Do I need a reservation?

Yes—reservations are required because seating is intentionally limited to keep the tasting intimate.

Can I use my Wine Club discount?

Wine Club discounts do not apply to the tasting fee, but they do apply to any wine purchases made the same day.

How long is the experience?

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.

Is the tasting seated or standing?

The experience is a seated, conversational format to encourage discussion with the winemaker.

Are there age restrictions?

Yes—guests must be 21 or older and should bring valid identification to check in.

Vertical Wine Flight with Winemaker Vinny Aliperti at Billsboro Winery | Wine | Winery

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.