Shared Wine, Chocolate and Cheese Tasting in Conesus Lake

Four wines, four small food pairings, and a seat at a small Finger Lakes winery: that is the appeal of this 45-minute tasting at Deer Run Winery. For $20, you try two dry or semi-dry wines with cheese and two sweet wines with chocolate, all at the winery near Conesus Lake.

I like the friendly, personal service, especially when Candi, Sam, Hailey, or Grace is guiding the table. I also like the generous pours: four three-ounce servings give you more wine than many tastings at this price. The main drawback is simple: the chocolate portions are small, and the setting can feel quiet rather than eventful.

Key points to know

• Four three-ounce pours: You receive a full 12 ounces of wine across the tasting.
• Two cheese and two chocolate pairings: Cheese comes with Conesus White and Runway Red; chocolate comes with Pebble Beach Blush and Max Black.
• Small group size: The experience accepts no more than six people, which helps keep the mood relaxed.
• A friendly local team: Candi, Sam, Hailey, and Grace have all been praised for warm service and wine guidance.
• Good value at $20: The amount of wine is generous, though the chocolate samples are modest.
• Lunch is separate: You can eat at the Tankroom Café, but food is not part of the tasting price.

A Small Winery Tasting Near Conesus Lake

Deer Run Winery sits at 3772 West Lake Road in Geneseo, close to Conesus Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes region. The experience begins and ends at the winery, so you do not need to manage several stops or follow a complicated route.

This is a seated tasting, not a hurried walk from counter to counter. You settle in with four wines and their pairings. In a small room, that format gives you time to compare the wines and ask questions without trying to keep up with a large group.

The winery has a modest, homey feel. One couple compared it to sitting in a kitchen, which tells you what to expect better than polished tasting-room language does. Deer Run is not designed as a grand showroom. Its charm is the relaxed scale and the sense that the people pouring the wine are close at hand.

The maximum group size is six. That is useful if you want a calm introduction to Finger Lakes wine. It also means the atmosphere may depend on the people booked at the same time. On a quiet afternoon, you could have a very private-feeling visit. At another sitting, you may share a table with other small groups.

The Four Wines and Their Pairings

The tasting follows a clear pattern. Two wines are paired with cheese, then two are paired with chocolate. That order helps you notice how different foods change the taste of wine.

Conesus White with cheese

The first wine is Conesus White, a semi-dry white with grape-forward notes. It has won a gold medal, but the useful detail for you is its style: this is not presented as a bone-dry white. The gentle sweetness and fruit focus make it approachable if you do not usually order dry wine.

The cheese pairing gives you a savory contrast. Take a small sip first, then taste the cheese, then try the wine again. The food can make the wine seem rounder and less sweet.

Runway Red with cheese

Runway Red is a red blend with berry and black pepper notes. It has received both best-in-category and gold-medal recognition. The winery describes it as smooth and crowd-pleasing, which makes it a sensible middle point for a mixed group.

The cheese pairing gives the red something firm and salty to work against. If you usually prefer red wine, this may be the most comfortable pour of the four. If you are new to reds, the berry notes and smooth style offer an easier starting point than a heavy, tannic bottle.

Pebble Beach Blush with chocolate

Pebble Beach Blush is a sweet blend with peach and melon notes. It has earned a double-gold award, and its fruit character makes sense beside chocolate.

This pairing is aimed at people who enjoy sweet wine rather than those seeking a dry rosé-style pour. The small chocolate sample adds sweetness and dessert-like weight. If you prefer crisp whites or bold dry reds, this may not be your favorite part of the flight.

Max Black with chocolate

Max Black is the winery’s best-selling sweet red blend, with grape-jelly notes. It has also received a gold medal. The profile is clearly aimed at people who like fruit-forward, sweet reds.

Chocolate reinforces those jammy flavors, so this pairing feels more like a small dessert than a traditional food and wine exercise. Some people may find it fun and easy to drink. Others may find the sweetness too strong. One useful tip: bottles are available for purchase, and the wine has a story behind its name, so ask the staff about it if you are curious.

Why the $20 Price Works

At $20 per person, this is a strong value if you want more than a token sip. Each pour is three ounces, giving you four servings and 12 ounces in total. That is close to a full bottle of wine shared across the tasting, before counting the cheese and chocolate.

The value is strongest for couples or small groups who want a simple winery stop without paying for a long guided tour. You get a seat, four named wines, four food samples, and a tasting that takes about 45 minutes.

The food samples are not a meal. The cheese portions are small, and the chocolate pairings may feel especially modest for the price. One visitor thought the chocolate part seemed expensive, so keep your expectations in check. You are paying for a tasting, not lunch with dessert.

For many people, the best plan is to book the tasting and then decide if you want to eat at the Tankroom Café. Lunch is not included, but several visitors enjoyed the burgers, chips, and other food there. Treat the meal as an optional add-on, not part of the $20 package.

Service That Makes the Visit Personal

The strongest part of this experience is the staff. Candi has been singled out for her warm welcome, attentive water refills, and easy company. Sam has been praised for an enthusiastic presentation, while Hailey helped make a solo tasting feel interesting and comfortable. Grace has explained the grapes used in the wines and helped one couple combine two different flights.

These details matter because a small tasting can go one of two ways. With indifferent service, four pours beside a sheet of tasting notes can feel flat. With an attentive host, the same format becomes a useful introduction to the winery’s style.

Do not expect a formal lecture with a long technical lesson. Instead, you get a friendly explanation of the wines, the grapes, and the pairings, with room to ask questions. The experience works best if you are willing to taste slowly and talk with the person serving you.

Water service is also worth noting. Candi was praised for keeping water available while a couple waited to sober up. That is practical hospitality, especially when you are tasting four wines and may want to browse or eat before driving.

A Quiet Setting, Not a Big Wine Trail Show

Deer Run has a smaller, less polished feel than larger wineries with modern tasting rooms. That is part of the draw, but it is also the main thing to consider.

If you want crowds, live energy, sweeping lake views, or a highly staged wine-tour setting, this may feel too low-key. The winery is close to Conesus Lake, but the tasting does not promise a lake view. You are coming for the wines, pairings, and people, not a scenic overlook from your table.

If you prefer a quieter stop, the scale works in your favor. A fall visit, for example, can feel almost private when the room is not busy. At other times, you may share a table with two other couples. The small-group limit keeps things from becoming crowded, but it does not guarantee solitude.

A wedding party may be using another building on the property, as happened during one visit, but the tasting area can still feel separate. That makes Deer Run a reasonable stop during a Finger Lakes day when you want something relaxed between larger attractions.

What to Eat After the Flight

The tasting itself will not replace lunch. The cheese and chocolate are samples, not substantial servings, so plan ahead if you are visiting around midday.

The Tankroom Café is on site, and the menu has received praise for food such as burgers and chips. One person made a full meal of the visit, moving from the tasting to the dining area afterward. That is a practical way to avoid driving immediately after four pours.

You can also ask about extra wine samples. Some wines may be available for one dollar each, giving you a chance to explore beyond the four featured pours. This is useful if one of the main wines catches your interest or if you want to compare styles before buying a bottle.

Remember that the additional tastings and lunch are separate expenses. The $20 covers the four featured wines and their stated pairings.

Who Will Enjoy This Best

I would recommend this experience to couples looking for a low-cost date stop, small groups who enjoy trying sweet and semi-dry wines, and people who want a relaxed introduction to a local winery.

It also suits wine drinkers with mixed tastes. Runway Red and Conesus White give you more restrained choices, while Pebble Beach Blush and Max Black cover the sweeter end. That range makes it easier for two people to find at least one bottle they like.

You do not need to be a wine expert. The tasting is designed around clear flavors and simple pairings. If you are unsure about wine vocabulary, you can focus on what you actually taste: grape, berry, pepper, peach, melon, or jam.

This may be less satisfying for someone who wants a long vineyard tour, a detailed production lesson, or a full meal built around the wines. It is also not the best choice if you dislike sweet wine, since two of the four pours are sweet blends and one of the other wines is semi-dry.

Most people can take part, and service animals are allowed. The small group limit is six, which makes advance planning sensible. The experience is often booked about two weeks ahead, so a last-minute spot is not guaranteed.

Booking and Cancellation Details

Your mobile ticket and booking confirmation are provided at the time of booking. The activity returns to the same meeting point at Deer Run Winery, so transportation planning is straightforward.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes made inside that window are not accepted. The cut-off follows local time.

Because the tasting includes alcohol, arrange a responsible driver if you plan to continue sightseeing afterward. The winery’s on-site café gives you a place to eat and wait before leaving.

Should You Book the Deer Run Tasting?

Book it if you want four generous wine pours for $20, friendly service, and a small winery setting rather than a polished production. The cheese and chocolate pairings make the flight easy to follow, and the mix of dry, semi-dry, and sweet wines gives you a fair sense of Deer Run’s range.

Skip it if you expect a full lunch, large dessert portions, a lake view, or a long guided tour. The experience is compact and informal. For the right audience, that is the point: sit down, taste four wines, chat with the staff, and perhaps stay for lunch or take home a bottle of Max Black or Runway Red.

FAQ

Where does the wine, chocolate, and cheese tasting take place?

It takes place at Deer Run Winery, 3772 W Lake Road, Geneseo, New York 14454, near Conesus Lake.

How long does the tasting last?

The tasting lasts approximately 45 minutes.

How much does the experience cost?

The price is $20 per person.

How many wines do I taste?

You taste four wines, with four three-ounce pours.

Which wines are paired with cheese?

Conesus White and Runway Red are paired with cheese.

Which wines are paired with chocolate?

Pebble Beach Blush and Max Black are paired with chocolate.

Is lunch included in the tasting?

No. Lunch is not included, though the Tankroom Café is available at the winery.

How many people can join the activity?

The experience has a maximum of six participants.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.