dry Riesling on our deck.

This wine offered bright citrus and green apple notes with a crisp finish. Lucas has been around for decades and is often a first stop for folks exploring Cayuga Lake’s wine trail.

Since Trumansburg is our closest town, we end up there often for shopping and errands. In the video, we also talked about Hazelnut Kitchen in Trumansburg—still a solid dinner choice for the area. Seasonal, locally sourced, and unfussy. Right nearby is Trumansburg Main Street Market, where we often pop in for lunch, snacks, and last-minute dinner ingredients.

A few other Trumansburg favorites not mentioned in the video include Sundrees, my favorite Finger Lakes boutique and gift shop. There’s always something new, and it’s so perfectly curated. For coffee and pastries, Gimme Coffee is a can’t miss, and don’t forget to see if the used bookstore right next to it is open. There are no posted hours, but if you’re lucky enough to stop by when it’s open, you’re sure to find a great summer read (or two!).

📽️ Watch the original video here:

This one’s short and sweet—just a taste of Cayuga’s west side, filmed right from our place by the lake.

Let us know if you’ve visited any of these spots or have others we should check out.

And, before you leave, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog and also check out our Facebook group, Finger Lakes Food and Wine Adventure.

Cheers from the lake!
—Niki and Scott