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Taste six wines with co-owner and winemaker Vinny Aliperti in a focused vertical flight featuring Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. This intimate, seated Saturday tasting in Geneva explores vintage variation, cellar aging, and why Finger Lakes terroir matters.
Taste six wines with co-owner and winemaker Vinny Aliperti in a focused vertical flight featuring Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. This intimate, seated Saturday tasting in Geneva explores vintage variation, cellar aging, and why Finger Lakes terroir matters.
Book with Billsboro Winery
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Billsboro Winery · Geneva, New York
On a Saturday afternoon in Geneva, New York, Billsboro Winery opens its tasting room for an approachable, forensic look at two of the Finger Lakes’ signature wines. The Saturday Tasting Experience with the Winemaker pairs an intimate vertical flight with conversation hosted by co‑owner and winemaker Vinny Aliperti, inviting visitors to compare Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon across decades and vintages. Held 2:00–3:30 PM, this 1.5‑hour session walks a small group through six pours—Chardonnay from 2013, 2016 and 2023 alongside Cabernet Sauvignon from 2015, 2017 and 2023—while a curated grazing board of local meats and cheeses steadies the palate. The tasting balances story and science. Aliperti explains how vintage weather, cellar aging and choices in oak or lees contact change aroma and texture, then hands the glass back to you to test those ideas. Library bottles reveal how acidity and tannin resolve over time; the newest releases show the architecture of the grape before years in bottle smooth it into something different. For anyone who drinks wine with curiosity, that contrast is pure travel currency. Billsboro’s setting in Geneva—on the northern edge of Seneca Lake and the wider Finger Lakes landscape—matters. The region’s glacially carved basin, lake-moderated microclimates and limestone-rich soils play directly into the wines you taste. The winery’s tasting room and barrel spaces offer a clear line of sight from glass to vine: rows of trained cane and spur pruning visible in season, stainless tanks and oak barrels in the cellar, and a team willing to talk specifics about farming and fermentation. Practical details are crisp: reservations are required; seating is intentionally limited; the experience is seated and conversational; Wine Club discounts do not apply to the tasting fee but are honored on bottle purchases the day of. The format is beginner-friendly yet revelatory—good for couples, small groups of friends, or solo travelers who want to learn rather than simply sip. What makes this booking stand out is its access. You’re not on a timed self‑serve circuit; you’re at a table with the winemaker, tasting library bottles that rarely appear in casual tastings, and getting context that will change the way you read a bottle label. Whether you’re here for terroir-based curiosity or the simple pleasure of a well-paired bite, the Saturday tasting delivers a compact, expert-led education that’s distinctly Finger Lakes. Reserve well in advance through the winery’s booking system; the meeting point is Billsboro Winery in Geneva and guests must be 21 or older with valid ID. Seating is limited to preserve the conversational format, making this ideal for travelers who prefer deliberate tasting over a packed tour. Expect to leave with new tasting vocabulary, specific bottle recommendations, and a clearer sense of how Finger Lakes vintages evolve and age.
easy.
1.5 hours.
Light—able to sit or stand for 90 minutes and walk short distances on level surfaces
Yes—reservations are required because seating is intentionally limited to keep the tasting intimate.
Wine Club discounts do not apply to the tasting fee, but they do apply to any wine purchases made the same day.
Each session runs approximately 1.5 hours (2:00–3:30 PM).
Yes—a curated grazing board with local meats and cheeses is included to complement the flight.
The experience is a seated, conversational format to encourage discussion with the winemaker.
Yes—guests must be 21 or older and should bring valid identification to check in.
Finger Lakes viticulture began in the 19th century and saw a modern revival in the late 20th century, shaping the region’s focus on cool-climate varieties.
Many Finger Lakes producers emphasize sustainable farming and minimal-intervention cellar practices; bring reusable containers and avoid single-use plastics when possible.
Billsboro Winery is a Geneva, New York winery offering guided tastings and curated wine experiences in the Finger Lakes region. The winery hosts The Winemaker's Table, an exclusive Sunday tasting led by winemaker Vinny Aliperti, featuring current releases, out-of-the-cellar selections, and local snacks while providing guests with behind-the-scenes insight into winemaking. Billsboro also offers a 45-minute Wine Tasting Reservation that includes five Finger Lakes wines served in a barn or on a covered patio, paired with local meats and cheeses for an approachable tasting experience. The property stages events including a Bi-weekly Pizza on the Patio event, creating casual, food-forward gatherings alongside wine service. Tastings emphasize varietals from the Finger Lakes AVA and highlight the region's cool-climate styles through focused pours and winemaker commentary. The combination of winemaker-led offerings, structured tasting reservations, and open events gives visitors clear options for both intimate and social visits. Accessibility for small groups is supported by the reserved 45-minute format, while The Winemaker's Table provides an intimate hour of storytelling and tasting directly from the cellar. Guests receive curated pours, contextual tasting notes, and locally sourced accompaniments to complement the wines. Reservations help manage group sizes and ensure a focused tasting experience for attendees and allow hosts to prepare local pairings.
Book with Billsboro Winery