Lucas Vineyards

Open Friday to Wednesday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Thursday, 11:00 AM to 8:30 PM

Cayuga Lake's first winery, on the western side of the water in Interlaken. The story starts in 1974, when Ruth Lucas and her family moved from Long Island to a 68 acre farm here. Bill, Ruthie, Billy, Stephanie and Ruth Lucas founded the operation together. First grapes came in 1978. The 1980 debut vintage, Cayuga White and Estate Red, ran under 500 cases. The oldest vines still in the ground date to 1975, with Riesling planted in 1980. Today the vineyards cover about 33 acres, producing over 26,000 cases across 25 wines each year. Vinifera, Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Pinot Noir, is hand picked and trained using Vertical Shoot Positioning. Hybrids, Cayuga White, Vidal Blanc, Seyval Blanc, Noiret, Vignoles, come in by machine harvester.