About Yates Cellars
Yates Cellars is a small, limited-production winery established in 2000 on Keuka Lake, housed in the 1838 Hampstead Mansion between Branchport and Penn Yan. Owner, grower and winemaker Alan Hunt brings more than thirty years in the wine trade.
From two vineyard sites in Yates County it produces more than 25 wines across native, French-hybrid and vinifera grapes. The historic setting at 3170 Route 54A is part of the draw.
About Yates Cellars
Yates Cellars in Penn Yan is a good example of why the Finger Lakes is better explored winery by winery. The visit can add context to the broader region while still standing on its own. The winery is located at 3170 State Route 54A, Penn Yan, New York. Build outward from that address rather than assuming every winery in the region sits close together. Yates Cellars adds another layer to the winery landscape in Finger Lakes.
The Finger Lakes have enough wineries that the best visits come from slowing down. Pick a lake or a small group of neighboring towns, leave room for lunch and scenery, and use each tasting to understand how one producer differs from the next. For weekend travel, check whether the winery recommends reservations or limits larger groups. Popular New York wine regions can become busy quickly in summer and fall. If you only have time for a short stop, make it deliberate.
Ask for two or three wines that show the winery's range and include one bottle with a strong connection to the local region when available. For Wino Notion, Yates Cellars works best as part of a thoughtful regional itinerary rather than a winery checklist. Slow down, ask what the team thinks defines the property and use that answer to shape the tasting. If Yates Cellars becomes one of your priority stops, leave enough time to enjoy the tasting rather than treating it as a quick check-in. What tends to stay with people is the conversation, the unhurried pace, and a wine or two that finally makes sense.
Visiting
On Route 54A between Penn Yan and Branchport, a stretch that takes in several Keuka Lake wineries. Because this is a small operation, check current hours before setting out.
Yates Cellars sits on Keuka Lake, the Y-shaped lake at the heart of the Finger Lakes and the birthplace of commercial winemaking in the region.
