Five Lakes, Five Courses: Finger Lakes Vineyard Wine & Food Pairing at Lakewood Vineyards

Five Lakes, Five Courses at Lakewood Vineyards is a two-hour, adult-only tasting event held on the vineyard lawn in Watkins Glen, New York, in the heart of the Finger Lakes wine region. The experience pairs five small plates inspired by the area’s lakes with five Lakewood wines, guided by Ollie and Olga Sakhno of Keuka Kafe and Keuka Wine Bar & Kitchen. It’s a relaxed afternoon on grass beneath open sky, where vineyards slope toward long, glacially carved lakes and the work of ice and time is readable in steep hills and exposed shale.

Arrive ready to sit and savor: tables seat up to eight, and larger parties can be placed at adjacent tables, creating an intimate communal vibe without the formality of a tasting room tasting. The Sakhnos - chefs and hosts with deep experience bringing Lakewood’s bottles into conversation with food - explain each pairing, highlight local ingredients, and tell short stories about the wines. That live, human context is what lifts this from a simple tasting to a sensory tour of Finger Lakes terroir.

The setting is as important as the menu. Lakewood’s lawn gives wide sightlines across vines, and on a clear day you’ll notice the geology that makes these vineyards possible: glacially scoured valleys, rocky soils, and cold lake influence that helps ripen balanced wines. Expect a focus on freshness and contrast in the plates - textures and acidity that mirror the wines’ lift - and a pacing designed to let you taste between pours and chat with neighbors and hosts.

Practical notes: this is an ages-21-plus event that runs roughly two hours. Cancellations are accepted up to three days in advance. Bring sun protection and a light layer because Finger Lakes afternoons can shift from warm sun to sharp breezes coming off the lakes. Photography is low-key - capture the table settings, the hosts presenting plates, and the vineyard ridgeline for the strongest images.

Why book it? If you want a tasting that reads like a short, place-specific education - food as translation, wine as map - this event delivers. It’s also a chance to engage directly with visiting chefs who work with Lakewood’s wines in restaurants back in New York City, bringing urban culinary perspective to upstate terroir. For visitors staying in Watkins Glen or touring nearby lakes, Five Lakes, Five Courses is an efficient, memorable way to taste both the region and the care behind it. Reserve a spot in advance through Lakewood’s booking link because events run with limited seating; bring government ID to verify age, and arrive 10-15 minutes early to enjoy the lawn and read the vineyard signage. Combine the tasting with an afternoon drive along the lakeshore or a hike in nearby state parks to round out a full Finger Lakes day today.