15 Best Things to Do in Penn Yan, New York

By VacationIdea Staff on April 4, 2022 - Updated

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The town of Penn Yan, New York is made up of two distinct areas. The first is the historic downtown village area, a quaint district that features several locally-owned restaurants, shops, and more, offering a great way to spend a nice afternoon. The other area of Penn Yan is the greater region of the area, stretching almost to the scenic Seneca Lake. Located within New York’s Finger Lakes region, Penn Yan is also home to many great vineyards and wineries just waiting to be visited and wines to be sampled.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1.Keuka Spring Vineyards

The Keuka Spring Vineyards is located close to historic Penn Yan and Keuka Lake, just around two miles away from the town’s downtown district. The vineyard offers visitors a selection of delicious wines, as well as beautiful views of the lake. Judy and Len Wiltberger purchased the grounds in the early 1980’s and opened their tasting room to the public in the mid-1980’s. The vineyard itself includes vines of Vignoles, Riesling, Seyval Blanc, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc, and Lemberger.

243 Route 54, East Lake Rd, Penn Yan, NY 14527, Phone: 315-536-3147

2.Fox Run Vineyards, Penn Yan, New York

The Fox Run Vineyards boasts a simple motto: “drink wine, be happy” and strives to make the wines they produce more approachable. Since 1989, this family-owned and operated vineyard and winery has been producing estate wines and aims to be a winery for both the amateur taster and wine connoisseur can enjoy. Wine tastings are offered as flights, typically consisting of five different wines. Visitors can also join a tour of the vineyard, which lasts around forty-five minutes.

670 State Rt. 14, Penn Yan, NY 14527, Phone: 315-536-4616

3.Anthony Road Wine Company, Penn Yan, New York

The Anthony Road Wine Company dedicates itself to making wines that are reflective of the climate and soils of New York’s Finger Lakes Region. The varietal wines produced by the wine company are crafted from the grapes grown in the vineyards managed or owned by the Martini family. Anthony Road Wine Company offers a variety of wines to please nearly any wine palate and is particularly well known for their off-dry and dry Rieslings. Visitors can stop by for tastings in the tasting room, take a walk through the garden, browse the gift shop, and check out the art gallery.

1020 Anthony Road, Penn Yan, NY 14527, Phone: 315-536-2182

4.The Arts Center of Yates County

The Arts Center of Yates County in Penn Wan, New York offers workshops and classes to both children and adults at the Rosenfield Studio, as well as continually changing art exhibits at the Flick Gallery, which showcases a broad assortment of art mediums. The Arts Center also operates a seasonal location known as Sunny Point at the popular Keuka Lake, offering artist retreats and residencies, additional art workshops, and a pottery studio.

127 Main St, Penn Yan, NY 14527, Phone: 315-536-8226

5.Prejean Winery, Penn Yan, NY

Honoring the tradition of making wine that has been handed down from one generation to the next for nearly a thousand years, the Prejean Winery is one of the many wineries found within the Finger Lakes region of New York. Specializing in the grape varieties of Old World Europe, including Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. In addition to the varieties, the Prejean Winery has also added a few more unique varietals, such as Vignoles and Marechal Foch.

2634 NY-14, Penn Yan, NY 14527, Phone: 315-536-7524

6.Kemmeter Wines, Penn Yan, NY

Kemmeter Wines is a winery that views the grapes from which their wines are made as “gifts from nature” and takes the time to allow these grapes to “fully express their personality in the purest form possible,” with all wines created from Vinifera grapes grown within the region. Situated on Seneca Lake’s western side, the tasting room at the boutique winery is open by appointment only. In order to provide guests with the best winery experience possible, only groups of up to six people can be accommodated.

1030 Larzelere Rd, Penn Yan, NY 14527, Phone: 315-521-3897

7.Rooster Hill Vineyards, Penn Yan, New York

Rooster Hill Vineyards is situated within the heart of New York’s beautiful and scenic Finger Lakes Wine Country. The vineyard combines two of the great pleasures in life: wine and scenery. Visitors can experience the timeless landscape of Keuka Lake, featuring brightly flowered meadows and vineyard-draped hills, along with savoring some of the best wines produced in the region. The winery’s expansive porch welcomes guests to sit for a while and relax with a glass of wine, as well as bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a meal “al fresco” with the gorgeous scenery as the backdrop.

489 NY-54, Penn Yan, NY 14527, Phone: 315-536-4773

8.Red Tail Ridge Winery, Penn Yan, NY

The Red Tail Ridge Winery is a winery and 52-acre vineyard situated on the western shores of Seneca Lake. This Finger Lakes winery is named for a pair of nesting hawks who live within the surrounding woods. The Red Tail Ridge Winery is owned and operated by a husband-wine team, one being the winemaker and the other being the viticulturist, in addition to a few other helping hands. The dog-friendly Tasting Room is open to visitors year-round, except for a few holidays.

846 State Route 14, Penn Yan, NY 14527, Phone: 315-536-4580

9.Apple Barrel Orchards, Penn Yan, New York

A family-owned and operated farm in the scenic Penn Yan area of New York, the Apple Barrel Orchards is situated in the middle of the naturally beautiful Finger Lakes Region and has been around since the middle of the 1960’s. The orchard was bought by Roxanne and Bernie Wagner in 1994 and moved to their family farm along Sand Hill Road, which has been in the family now for three generations. This farm today is known as Apple Barrel Orchards and offers guests an opportunity to pick their own fruit that’s in-season, such as apples, cherries, and grapes.

2673 Sand Hill Rd, Penn Yan, NY 14527, Phone: 315-536-2744

10.Seneca Shore Wine Cellars

The Seneca Shore Wine Cellars also operates as the Medieval Winery of the Finger Lakes, growing, producing, and selling premium wines of New York’s Finger Lakes Wine Country. These wines can be tasted and bought in the Tasting Room and visitors can relax with a glass of wine on the deck that overlooks Seneca Lake. The award-winning vineyards of Wine Cellars were established in 1979, producing Gold Medal Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, along with other vinifera varietals, including Lemberger, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Riesling. There are also fruit wines, Sherry, and Port available.

929 Davy Road, Penn Yan, NY 14527, Phone: 315-536-0882

11.Yates County History Center, Penn Yan, New York

The Yates County History Center is a campus consisting of three different buildings featuring both changing and permanent exhibits that interpret the local history of New York’s Yates County in the twentieth century, Victorian, pioneer, and Native American eras. The campus includes the Oliver House Museum, where visitors can learn about the Oliver family. Extensive exhibits at the Yates County History Center include Jemima Wilkinson-the Public Universal Friend, the medical practices of The Oliver Doctors, and The Groffdale Mennonites of Yates County.

107 Chapel St, Penn Yan, NY 14527, Phone: 315-536-7318

12.Barrington Cellars Winery, Penn Yan, NY

The Barrington Cellars Winery in Penn Yan, New York is a family-owned and operated small winery set approximately five hundred feet to the east of Keuka, or Crooked Lake. Guests can stop by the tasting facility to sample several of the Barrington Cellars wines, as well as sit on the deck with a glass and take in the views of the lake, rolling hills, and vineyards. The Barrington Cellars Winery produces a wide selection of wines, ranging from sweet to dry. These include Cabernet Franc, red blends, both sweet and dry Riesling, white blends, ice wines, and fruit wines.

2794 Gray Road, Penn Yan, NY 14527, Phone: 315-531-8923

13.Penn Yan Diner, Penn Yan, NY

The Penn Yan Diner is a small, retro-style diner in the town of Penn Yan, New York that serves a variety of both breakfast and lunch comfort food within a friendly and cheerful atmosphere featuring a handful of tables and counter stools. This “Mom-and-Pop” diner in the Finger Lakes Region aims to satisfy the hunger of guests with flavorful, delicious food that ultimately fills their stomachs with contentment. The Penn Yan Diner has a menu that includes classic breakfast favorites and house specialties, both hot and cold sandwiches, and salads.

131 E Elm Street, Penn Yan NY 14527, Phone: 315-536-6004

14.The Olney Place, Penn Yan, NY

The Olney Place is a one-stop shop in Penn Yan that specializes in offering last-minute items visitors may need to make the most of their time on the scenic Keuka Lake, whether it’s “by land or by lake.” The shop provides a wide assortment of local goods, a deli counter, and an extensive selection of craft beer. Those who venture into The Olney Place will find artwork, cards, t-shirts, and much more, as well as a lunch menu featuring locally sourced ingredients, locally roasted coffee, breakfast sandwiches, and sticky buns.

823 East Lake Rd, Penn Yan, NY 14527, Phone: 315-536-5454

15.Keuka Lake Coffee Roasters, Penn Yan, NY

Keuka Lake Coffee Roasters, the same company that owns and operates JAVA-GOURMET, is a company and staff that lives, works, and plays against the beautiful natural backdrop. The coffee shop overlooks Keuka Lake and roasts all of its coffees to order. The coffee made by Keuka Lake Coffee Roasters is roasted in small batches from 100% Arabica coffee beans that are sourced from their country of origin. The coffee is then air cooled completely after roasting, and before blends are made, to retain its natural coffee oils, these not only hold flavor, but the “good for you” antioxidants as well.

2808 State Route 54A, Penn Yan, NY 14527, Phone: 315-536-7843