Tucked into the Finger Lakes, this tasting is surprisingly personal. You sit down for a four-wine, shared-style tasting, with two pours matched to cheese and two matched to chocolate. The best part for me is how the pairings are explained in plain language, so you can actually taste the difference instead of just sipping and hoping.

I also like the portion size for the price: you get four 3-ounce pours, not tiny samples that disappear in one breath. One thing to keep in mind is that the chocolate pairings may feel a bit pricier to some palates, especially if you’re expecting more food than wine in a $20 ticket.

Quick hits: what makes this tasting work

• Four medal-winning wines are served seated, not as a chaotic grab-and-go experience
• Two cheese + two chocolate pairings means you get sweet and savory balance
• Small group size (max 6) keeps the mood relaxed and easy to chat
• Four 3-ounce pours give you real chances to compare styles
• Hosts like Hailey, Candi, Sam, and Grace have been highlighted for friendly guidance
• Optional add-ons may be available, including tasting other wines for a small fee

Deer Run Winery’s small-room charm: the vibe you’re paying for

This is the kind of winery stop that feels more like a cozy visit than a polished production. Deer Run Winery keeps things smaller: think intimate seating, a friendly staff presence, and pairings laid out at your table. That matters because wine tastings are often “loud” in the wrong way—lots of background noise, lots of waiting, and little time to ask questions.

Here, the pace is calmer. You can ask what to notice in the wine, and you’re not competing for attention. One review described it as feeling close to a kitchen-table style setting, with your tasting set up near a sheet that outlines the wines and pairings. Even if your experience looks slightly different that day, the goal stays the same: help you make sense of what you’re tasting.

The other practical bonus is the scale. The tour is capped at 6 travelers, so it doesn’t balloon into a bus-load event. If you want something date-night friendly—or solo and unbothered—this format fits.

The shared wine flight: exactly what you get in 45 minutes

The tasting is designed as one seated session, run for about 45 minutes. You’ll enjoy four best-selling wines, with two paired with cheese and two paired with chocolate. The pours are three ounces each, so you’re not stuck with one tiny sip per wine.

Here are the four wines and how they’re paired:

Conesus White + cheese

Conesus White is a semi-dry white wine that’s gold-medal awarded, with grape-forward notes. You’ll taste it alongside a cheese sample. If you like whites that still taste like grapes (not just oak or sugar), this one is built for you.

Runway Red + cheese

Runway Red is a red blend that’s also gold-medal awarded, described as smooth and crowd-pleasing. Expect notes of berry and black pepper, and you’ll pair it with cheese. The pepper note is a clue: this isn’t a flat “fruit-only” red, so the cheese pairing helps the flavors feel more complete.

Pebble Beach Blush + chocolate

Pebble Beach Blush is a sweet blend with double gold awards, tasting like peach and melon. This one is paired with chocolate. Sweet wine plus chocolate can go either way—some combos get cloying fast—so the pairing is the point: it’s meant to create a clean, readable dessert-style finish.

Max Black + chocolate

Max Black is their best selling wine, also gold-medal awarded, and it’s a sweet red blend with grape jelly notes. It’s paired with chocolate as well. If you like sweeter reds and dessert-adjacent flavors, this is often the one people remember.

What the pairing looks like in practice

You’ll be served seated, and the tasting is structured so each wine comes with its own sample. From what’s been described, you may see cheese served in small bowls and chocolate pairings in clear, bite-sized portions. There’s typically a short written guide so you can follow what you’re tasting without guessing.

Conesus Lake stop: the Finger Lakes setting without the lake-staring pressure

The experience lists a stop connected to Conesus Lake. In real life, that usually means you’re in the Finger Lakes region—driving through wine-country roads and arriving at a winery on Lake Rd near Geneseo.

One useful detail: you’re close to the lake area, but you shouldn’t assume a direct lake view from your seat. If you’re hoping for a postcard panorama from inside the tasting room, plan for “near the lake” rather than “on the water.” That said, the area is scenic for a quick pre- or post-tasting walk, especially in fall when the roads and surrounding farms feel lively.

Why the hosts matter: tasting notes that actually click

Wine tastings are more fun when the host can explain what you’re tasting without making it feel like a classroom. This one leans into that. People have highlighted staff who stay friendly and knowledgeable while keeping the atmosphere relaxed.

Specific names have come up—Hailey, Candi, Sam, and Grace—and the consistent thread is that they’ll walk you through what to look for in each wine. Some hosts also talk about grape character and how the flavors are showing up in the glass. If you’ve ever felt lost at tastings where everyone else seems to understand the menu, this format is meant to help you get your bearings fast.

It also sounds like the owners may pop in for conversation—Scott and Candy have been mentioned. That kind of interaction is part of the value here. You’re not just buying wine; you’re meeting the people who pour it.

The food angle: cheese and chocolate are samples, not a full meal

This is a wine-and-pairing ticket, not a lunch package. The tasting includes the pairings with the four wines—cheese samples with the two savory-leaning pairings and chocolate samples with the two sweet pairings. That’s the food you should expect.

If you want to eat more, you’ll likely need to plan beyond the tasting. Some visitors have mentioned dining on-site afterward, like at a cafe area, but lunch itself isn’t included in the $20 experience. So treat this tasting like a curated snack-plus-sips moment, then decide what you want to do for the full meal.

Practical tip: if you’re doing this as part of a longer afternoon, pair the tasting with something simple afterward—maybe a lighter dinner or a casual stop. Four glasses in 45 minutes adds up, and you’ll enjoy your next stop more if you pace the day.

Price and value: why $20 can feel like a deal

At $20 per person, the big question is what you get for the money. The answer is straightforward: four 3-ounce pours plus cheese and chocolate pairings tied to each wine.

A lot of wine tastings charge similar money but deliver smaller pours and fewer structured pairings. Here, the math is clearer. You’re not just buying access to a room; you’re paying for a guided experience where each wine has a food match.

A couple of things to consider:

• If you’re a casual drinker who prefers just one or two styles, you might not use up all four wines the way a devoted taster would.
• If chocolate pairings aren’t your thing, you may feel like some of the value is going toward flavors you won’t choose again.

Still, for $20, the combination of portion size + pairing structure is what makes it feel like more than a standard sip-and-wander.

Group size and the shared-table feel

The tour is capped at 6 travelers, which has a big impact on the tone. Instead of being swallowed by a crowd, you’re typically part of a small seating setup. That can mean you have a quieter experience even when it’s busy.

It’s also not marketed as a private tasting for two only. So if you’re imagining a fully secluded, candlelit private room, you should mentally switch to a more social setting. In practice, that can be a plus. It’s easy to make it a date night, and it’s also workable as a solo stop where you can still get attention from your host.

Where this fits best: date nights, first-timers, and sweet-tooth wine lovers

You’ll likely enjoy this tasting if:

• You want a guided tasting without a formal vibe
• You like the idea of learning what pairing changes in your mouth
• You’re open to both cheese and chocolate with wine
• You prefer a small group format over a big tasting room

It’s also a good fit for a date night. The setup is seated and relaxed, and the pairing mix gives you something to talk about beyond the usual how’s your day.

If you’re very dry-wine focused and hate sweetness, know that two of the four wines are sweet blends (Pebble Beach Blush and Max Black, both paired with chocolate). You can still enjoy the experience, but your personal sweet-tooth ratio matters.

Before you go: how to get the most out of the tasting

This is a tasting designed to be tasted slowly. Four three-ounce pours in one session means you’ll get more enjoyment if you:

• Pace your sips, especially if you’re driving afterward
• Use the pairing order as a guide (white to red to sweet styles)
• Pay attention to the notes the host points out, like berry/black pepper or grape jelly-style sweetness

If you’re the type who likes to compare wines, this format helps. The pairings keep each wine in a specific flavor lane, so you can actually notice what changes when you go from cheese pairings to chocolate pairings.

Also, if you want to try extra bottles, some visitors have noted the possibility of tasting additional wines for a small fee. That’s not the core of the experience, but it’s a nice option if you fall in love with one style mid-flight.

Should you book this shared wine, chocolate and cheese tasting?

I’d book it if you want a short, friendly, seated tasting that gives you four real pours and structured food pairings. At $20, it’s the kind of experience that feels thoughtfully priced: you’re not just paying for wine access, you’re paying for a guided pairing session with a small group feel.

Skip it—or at least adjust expectations—if you’re only interested in dry wines, or if you’re expecting lunch to be part of the ticket. This is a pairing flight. It’s meant to end well, not to replace a full meal.

If you’re visiting the Rochester/Finger Lakes area and want something easy to fit into an afternoon, this is a solid choice.

FAQ

How many wines are included in the tasting?

You’ll sample four wines in total. Each wine is poured as a three-ounce serving, and the tasting is seated and paced for about 45 minutes.

What food is included with the wine?

Two wines are paired with cheese and two wines are paired with chocolate. You’ll receive a sample with each pairing.

How long does the experience take?

The tasting takes about 45 minutes.

Where do I meet, and where does it end?

You meet at Deer Run Winery, 3772 W Lake Rd, Geneseo, NY 14454, and the experience ends back at the meeting point.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included with the tasting ticket.

Can I cancel and still get a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel within 24 hours of the start time, the amount paid isn’t refunded.

You Might Also Enjoy

Winter Gruyères, chocolate & cheese tour from LausanneWinery tour and wine, cheese & charcuterie tastingRías Baixas Albariño Experience: Winery Visit & CheeseFuerteventura Wine & Cheese Experience