Small-town pours make a great date. In about an hour in downtown Lake George, you’ll sample seven Adirondack Winery wines (or switch to cider or whiskey) with a guided flow and a fun finish. It is equal parts learning, sipping, and a small celebration.

I love how the experience keeps moving: sparkling toast, a shared snack plate, then a premium wine and a final slushie or warm winter option. I also love the friendly, professional guidance that helps you pick what to order next without any pressure.

One thing to keep in mind: seating can feel tight because it is a compact tasting counter setup. If you want lots of elbow room or a long, sit-down classroom vibe, this may not be your style.

Key things I’d plan around

• You choose your flight: 7 Adirondack Winery wines, or swap to Extreme Heights Ciders or American Oak Whiskeys
• Seasonal finish is part of the package: wine slushie in warm months or warm winter drinks
• You get more than a tasting flight: a premium wine plus a souvenir logo wine glass
• It is short by design: about 1 hour with a small group size (up to 10)
• Food is included and shareable: local cheeses, crackers, olives, and wine-infused treats

Where You Taste in Lake George (and why the location matters)

Your stop is at Adirondack Winery & Extreme Heights Cidery Tasting Room on Canada Street, right in the Lake George core. Meeting there keeps things simple: you do not have to coordinate a far drive, and it slots easily into a day of sightseeing, dinner reservations, and lake walks.

The tasting room runs on a mobile ticket system, and the session is offered multiple times throughout the day. That matters because you can pick a time that fits your plans, not the other way around. The experience is limited to a maximum of 10 people, so it stays manageable and the guide can actually talk to you.

Timing is also part of the value. You’re looking at about an hour from start to finish. That is long enough to try multiple samples and get a real feel for the brand, but short enough that you can still do other Lake George favorites afterward.

One more practical detail: a tour of the wine-making facility is not available here. If you want a full production walkthrough, you’ll need to look at the Queensbury location options instead.

Choose Your Flight: Wine, Cider, or American Oak Whiskey

The Works Tasting Session is built for variety. If you are a wine person, you’ll taste seven Adirondack Winery wines of your choice, guided by the team at the tasting counter. Each pours as 7 3/4 oz (your exact selection depends on what you choose during the session).

If wine is not your thing, you are not stuck. You can swap to one of two alternative flights:

• Extreme Heights Hard Cider Flight: four 3 oz pours
• American Oak Whiskey Flight: four 1 oz pours

This is one of the smartest parts of the experience. It makes the session work for mixed groups, or for couples where one person is curious about wine but the other just wants something smooth and drinkable.

You also get a sparkling toast at the start, so regardless of what you choose, you’ll begin with a celebratory pour. And because the group is small, you can usually ask questions about what you’re tasting, why one style might appeal more than another, and what to try next.

Age rules are straightforward: you must be 21 with a valid photo ID to participate in the tasting. Underage guests can wait inside away from the bar area, and a small children’s table with chalkboard is provided. Non-alcoholic slushies are available too, but they come at an additional fee.

The 1-Hour Itinerary: toast, flight, snack plate, premium wine, final drink

Think of The Works as a guided sequence where each step changes the mood. You’re not just drinking. You’re resetting your palate, then finishing with a cozy or icy finale.

Stop 1: Adirondack Winery (the whole session happens here)

The session starts at the tasting room, where you’ll get a celebratory sparkling toast. That opener is more than a nice touch. It sets a festive tone and helps you settle into the tasting without feeling rushed.

Then you choose what you’ll taste next:

• Adirondack Winery wine tasting with seven wine selections, or
• an Extreme Heights cider flight, or
• an American Oak whiskey flight

Each flight gives you enough samples to notice differences in sweetness, fruitiness, oak influence, and overall smoothness. The pours are not huge, but they’re substantial enough to actually compare, not just sip and guess.

Your happy snacker plate (this is where the session gets real)

Next comes the snack portion, and it is built for pairing. You’ll share a happy snacker plate with artisanal, locally sourced cheeses and crackers, plus extras like wine-infused chocolates and jelly, marshmallows, olives, and more.

Why this matters: tasting alcohol works best when you have something neutral and salty to reset your palate. The combination here covers multiple tastes at once. You get:

• creamy bites from cheese,
• crunchy contrast from crackers,
• sweet elements from wine-infused chocolate and jelly,
• and a savory pop from olives.

If you’re tempted to think of this as small snacks, note that the plate is described as a sampler style that works for two people. It is enough to keep you comfortable and not buzzed, which is a big plus for a one-hour experience.

Dessert also means a premium wine

After the snack plate, you get an added bonus: you’ll try one premium wine. The options are Sparkling, Dessert, or Reserve, so you’ll get a step up from the basic flight style.

This is a smart structure. It’s easy to fall into the mindset of tasting only what you’re curious about. The premium pour breaks that habit and gives you a chance to try something a little more special. If you’re buying a bottle later, it also helps you identify what the winery treats as a top-tier pick.

Finish strong: wine slushie or warm winter cocktail

The session ends with a final drink that depends on the season:

• In summer: a fruit-infused wine slushie (4 oz)
• In colder months: a warm mulled wine or a hot apple toddy

This last step is not random. It changes the texture and temperature, so it feels like a true finish, not a wrap-up that happens while you’re still tasting.

It’s also a nice way to bring the experience home mentally. You’re leaving with a distinct memory, not just a list of flavors.

Take home the souvenir glass

You’ll also receive a premium souvenir logo wine glass designed to enhance aroma. Practical note: if you plan to buy wine later, the glass can make your future sips feel closer to the experience you just had.

The kind of guide experience you’ll get

One of the biggest strengths here is how the tasting feels guided without being stiff. The team explains the options clearly and helps you choose without making you feel like you must be an expert.

There’s also a real human touch. In one account, a guide named Kat stood out for being helpful while keeping the whole session relaxed. That matches the overall vibe: you’re at a counter, tasting in small groups, and the guide is there to keep things moving and answer questions as you go.

So if you’re a first-time wine person, this can actually be easier than more formal tastings. You’ll still get enough structure to learn something useful, but it does not feel like a test.

Romantic date-night value in a short time

The Works Tasting Session hits a sweet spot for couples. It is romantic without trying too hard: shared snacks, a celebratory toast, and a finishing drink that feels like dessert. The session also gives you natural conversation points because you can compare what you like and why.

Because the group cap is 10, it stays intimate. You’re not fighting through a huge crowd. You can still talk to your partner and actually taste.

It also works well if you only have a limited window in Lake George. If you’ve got dinner plans later, this is the kind of activity that won’t swallow your whole afternoon.

And if you’re doing Lake George for the first time, it’s a solid introduction. You get a tasting flight, a premium pour, and a full finish, all in about an hour, so you leave with a stronger sense of what Adirondack Winery does across styles.

Price and value: what you get for $40.66

At $40.66 per person, this is not a budget-only activity, but the package is built to justify the price.

What’s included:

• alcohol tastings (wine flight or cider/whiskey flight),
• a sparkling toast,
• snacks (cheeses, crackers, wine-infused treats, olives, and more),
• one premium wine,
• a final drink (slushie or warm winter option),
• and a souvenir logo wine glass.

What’s not included:

• gratuities (listed as $6.84 per person)

When you break it down, you’re paying for a guided hour where alcohol, food, and a take-home item are part of the deal. If you were doing this by buying separate pours and snacks elsewhere, you’d likely spend similar money while getting less structure.

It also makes financial sense for couples because you can both participate without needing separate tours or extra add-ons. Just remember the tipping amount at the end.

What could be annoying: seating and the lack of a facility tour

No experience is perfect, and there are a couple considerations worth flagging.

First, seating can be tight. One lower-score issue centered on not having enough seats, which is a common downside when tastings are set up around a counter and walk-in traffic. If you’re sensitive to comfort, arrive for a time you can linger lightly rather than expecting a long sit.

Second, this session does not include a wine-making facility tour. So if your dream day is part tasting, part production walkthrough, you’ll want to plan that separately.

Third, the session is only about an hour. That’s great for many people, but if you love slow, deep education (multiple courses, extended Q&A, and long pauses), you may feel the pacing is intentionally brisk.

Who should book The Works session (and who might skip it)

Book this if:

• you and your partner want a romantic, structured tasting without overplanning,
• you want to try multiple styles in a short visit,
• at least one person in your group is curious but not sure about wine,
• or you want a take-home souvenir glass and a clear reason to come back for a bottle later.

You might skip it if:

• you strongly prefer a full facility tour as part of the day,
• you need lots of seating and space to relax,
• or you’re looking for a longer, lecture-style experience.

Quick FAQ

FAQ

What do I taste during The Works session?

You’ll sample either seven Adirondack Winery wines of your choice, or you can choose a cider flight (four 3 oz pours) or a whiskey flight (four 1 oz pours). You also get a sparkling toast, a happy snacker plate, one premium wine, and a final drink (wine slushie, warm mulled wine, or hot apple toddy depending on season).

Can I choose cider or whiskey instead of wine?

Yes. If you are not a wine fan, you can pick an Extreme Heights Cider flight or an American Oak Whiskey flight instead of the wine tasting.

What food is included?

A happy snacker plate is included, featuring artisanal locally sourced cheeses and crackers, plus items like wine-infused chocolates and jelly, marshmallows, olives, and more.

Is a facility tour included?

No. A tour of the wine making facility is not available at this location. You can find facility tour options at the Queensbury location instead.

What is the minimum age to participate?

The minimum age to participate in the tasting is 21 with valid government-issued photo ID. Underage guests may wait inside away from the bar area, and non-alcoholic slushies are available for an additional fee.

Is tipping included in the price?

No. Gratuities are listed separately as $6.84 per person.

Should you book this tasting in Lake George?

If you want a fun, low-stress date activity that gives you real variety in about an hour, The Works is a strong pick. You’ll get multiple tastings, a proper snack plate, a premium pour, a seasonal finish, and a souvenir glass, all wrapped into one stop on Canada Street.

I’d especially recommend it if you’re bringing someone who is on the fence about wine. The option to go cider or American Oak whiskey keeps the experience fair and enjoyable for both people, without shrinking the variety or the experience length.

You Might Also Enjoy

Banana Museum, Rum Distillery & Winery with Tasting: Premium tourAberfeldy Distillery ExperienceDublin Pub Tour: Guinness Perfect Pour, Whiskey, Music and MoreWhistler Distillery Tour & Tasting Experience