Finger Lakes winery guide

Forge Cellars

Forge Cellars is an artisanal winery on the southeastern shore of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York, founded in 2011 by Rick Rainey and…

Forge Cellars

About Forge Cellars

Forge Cellars is an artisanal winery on the southeastern shore of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York, founded in 2011 by Rick Rainey and renowned Rhône Valley winemaker Louis Barruol of Château de Saint Cosme. The winery specializes in bone-dry Riesling, cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc, with a focus on exploring the unique terroir of east Seneca Lake through small-batch, single-vineyard bottlings from more than a dozen sites.

Their winemaking philosophy emphasizes traditional, handcrafted methods: grapes are harvested and sorted by hand, loaded into the press by hand, and fermented spontaneously in tiny lots using indigenous yeasts. The team uses very low levels of sulphur, ferments Rieslings bone dry, and does not fine or filter their red wines. Each Classique bottling blends fruit from all 16 partner vineyards, while their lieux-dits (single-vineyard) wines explore the diverse soil types along the eight-mile stretch they farm.

Guests can visit Forge Cellars in two ways: The Salon, a relaxed indoor/outdoor lounge with flights, glasses, and artisanal small plates (no reservation required, dog friendly), or the Summer House, which offers intimate 90-minute guided tastings of seven wines with a cellar tour and library pour. The views of Bellows Vineyard and Seneca Lake make it a standout destination in Finger Lakes wine country.

Plan your visit

Address
3775 Mathews Rd, Burdett, NY 14818
Phone
(607) 622-8020
Hours
Wednesday - Saturday: 11:30 AM - 6:30 PM; Sunday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Closed Monday & Tuesday)

Visitor amenities

  • Pet-friendly
  • Family-friendly
  • On-site dining at The Salon at Forge Cellars

Wines to explore

  • Dry Riesling Classique — Bone-dry, vibrant, mineral
  • Pinot Noir Classique — Cool-climate, elegant, earthy
  • Cabernet Franc — Spicy, structured, savory
  • Chardonnay — Crisp, lean, lively
  • Single-Vineyard Dry Rieslings (Lieux-Dits) — Terroir-driven, expressive, precise

More at this winery

The Salon at Forge Cellars (European-inspired small plates / wine bar)

The Salon is a relaxed, alpine-inspired indoor/outdoor lounge at Forge Cellars offering wine flights, glasses, and bottles alongside a curated selection of market-style artisanal foods. No reservations required, and well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome. Guests can sit at the bar, cozy up by the wood stove, or relax in an Adirondack chair overlooking Bellows Vineyard and Seneca Lake. The menu features European-inspired small plates, designed to pair with Forge's bone-dry Rieslings and other wines from Forge and sister wineries Château de Saint Cosme and Château de Rouanne in France.

The Summer House Guided Tastings

A 90-minute reservation-only guided tasting experience featuring a flight of 7 wines, a deep dive into glacial history and terroir, a walking tour of the cellar, and a bonus library pour from the vault. $40 per person, with 12 seats available per tasting, held Thursday-Saturday at 11:00 AM.

The Foundry Wine Club

Forge's wine club membership offering 3 shipments per year of Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and exclusive Pièce by Pièce wines from the Rhône Valley. Members enjoy first access to new releases, complimentary tastings, 10% off Salon purchases, and invitations to special events.

Bellows Vineyard

Forge's biointensive home farm and estate vineyard overlooking Seneca Lake, where the winery's Bellows Estate Dry Riesling and Bellows Pinot Noir are produced.

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