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Your next tasting tour is in the Lake Champlain Region

Celebrate the land with a glass… or two 

With sweeping rolling hills, lush farmland, and a killer coastline, it's no wonder the Lake Champlain Region is home to some of the tastiest bounties nature has to offer. Sommeliers have set their sights (and their noses) on the Adirondack coast, where the lush countryside has worked as the birthplace of family vineyards, history-steeped breweries, and everything in between. And, with an annual harvest of local fruits, vegetables, and meats, this land is a charcuterie enthusiast’s dream. All that’s missing is the perfect bottle, sourced locally. 

For weekends spent lakeside with a glass or pint, get to know the fun and tasty side of the Lake Champlain Region, with a tour of its prized vineyards, breweries, and farm stores. 

A woman has a picnic in a country field.

Vineyards

Highlands Vineyard

Resting on the shores of Lake Champlain, there might not be a better place to sit back in an Adirondack chair with a glass of wine. Since 2018, Highlands Vineyard has brought an elevated tasting experience to Keeseville, perfecting their crop of cold-hardy varietals and transforming it into a delicious bounty of 100% estate wines. Tuck into their timber-framed wine tasting room, crafted from trees found right on the property, and sip on bottles of the St. Pepin (a dry white), the Leon (red), or Highlands Blush, a blend of Catawba and Brianna grapes. With plenty of space to roam and taste, Highlands is easily a local favorite. 

A flight of drinks.

For a private vineyard experience 

Rolling Hills Estate Winery

It’s not a wine tour without a private experience. In Westport, New York, Rolling Hills Estate Winery has been a well-kept secret for years, quietly producing and perfecting their winemaking practices. Their two vineyards, Lamb Hill and Old Schoolhouse, are the workhorses of the estate, growing a bounty that transforms into expertly crafted wines. Now, their membership initiative, Genesis Circle, brings wine enthusiasts closer to the magic. Members can enjoy exclusive lifestyle events, their own personal wine liaison, VIP access to first-release limited wines, and more. The membership opens the door to tours and tastings, cultural and educational experiences, and a way to dive deeper into the wine culture of the region.

A man and woman cheers glasses at an outdoor restaurant.

Breweries 

Ausable Brewing Company

For the dedicated brew hoppers, ​Ausable Brewing Company is a farm-based nanobrewery situated on 140 acres in the Champlain Valley, just east of the Adirondack High Peaks. The brew house (or should we say barn) serves a variety of high-quality ales, lagers, and house sodas in a relaxed and fun atmosphere, blending the seamless beauty of the region with their lively event space. As hinted, to get to the brewery is half the fun, as visitors will drive through some of the most scenic farmland in the Adirondack Park to get here. Pro tip: this is a great pit stop after a bike tour of the region. 

A barn with outdoor bar serving up beer.

Ledge Hill Brewing Company

Ledge Hill Brewing Company is a small, independent brewery and kitchen rooted in Ticonderoga, New York. Well-crafted beers are brewed on-site and served in their bright and cheerful barroom. Their food menu is no joke, either. Pair a pint with fresh, house-made dishes like the bourbon maple bacon smash burger, cheese fritters, or Bavarian pretzels (served with beer cheese, of course). Their taproom is a place to slow down, gather with friends, enjoy live music, and feel at home—whether you’re making a quick stop in your travels or settling in for the evening. 

A woman pours beer behind an eclectic bar.

War Cannon Spirits

War Cannon Spirits is a boutique New York farm distillery steeped in history and serving up innovative cocktails, small-batch spirits, and plates. Their tasting room, Defiance Hall, is housed in a fully restored 1820 sawmill in Crown Point, one of the oldest of its kind! Tuck in for the evening and dine on flatbread pizzas, the Reuben sandwich, house wings, or the mac and cheese. Pair these, of course, with their extensive drink menu, featuring the Mount Defiance Mule, ice-cold domestics, or craft sodas like the Babe Ruth Cola, Barritt’s Ginger Beer, or Sprecher’s Cream. With their production facility just eight miles down the road, War Cannon Spirits is keeping it local, meaning all the flavors you taste are crafted right here in the Lake Champlain Valley. 

A brewery with a red sill with a white logo.

Curate your sipping experience with farmstands 

Farm stands and stores are a staple of the region, carrying all the goods you’re searching for during your travels. Just off the road, you’ll find these shining beacons of local craftsmanship across the valley and descending down to the lake. With your bounty of beer and wine, it only makes sense to stock up on local ingredients for your own Lake Champlain Region charcuterie board. Just one mile from the Charlotte Ferry Dock, Essex Farm CSA is always hard at work, harvesting the land and stocking their farm store with cheese, fresh breads and pastries, beef and lamb, Jersey cow milk, New York maple syrup, and even offers a weekly member grocery list. For fresh bread, Triple Green Jade Farm serves up a fresh batch every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. In Willsboro, make sure to stop at Littlewagon Roadside Farm Stand in the summer for an adorable treat, stocked with berries, donuts, and rolls. 

A man stands next to a white farm stand filled with vegetables, meats, and cheeses.

Sip, taste, enjoy!

It’s no secret that the Lake Champlain Region is rich with flavor, but now you can get even closer with a wine and brewery tour. Take home more than memories; snag a few bottles, sneak in a few experiences, and craft the charcuterie board of your dreams with the peace of mind that you’ve helped support the vast farm ecosystem of the Adirondacks.