About Scout Vineyards
Scout Vineyards is a family-owned farm winery on the west shore of Seneca Lake in Penn Yan, started in 2017 by the Budmen and Todd families, who added a 16-acre organic farm in 2018. The wines focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, chosen for how well they pair with a range of food.
Tastings are intimate and personal, often served with fresh bread, butter, jam and cheese, and framed by views over Seneca Lake. The owners' attention shows in the details.
About Scout Vineyards
For visitors building a route through the Finger Lakes, Scout Vineyards in Penn Yan offers a place to slow down and make the tasting part of the day rather than just another pin on the map. The winery is located at 468 State Route 14, Penn Yan, NY 14527. Build outward from that address rather than assuming every winery in the region sits close together. A day in Finger Lakes wine country rewards curiosity more than speed. The region's cool-climate profile means freshness and structure often matter as much as fruit richness.
If the winery offers several styles, compare one classic regional bottling with something less expected. The best way to make a first visit to Scout Vineyards feel specific is to ask the people pouring the wine what they think defines the winery. Fruit source, cellar work and the bottle they consider most representative are useful places to start. Plan around the experience you actually want. If your priority is a sit-down tasting, food, live music, vineyard time or a tour, make sure that option is offered on the day you visit.
Give the staff a little direction about what you normally drink, then ask them to surprise you with one pour you might not choose on your own. New York wine regions can reward that openness. For Wino Notion, the best reason to include Scout Vineyards is the added perspective it brings to the Finger Lakes. A good wine-country day should not feel repetitive, and this stop gives you another way to see how producers make different choices. If Scout Vineyards becomes one of your priority stops, leave enough time to enjoy the tasting rather than treating it as a quick check-in. The lasting part of a wine day is usually who poured, how slowly it went, and the bottle you understood by the end.
Visiting
The Wine Tasting Experience is a guided, seated tasting of five wines paired with a snack plate. The cellar door has three tables seating a maximum of six guests each, so reservations are recommended - walk-ins are accepted when space allows but a table cannot be guaranteed. The last tasting begins at 4:15 PM, with final call for wine by the glass at 4:30 PM. Groups arriving by bus or limo cannot be accommodated, and parties larger than six should email ahead. Wine club members receive a complimentary tasting for up to four guests per visit.
Tasting room visits: confirm current tasting hours via the official site. Wines can also be ordered for pickup at the winery or shipped, with delivery available to a majority of US states.
