named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Come Over October
Annual celebration fostering connection and community among visitors and wineries, centered around wine, friendship, and shared experiences.
Seneca Lake Wine Trail
Marketing and tourism initiative promoting member wineries through itineraries, events, and curated experiences to attract visitors to the region.
Sustainability on Seneca Lake
Initiative promoting sustainable land stewardship and environmentally responsible practices among member wineries, aligned with the New York Sustainable Winegrowing program.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
-
Craft Beverage Tourism Trails 4 activities
- Hosts vineyard and winemaking facility toursProvides year-round, hourly guided tours of vineyards and winemaking facilities open to the public, including behind-the-scenes access for craft beverage enthusiasts. Offers owner-guided vineyard tours twice daily on summer weekends and a free self-guided 3.5-mile vineyard walk accessible year-round. Also operates an 18-hole disc golf course through working farm and vineyard land.
- Operates guided wine tour excursions and transportation programsOffers one-day wine tour excursions that include transportation, reservations, planned itineraries, tasting fees, food items like charcuterie trays, and driver gratuity. Partners with Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel to offer a Wine Weekday Package with lodging and VIP tasting passes. Also operates the Finger Lakes Rail Experience Wine Trains in collaboration with FMW Solutions and Finger Lakes Railway, providing onboard charcuterie boxes and wine flights from member wineries.
- Provides public access to Seneca Lake Wine Trail resources and visitor planning toolsDistributes printed brochures and downloadable maps of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, maintains updated information on winery hours and offerings, and provides an online tool to explore member wineries with filters for wine type, amenities, and experiences. Offers phone support through the Wine Trail Administrative Office and planning resources to help visitors navigate the trail’s geography and numerous wineries.
- Strengthens member winery collaboration and financial well-beingSupports 28 member wineries on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail by organizing promotional activities, wine events, and inter-member cooperation initiatives since 2018 to strengthen financial sustainability and regional visibility. Represents member interests collectively and facilitates coordination across 1,357 acres of vineyards.
-
-
Wine Industry Promotion & Education 3 activities
- Facilitates wine and food pairing experiences at member wineriesCurates multi-course food and wine pairing dinners, Austrian-inspired seasonal pairings, and holiday-themed gift guides featuring products like handcrafted mulled wine from member wineries. Offers structured pairings—such as five-item cheese/wine or chocolate/wine combinations—and incentivizes purchases through discounts, while promoting flavor experimentation and sensory education.
- Organizes wine tasting events and excursions for visitorsHosts seasonal and themed wine tasting events such as the Gone to the Dogs Tasting Pass, Deck the Halls, and "Come Over October," along with curated experiences including blind tastings, library wine comparisons, and expert-led small-group tastings of estate-grown or limited-release wines. Offers guided tastings paired with cheese, chocolate, charcuterie, and seasonal bites, emphasizing education on winemaking, grape varieties, and regional terroir.
- Provides educational programming for member and non-member wineriesOffers free educational sessions and recorded trainings for member wineries on topics including music licensing, AI-driven search optimization, tasting room hospitality, direct-to-consumer sales strategies, and multi-channel sales planning. Hosts webinars and panel discussions led by industry experts and makes content available for broader access. Also offers fee-based educational opportunities to non-members.
-
-
Agricultural Producer Education & Support Networks 1 activity
- Promotes sustainable winegrowing practices among membersSupports participation in the New York Sustainable Winegrowing program by promoting educational events and certification resources related to sustainable vineyard management and environmentally responsible practices.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$502K
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$132K26%
Investment income$21K4%
Other revenue$349K
expenses
Total expenses$630K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$171K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$642K
Cash$410K
Investments$182K
Liabilities$188K
Net assets$453K
Liquid reserves11.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +8.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRITTANY GIBSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $91K |
board members · 24
- ATWATER ESTATE VINEYARDS — MEMBER
- BELHURST ESTATE WINERY INC — MEMBER
- BILL MARTIN IDOL RIDGE WINERY — VICE PRESIDENT
- BOUNDARY BREAKS VINEYARD — MEMBER
- CASTEL GRISCH WINERY — MEMBER
- CAYWOOD VINEYARDS — MEMBER
- CK TORREY RIDGE WINERY & MEADERY — MEMBER
- ERICA PAOLICELLI THREE BROTHERS — PRESIDENT
- FOX RUN VINEYARDS — MEMBER
- FRUIT YARD WINERY — MEMBER
- FULKERSON WINERY — MEMBER
- GLENORA WINE CELLARS INC — MEMBER
- HAZLITT 1852 VINEYARDS — MEMBER
- HICKORY HOLLOW WINE CELLARS — MEMBER
- JAYNE GIBBS TOAST WINERY — TREASURER
- JR DILL WINERY — MEMBER
- LAKEWOOD VINEYARDS — MEMBER
- LAMOREAUX LANDING WINE CELLARS LLC — MEMBER
- LEIDENFROST VINEYARDS LLC — MEMBER
- MILES WINE CELLARS — MEMBER
- PREJEAN WINERY — MEMBER
- RED NEWT CELLARS — MEMBER
- SARAH EIGHMEY ANTHONY ROAD WINE COM — SECRETARY
- SENECA SHORES WINE CELLARS — MEMBER
relationships · 99
Who they work with
- 3812 Bistro at Lakeside Resort Partner — Member of the Seneca Lake Winery Association's network of associates in the dining category
- ANTHONY ROAD WINE COMPANY Network — Member winery of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.
- Anthony Road Partner — Participating winery providing wines for tasting during the Finger Lakes Rail Experience.
- Anthony Road Wine Company Network — Member winery on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail
- Anthony Road Wine Company Partner — Member winery offering owner-guided tours of production facilities and curated tastings on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail
- BELHURST ESTATE WINERY Network — Member winery of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.
- BOUNDARY BREAKS Network — Member winery of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.
- Barrister's Bed and Breakfast Partner — Member of the Seneca Lake Winery Association's network of associates in the lodging category
- Belhurst Estate Winery Network — Member winery on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail
- Boundary Breaks Network — Member winery on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail
- Boundary Breaks Partner — Member winery offering owner-guided vineyard tours focused on land and vineyard philosophy on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail
- Boundary Breaks Partner — Participating winery providing wines for tasting during the Finger Lakes Rail Experience.
- CASTEL GRISCH WINERY Network — Member winery of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.
- CK CELLARS Network — Member winery of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.
- CK Cellars Network — Member winery on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail
- Cane & Vine Wine Cellars Network — Member winery of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.
- Cane & Vine Wine Cellars Network — Member winery on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail
- Castel Grisch Winery Network — Member winery on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail
- Cornell University Partner — Collaborated with Cornell University for a tasting room hospitality training presented by Cheryl Stanley.
- Dimitri’s Confectionary of Corning Partner — Supplies truffles for chocolate and wine pairings at Glenora Wine Cellars.
- Either Oar Wine, Whiskey, and Cheese Bar Network — Member winery of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.
- Either Oar Wine, Whiskey, and Cheese Bar Network — Member winery on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail
- Executive Director Government — Executive Director is the point of contact for media inquiries on behalf of the organization.
- FINGER LAKES PREMIER PROPERTIES Partner — Member of the Seneca Lake Winery Association's network of associates in the lodging category
- FLX Helicopters, LLC Partner — Member of the Seneca Lake Winery Association's network of associates in the attraction category
- FMW Solutions Partner — Partner in operating the Finger Lakes Rail Experience Wine Trains.
- FOX RUN VINEYARDS Network — Member winery of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.
- FULKERSON WINERY Network — Member winery of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.
- Finger Lakes AVA Network — Member of the Finger Lakes American Viticultural Area, operating within its designated wine region.
- Finger Lakes Railway Partner — Partner in operating the Finger Lakes Rail Experience Wine Trains.
+ 69 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Collaborative Regional Networkmethodology: collaborative_industry_networkBy fostering cooperation among member wineries and external partners, the association enhances collective impact and industry resilience, because a unified, geographically concentrated network strengthens regional identity and market competitiveness.
- Collective Promotion Through Eventsmethodology: collective_promotion_and_eventsBy organizing themed wine and food events, the association increases visitation to member wineries and strengthens regional wine tourism, because shared promotional efforts amplify visibility and economic sustainability more effectively than individual winery outreach.
- Curated Visitor Experience Designmethodology: curated_visitor_experienceBy designing cohesive, low-friction wine tour experiences—through digital tools, transportation integration, and trail networks—the association increases visitor enjoyment and engagement, because reducing planning burden and enhancing emotional connection leads to longer stays and return visits.
- Experiential Education in Terroir and Sustainabilitymethodology: terroir-education-through-experiential-tourismBy integrating vineyard exploration with expert-led tours and guided tastings, the association educates visitors on terroir and sustainable viticulture, because immersive, hands-on experiences deepen consumer understanding and appreciation more than passive tasting alone.