Curated by Michelin-Trained Chef Marcus Guiliano & Jamie Guiliano of Aroma Thyme Bistro
Your soul-shifting wine & culinary journey awaits.
Small group. Boutique producers. Story-driven tastings with the region’s most connected culinary duo.
Priority Waitlist Now Open — Only 8–14 Guests Per Journey
Marcus or Jamie Will Personally Share More Tour Details.
The Finger Lakes isn’t just a scenic region dotted with tasting rooms—it’s a rising powerhouse in American wine. Recently named America’s #1 Wine Region by Wine Enthusiast, this lakeside terroir has become a destination for collectors, sommeliers, and travelers seeking purity, elegance, and world-class cool-climate wines.
But with VIP Winery Vacations, you go far deeper than the typical visitor ever will.
This is an invitation into the real Finger Lakes—an insider’s journey curated through the relationships Chef Marcus and Jamie Guiliano have built with winemakers, growers, and boutique producers since opening Aroma Thyme Bistro in 2003. You’re not following a tourist trail. You’re stepping inside private barrel rooms, meeting the people shaping the region, and tasting at wineries where your hosts are greeted by first name.
Imagine being welcomed personally by owners, discovering vineyards not open to the public, lingering in intimate cellars, and sipping through limited-production bottles you won’t find in retail. Every pour carries a story—and you’ll hear it directly from those who craft it.
This isn’t just a tour.
It’s your backstage pass to the Finger Lakes’ most authentic, soulful, and memorable wine experiences—guided by people who live, breathe, and genuinely love this region.
Your adventure begins overlooking the shimmering waters of Seneca Lake. Marcus and Jamie greet you with a chef-curated welcome bite and a signature regional toast, setting the tone for four days of insider access, boutique producers, and story-driven experiences.
Gather in the lobby, settle in, and load into the private Mercedes-style tour van.
Set on dramatic, slate-rich slopes reminiscent of Germany’s Mosel, Hillick & Hobbs—founded by Paul Hobbs—produces some of the most precise, world-class Rieslings in the Finger Lakes.
Your guided tasting explores vineyard-specific expressions, vertical pours, and terraced plantings. Expect crystalline acidity, minerality, and rare single-block bottlings seldom poured for the public.
Step inside the region’s premier craft distillery for a private behind-the-scenes look at bourbon, rye, gin, and liqueurs—all sourced from local grains and botanicals.
Includes a barrel-room tasting, cocktail sips, and small-batch spirits typically reserved for club members.
Settle into your room overlooking the lake and refresh before the evening.
A warm, intimate gathering showcasing local cheeses, chef-selected bites, and a curated lineup of regional wines.
Marcus shares stories from 350+ winery visits — the perfect prologue to the insider journey ahead.
Ryan William is known for its biodynamic practices, elegant Chardonnay, expressive Riesling, and vibrant cool-climate reds.
Enjoy a private tasting followed by a farm-driven lunch featuring ingredients grown on the estate—think roasted vegetables, artisanal sourdough, and crisp garden salads. Their café is one of the region’s best-kept secrets, reserved exclusively for your group.
A quiet, soulful estate perched above Seneca Lake. Silver Thread produces small-batch, terroir-expressive wines crafted with sustainability and minimal intervention.
Your guided tasting includes:
One of the Finger Lakes’ most respected boutique producers, renowned for bold red blends, nuanced Pinot Noir, and structured single-vineyard Rieslings.
Your VIP reserve tasting includes:
A guest favorite for its atmosphere and astonishing consistency across vintages.
A relaxed pre-dinner gathering overlooking the lake.
A hyper-local, chef-driven menu paired with Finger Lakes wines and artisanal ciders.
Expect cozy ambience, exceptional flavors, and thoughtful pairings.
Ravines is a benchmark producer known for dry, Old World–style wines crafted with precision and restraint.
Your private tasting may include:
One of the most critically acclaimed wineries in the region.
A relaxed farewell lunch for guests not extending their stay—featuring house-baked breads, fresh pastries, deli sandwiches, and estate wines.
Founded by a German-born winemaker, Weis produces beautifully aromatic European-style whites and expressive reds.
Your tasting may include:
Weis is a rising star—many guests fall in love here.
Charming, intimate, and known for soulful small-lot wines.
Expect relaxed pacing, engaging stories, and a cozy environment — the perfect wind-down before dinner.
Aromatic, vibrant Thai cuisine paired with cool-climate wines made for spice.
A lively and flavorful close to your final full day.
A rare bi-continental winery producing wines from the Finger Lakes and South Australia.
Your side-by-side comparative tasting includes:
A beautiful final chapter—two hemispheres, one winemaking philosophy.
Depart at leisure with new friendships, elevated palates, and unforgettable memories of America’s #1 wine region.
Let Marcus & Jamie Guiliano, your personal guides and acclaimed chefs, unlock a world of authentic, soul-shifting travel experiences. Forget the tourist traps; immerse yourself in curated adventures rich with personal connections, insider moments, and the true flavors of wine, spirits, and gastronomy.
VIP Winery Vacations / Aroma Thyme Bistro LLC – 165 Canal St, Ellenville, NY – Contact No. (845) 800-0449 – Email: info@vipwineryvacations.com
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