Lucas Vineyards

Business Details

50+ Years

experience

Award-Winning Winery in Interlaken, NY

Since 1974, Lucas Vineyards has been a family-owned pioneer in crafting award-winning wines in the Finger Lakes region. Our journey began with Ruth Lucas and her family transforming a 68-acre farm into Cayuga Lake's first vineyard, driven by a shared dream of creating a legacy through grape growing and winemaking. Over four decades, we've evolved from selling grapes to producing internationally recognized wines, while maintaining our commitment to family values and hospitality. Our team takes pride in offering personalized wine tastings, seasonal events, and a welcoming atmosphere where every visitor becomes part of our extended wine family. With over 43 years of experience, we combine traditional methods with innovative techniques to deliver exceptional vintages that reflect the unique terroir of the Finger Lakes.

Our dedication to quality has earned us numerous accolades, including multiple gold medals and 95+ point ratings for our reserve wines. We operate with transparency and passion, ensuring every bottle we produce embodies the spirit of our family's dedication to excellence. Our tasting room provides an immersive experience where guests can explore our diverse portfolio, from crisp whites to robust reds, while enjoying the scenic beauty of our vineyards. We remain committed to fostering community connections through our Captain's Table Case Club and special events that celebrate both our heritage and the joy of wine.

Services

Wine Tastings Wine Sales Private Events Gift Shop Personalized Labels

Details

Year established: 1974

Highlights and features

We have over 43 years of experience as Cayuga Lake's first winery
Our family-owned operation maintains hands-on quality control
We offer personalized wine tastings without requiring reservations for small groups
Our estate-grown wines have earned multiple gold medals and 95+ point ratings
We provide a dog-friendly environment with scenic vineyard views

Website

Update Listing

Services

Wine Tastings

Our personalized wine tastings allow guests to sample 3-5 wines of their choice at our bars. Available daily from 11 AM to 6 PM through August 31, and from 11 AM to 5 PM starting September 1. Last tastings begin at 5:45 PM and 4:45 PM respectively. No reservations required for groups of 7 or fewer, with special group tastings available for parties of 8 or more by appointment.

Wine Sales

We offer a comprehensive selection of award-winning wines including reds, whites, ross, and dessert wines. Available for purchase by the bottle or glass in our tasting room, with shipping options to select states. Our portfolio features estate-grown varieties like Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and Riesling, along with proprietary blends and seasonal specialties like our popular Tug Boat series.

Private Events

Our vineyard hosts special events throughout the year including the Spring Barrels, Vines, and Wines Celebration and the Silver and Gold Summer Celebration. Captain's Table Case Club members enjoy exclusive events like the Gold Level Brunch with the Lucas Family and private Nouveau tastings, featuring catered meals, open wine bars, and live entertainment.

Gift Shop

Our gift shop offers wine-related merchandise including personalized wine labels, mulling spices, and specialty mustards. Guests can purchase branded accessories and gourmet food items that complement our wines. The shop also features seasonal items and gift certificates available in various denominations for convenient gifting.

Personalized Labels

We provide complimentary personalized wine labeling for any occasion, available to Captain's Table Case Club members. This service allows customers to customize bottles with special messages or designs, making perfect gifts for weddings, anniversaries, or corporate events. The service is included with case purchases and renewals.

People

Bill Lucas

Founder

Bill Lucas, a former tug boat captain from New York harbor, co-founded Lucas Vineyards in 1974. As part of the pioneering family that established Cayuga Lake's first winery, he helped transition the business from grape growing to wine production, contributing to its early success and recognition.

Ruth Lucas

Matriarch

Ruth Lucas was the visionary matriarch who led the family's move to Interlaken in 1974 to establish the vineyard. As the pioneer of Cayuga Lake's first winery, she instilled the family values that continue to guide the business, creating a legacy that has endured for over four decades.

Ruthie Lucas

Creative Director

Ruthie Lucas, the oldest daughter with a creative spirit, played a key role in shaping the winery's early identity. Her innovative approach and adventurous personality contributed to the development of the unique wine styles that would earn recognition for the family's products.

Billy Lucas

Operations Manager

Billy Lucas, known for his hard work and physical abilities, was instrumental in the vineyard's early operations. His hands-on approach to grape cultivation and winery maintenance helped establish the quality standards that continue to define Lucas Vineyards' production processes.

Stephanie Lucas

Hospitality Director

Stephanie Lucas, the youngest daughter with natural hospitality skills, helped shape the winery's customer service approach. Her focus on creating welcoming experiences laid the foundation for the personalized tasting room service that remains a hallmark of the Lucas Vineyards visitor experience.

Questions

What are the tasting room hours?

We're open daily from 11 AM to 6 PM through August 31, and from 11 AM to 5 PM starting September 1.

Can I bring my dog to the vineyard?

Yes, we're a dog-friendly winery with outdoor seating areas that welcome well-behaved pets on leashes.

Do I need a reservation for wine tasting?

Reservations aren't required for groups of 7 or fewer, but are recommended for parties of 8 or more.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept major credit cards and cash for wine purchases and tasting fees in our tasting room.

Can I purchase wine online?

Yes, our online store ships to select states with adult signature required for wine deliveries.

Are food options available at the vineyard?

We offer prepackaged snack options and seasonal wine slushies, with craft beer and non-alcoholic beverages also available.

Reviews (7)

Write a Review

Tim O.

Dec 02, 2021 Report

Went here for the first time a few weeks ago, and while the scenery is very nice, the staff ruined the whole experience. We showed up for a family wine tour and as we walked inside, we were told we were told they couldn't accommodate us (which could easily be understandable) and told us straight forwardly we have to leave. We complied and as we walked out, one of the staff members called my family member a very derogatory term which I do not want to put online saying he looked like said word. As this was heard by multiple people walking out of the building, we discussed among each other how rude

Rudy Krupitza

Oct 25, 2021 Report

My family and friends attended this winery as part of a tour last weekend. When we tried entering with 8 people we were asked if we had reservations? We obviously did not so my friend Kayla replied that, and was meet with rudeness from both the women working the front. So we decided to leave. Then one woman whispered Something inappropriate to the other. After the comment I told them I would be leaving one star on google and the two women chased me outside yelling and screaming at me. They hurled insults like " your a sad person" "your immature" "your outfit should get one star" "were a family

Rosemary Nycstylecannoli

Oct 20, 2021 Report

Fantastic spot for the wine lover. Beautiful scenery in this part of New York. The selection of wine is nice from sweet to dry. I also love the gift shop with delicious food selections. Will definitely be back to this lovely spot very soon. A must visit if you are a wine person!!

John Rodriguez

Oct 14, 2021 Report

This place yelled at us as soon as we entered the door it was quite un nerving. You expect that kind of behavior from a child. We had a group of six and asked if we could sit three and three. We were told our group could not without a reservation. Afterwards we went to the website to file a complaint about the two rabid hostesses and stumbled across big bold writing that states NO RESERVATIONS. You can not make this up. We then left after being called idiots by a different hostess in tie die clothing. For a place that touts such long history you would guess the customer service would be mature

Amelia T.

Sep 19, 2021 Report

My family has been coming here for years as they are local to the finger lakes area- we had an extremely unfortunate experience with the staff. Lucas Winery as no integrity and clearly had no issues with losing their loyal members/customers with petty matters. Don't both coming here, there are SO many other great wineries nearby.

Keri Kaviani

Sep 18, 2021 Report

While the location is cute, unfortunately the staff is quite rude. It was disappointing to have such a bad experience there as we saw it was so well reviewed! There are many other wineries in the area with just as good wine (and for a better price!) with much better customer service.

Kelly W.

Sep 13, 2021 Report

Rude staff - refused service after asking about coupons. Our large bachelorette group had coupons for tastings which had no expiration date on them, but we were told they were expired. Their explanations as to why they wouldn't honor the coupons were rude and condescending. "Call the coupon police"

Even after all of this, we were still open to staying and paying full price, but were told that we "clearly wouldn't enjoy the experience" there and that we should leave.

I'm guessing their wine is just as sour as their staff