What Can Visitors Do at Knapp Winery?

Knapp Winery offers four main visitor experiences: wine tastings, dining at its on-site Field & Vine Restaurant, seasonal events such as wine dinners and live music, and exploring the vineyards and Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. It suits anyone planning a Finger Lakes day trip or weekend getaway, especially travelers who want food and wine in one stop rather than a tasting room alone.

Wine Tastings

Knapp has been producing wine in the Finger Lakes for 40 years and describes itself as a pioneer of the region. Tastings are the core visit: the winery is a few steps from the shore of Cayuga Lake, and the site lists tastings alongside wine dinners and live music as reasons to visit.

What you can taste:

• Reds — Knapp states it uniquely prides itself on premium reds, even though the Finger Lakes region is better known for white grape varietals.
• Cabernet Franc — Knapp says it was the first winery in the Finger Lakes to plant and vinify this grape.
• Rieslings — described as a signature wine, alongside Cabernet Franc.
• Range across styles — the site summarizes its portfolio as "from Cabernet Franc to signature Rieslings, there's a wine for everyone at Knapp."

If red wine is your priority, this is an unusual Finger Lakes stop; if you mainly want the region's whites, Riesling is still on the list.

Dining at Field & Vine Restaurant

Knapp opened its restaurant in 1992, making it the first winery restaurant on Cayuga Lake. The site frames the restaurant around "recognizing the importance of wine with food."

Practical points from the site:

• The restaurant is called Field & Vine.
• Menus and reservations are handled through the restaurant section of the website.
• Because it was the first winery restaurant on the lake, it is an established stop rather than a new addition — useful if you want a seated meal as part of a wine trail day.

Reserving ahead is the sensible step if dining is central to your plan, since menus and reservations are separate from the tasting room.

Events and Seasonal Programming

Knapp runs ongoing events rather than only walk-in tastings. The site's events section highlights items such as a Wine Club Pick Up Party listed for October 25, 2026, and mentions wine dinners and live music among the reasons to visit.

Types of programming referenced:

Checking the events section before you go matters here: event dates are specific, and a pick-up party is aimed at club members rather than general visitors.

Vineyards, Cayuga Lake, and the Wine Trail

Knapp positions itself as part of the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, which the site calls the "hidden gem of FLX." A visit can combine the tasting room, the restaurant, and the vineyards into a full day.

The site's own suggested framing for summer: the Finger Lakes wine region "comes alive in the summertime," and a weekend getaway can include Field & Vine, the tasting room, and the sprawling vineyards.

For trip planning, the site points visitors to a "Plan Your Visit" section and offers a newsletter that includes "inside guides to wine country in the FLX."

Wine Club, If You Want More Than a One-Time Visit

Knapp's Wine Club is described as a community of wine enthusiasts, with clubs suited to dry, sweet, or in-between preferences. The site notes that members who cannot visit often can still find value, because specials are frequently offered online.

This is worth considering if you expect to return to the Finger Lakes or want event access; it is not necessary for a single tasting visit.

Quick Decision Guide

• Want just a tasting? Go for the tasting room and the red-focused portfolio.
• Want a full meal with wine? Book Field & Vine, the first winery restaurant on Cayuga Lake.
• Want an event? Check the events calendar for wine dinners, live music, and club dates.
• Want a full day? Combine the winery with the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail and the shoreline setting.

The site does not publish tasting fees, reservation policies, or hours in the material available here, so confirm those directly before traveling.