BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS

Weekday Seneca Lake Wine Tours With Behind-the-Scenes Access

Ride from Watkins Glen for a curated weekday wine tour with four planned stops, more time at each location, and special experiences that go beyond a quick tasting.

Check BTS Dates & Book
See the Exact Stops
When Mon–Thu weekday tours
Where Starts in Watkins Glen
Stops Four curated stops
Included Transportation included
Separate Tastings, food & drinks

Behind-the-Scenes Tours are part of our Seneca Lake wine tour lineup, but they are built for guests who want a more curated weekday experience. If you are still comparing tour styles, you can also view our classic Seneca Lake wine tours or read our Finger Lakes wine tour transportation guide before choosing a date.

Staying near Watkins Glen? Our Watkins Glen wine tour transportation guide explains what to expect when starting your wine day from town.

What’s included

What Your BTS Ticket Includes

Your Behind-the-Scenes ticket covers the planned wine tour experience and transportation for the day, so you do not have to drive, build your own route, or coordinate each stop yourself.

Transportation

Round-trip transportation from Watkins Glen.

Planned Route

A weekday route around Seneca Lake, selected for that tour date.

Four Stops

Four curated stops chosen to create a stronger overall wine country day.

More Time

More time at each stop than a quick tasting-room visit.

Special Access

Behind-the-scenes moments, guided experiences, pairings, tours, or special access depending on the selected date.

Shared Group Value

A shared-group wine day without the cost of booking private transportation.

You control your tasting budget

Tastings, food, drinks, pairings, and souvenirs are paid separately at each stop. That keeps the day flexible, so each guest can choose how much or how little they want to spend.

What Makes This a Behind-the-Scenes Wine Tour

Check BTS Dates

Not Just Winery Stops. Real Wine Country Experiences.

WHY THIS TOUR IS DIFFERENT

Our regular Seneca Lake trolley tours are a fun, social introduction to the region. Behind-the-Scenes Wine Tours are built for guests who want more time, more context, and a closer look at what makes Seneca Lake wine country special. It is designed for guests looking for a more guided Seneca Lake wine experience during the week.

More Time at Each Stop

Spend about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes at each location, so the day feels less rushed and more worthwhile.

Four Curated Stops

Each weekday follows a planned route with four hand-picked stops selected to create a stronger overall experience.

Special Access Moments

Each weekday route is built around experiences that go beyond a standard walk-in tasting. Depending on the selected date, your tour may include vineyard walks, production spaces, guided tastings, elevated tastings, pairings, or other behind-the-scenes moments.

Easy Shared-Group Ride

Enjoy a planned wine country day without driving, guessing where to go next, or booking a private tour.

MONDAY–THURSDAY ROUTES

Choose the Weekday That Fits Your Trip

Each Behind-the-Scenes Winery Tour follows a consistent weekday route, so you can choose the day that matches the kind of experience you want.

Mondays

Vineyard views + behind-the-scenes moments

Prestigious Winery Focus

Best for wine lovers who want a polished, wine-forward day with standout Seneca Lake wineries.

Hillick & Hobbs Winery Walk the vineyard and learn what makes this site so unique.
Silver Thread Vineyard Enjoy a relaxed Austrian-inspired lunch paired with thoughtfully selected wines.
J.R. Dill Winery Go behind the scenes with a production tour and inside look at winemaking.
Leidenfrost Vineyards A guided tasting highlighting a range of Finger Lakes styles.
Tuesdays

Classic Finger Lakes with a culinary twist

Variety + Pairing Day

Best for guests who want high-quality wineries with a little more variety built into the day.

Wagner Vineyards Estate Winery Explore the vineyard and learn about one of the region’s most established producers.
Either Oar; Wine, Whiskey & Cheese Bar Enjoy a curated wine & cheese or whiskey & cheese pairing experience.
Damiani Wine Cellars A guided tasting focused on small-batch, expressive wines.
Finger Lakes Distilling Wrap up with cocktails or flights and a distillery tour at one of the area’s top distilleries.
Wednesdays

Relaxed midweek favorites

Mixed-Energy Experience

Best for guests who want something a little less traditional than a wine-only day.

Ria’s Wines Enjoy a vineyard or production tour with a more intimate feel.
Solera Tap House Enjoy lunch and watch a traditional Lukr pour or beer experience.
Two Goats Brewing Learn about the history and craft behind Hector’s oldest brewery.
Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Guided wine tasting at the largest winery in New York State, with wine slushies and yard games in the outdoor oasis.
Thursdays

Refined wine country before the weekend crowds

Elevated Winery Experience

Best for guests who want a polished Seneca Lake wine day with pairings, guided tastings, and deeper winery experiences.

Magnus Ridge Winery Enjoy a cheese and wine pairing experience featuring local cheeses.
Tabora Farm & Winery Lunch from a scratch-made kitchen, with suggested wine pairings for your food.
Lakewood Vineyards Experience either a production tour or vineyard tour for a closer look at the winemaking process.
Barnstormer Winery Wrap up with an in-depth guided wine tasting.

SEE YOUR STOPS

Find Tickets for Your Date

Each Behind-the-Scenes Tour follows a planned weekday route, and the stops may vary by date. Use the tool below to choose your tour date and see the scheduled stops before you book.

See the exact stops for your date

Select a date and tour, then click “View details.”

Color key: East = Gold • West = Green • Combined = Teal

Tip: only available tour dates can be selected.

HOW THE DAY WORKS

A Guided Weekday Wine Tour Without the Driving

Start in Watkins Glen, ride with a shared group, and visit four planned stops without having to drive or map out the day yourself. Behind-the-Scenes Wine Tours are designed to give you more time at each location, so the day feels less rushed and more like a real Finger Lakes experience. If you are planning from town, our Watkins Glen wine tour transportation guide can help you understand the starting point before you book.

1. Start in Watkins Glen

2. Ride with a shared group

3. Visit four curated stops

4. Spend more time at each location

5. Enjoy the day without driving

IS THIS TOUR FOR YOU?

Perfect for Guests Who Want More Than a Quick Tasting

Behind-the-Scenes Tours are built for guests who care about unique experiences. If you want more time, more context, and a planned weekday route, this is probably your kind of tour.

Great Fit

This tour is a great fit if you:

  • Love wineries and want a deeper Finger Lakes wine day
  • Prefer quality stops over a party-bus feel
  • Want more time at each location
  • Like pairings, guided tastings, vineyard walks, or production spaces
  • Are visiting during the week and want a planned day from Watkins Glen
  • Want a social group experience without booking a private tour
Probably Not the Fit

This may not be the best fit if you:

  • Want a loud Saturday party atmosphere
  • Are looking for a private custom itinerary
  • Want a hop-on/hop-off route
  • Expect tastings or food to be included in the ticket price
  • Prefer a quick stop at as many wineries as possible
  • Want to choose every stop yourself
Ready to Book?

GOOD TO KNOW

A few quick details so you know exactly what to expect before reserving your seat.

Good to Know

You Control Your Tasting Budget

Your ticket covers the ride and planned route. Tastings, food, drinks, pairings, and souvenirs are paid separately, so your day stays flexible.

Taste at every stop, buy a glass, share a bottle, grab lunch, skip a tasting, or simply enjoy the location — you choose how much you spend along the way.

Tastings

Some stops may offer guided tastings, pairings, lunch, vineyard walks, or production tours. Any related fees are paid at the stop. Most experiences are included or the same price as a traditional tasting.

Shared-Group Tour

This is a social group tour with other guests. It is not a private limo, private shuttle, or custom itinerary.

Still Comparing Transportation Options?

Still deciding whether a shared tour is right for your group? Our Finger Lakes wine tour transportation guide explains how shared tours, private transportation, driving yourself, and rideshare compare.

Planned Route, Easy Timing

Your selected weekday follows a planned route, so you know what to expect before you book. The group visits the scheduled stops together, which keeps the day simple and easy to follow.

Small Groups Welcome

You can book any number of seats. Behind-the-Scenes Tours are shared-group tours, so your personal group does not need to meet a minimum on its own.

If a schedule adjustment is ever needed, our team will contact you directly and help with the best available option.

Questions Before You Book?

Here are the most common things guests ask before booking a Behind-the-Scenes Tour.

  • Behind-the-Scenes Tours are weekday Seneca Lake experiences from Watkins Glen.
    Each tour includes transportation to four planned stops, with more time at each location and special experiences that may include vineyard walks, production tours, guided tastings, pairings, lunch stops, or craft beverage moments.

  • Behind-the-Scenes Tours run Monday through Thursday.
    Each weekday has its own planned route and experience style, so you can choose the day that best fits your trip.

  • Each Behind-the-Scenes Tour includes four planned stops. The stops depend on the weekday route and may vary by date.

  • Most stops are around 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes. The goal is to give you more time at each location so the day feels less rushed than a quick tasting-room visit.

  • No. Your ticket covers the ride and planned route. Tastings, drinks, food, pairings, and souvenirs are paid separately at the stops, so each guest can choose how much or how little they want to spend.

  • No. Behind-the-Scenes Tours are shared-group tours. You’ll ride with other guests, follow the planned route, and enjoy a social group experience without having to book private transportation.

  • Each Behind-the-Scenes Tour follows a planned weekday route. The group visits the scheduled stops together, which keeps the day simple, organized, and easy to follow.

  • No. You can book any number of seats. Each tour needs enough total guests to operate, but your personal group does not need a minimum. If your date does not meet the minimum, we’ll contact you with options.

  • If a tour does not meet the minimum number of total guests needed to operate, we’ll suggest a different tour or offer a refund.

  • The regular trolley tours are a fun, social introduction to the region with a mix of stops.
    Behind-the-Scenes Tours are weekday experiences with four planned stops, more time at each location, and a stronger focus on winery experiences, pairings, tours, guided tastings, and a deeper look at Seneca Lake wine country.

  • No. You can taste, buy a glass, share, skip a tasting, shop, eat, or simply enjoy the location.

  • No. Lunch and food are paid separately where available.

  • Behind-the-Scenes Tours start in Watkins Glen. Use the booking details for your selected date to confirm the exact meeting point and timing.

Make Your Weekday in Wine Country Count

Pick your weekday, see the planned stops, and enjoy a deeper Seneca Lake experience without the driving.

Check Availability & Book BTS Tour