The Works Tasting Session (Wine, Whiskey or Cider)

The best part of this Lake George tasting is the range of choices. You can sample seven Adirondack wines, or switch to four hard ciders or four American Oak Whiskeys if wine is not your thing. The tasting also includes a sparkling toast, local cheeses, chocolates, a premium pour, and a small seasonal drink at the end.

I like the friendly, informed service and the easy downtown location on Canada Street. I also like that the experience works well for couples, special occasions, and first-time visitors who want a gentle introduction rather than a full day at a winery.

The main drawback is the setting. This is a tasting room, not a tour of the winemaking facility, and seating may be limited. If you expect vineyard views or a behind-the-scenes production visit, choose the Queensbury location instead.

Key points to know before you book

• Choose your drink: Pick seven wine pours, four ciders, or four one-ounce whiskey pours.
• A full snack plate is included: Expect local cheeses, crackers, wine-infused chocolates and jelly, marshmallows, olives, and more.
• The finish changes by season: Summer brings a fruit-infused wine slushie. Winter brings warm mulled wine or a hot apple toddy.
• You receive a souvenir glass: The logo glass is designed to enhance the aroma of your wine.
• Small groups keep it personal: A maximum of 10 people makes it easier to ask questions.
• Plan around the setting: The tasting room is downtown, but it does not include a production-facility visit.

A relaxed introduction to Adirondack Winery

This one-hour tasting gives you a neat package of regional drinks and small bites without asking you to commit to a long excursion. You meet at Adirondack Winery and Extreme Heights Cidery’s Lake George tasting room at 285 Canada Street, right in the center of town. At the end, you leave from the same place.

The format is social and easy to understand. You begin with a sparkling toast, select your preferred tasting flight, share a snack plate, try one premium wine, and finish with a seasonal drink. The pacing gives you enough time to taste and ask questions without turning the hour into a lecture.

That makes this a good choice for a couple looking for a low-key date activity. It also fits nicely into a day of walking around Lake George, since you do not need to arrange a separate ride to a remote winery. The central location is one of the experience’s strongest practical points.

The service is a big part of the appeal. Staff members are friendly and professional, and Kat is one of the hosts praised for helping make the tasting enjoyable. You can expect guidance through the drinks rather than a simple line of glasses placed in front of you.

Seven wines, four ciders, or four whiskeys

Your first major choice is the type of flight you want. The standard Adirondack Winery tasting includes seven three-quarter-ounce wine pours. That gives you a broad sample of the winery’s range while keeping each pour small enough that you can pay attention to the differences.

If you prefer cider, the Extreme Heights Cider Flight includes four three-ounce pours. This is a good alternative for anyone who finds wine too dry, too sweet, or simply less appealing. The cider option also gives you a chance to try something different from the usual winery routine.

The third choice is the American Oak Whiskey Flight, with four one-ounce pours. Since whiskey has a stronger profile and larger pours than the wine flight, take your time with it. You can ask the staff to explain the differences between the whiskeys and how the American oak affects the drink.

You do not need to be a wine expert to enjoy the tasting. The point is to compare styles and find something you actually like. If one sample is not for you, the variety means the next glass may suit you better.

The experience is also flexible for couples or friends with different tastes. One person can focus on wine while another chooses cider or whiskey. That flexibility adds real value, since you are not forced into one shared menu.

The snack plate makes this more than a quick tasting

The food is not a full meal, but it is more substantial than a bowl of pretzels. The happy snacker plate is designed for sharing and includes artisanal, locally sourced cheeses, crackers, wine-infused chocolates and jelly, marshmallows, olives, and other small bites.

I would treat this as a generous snack for two, not lunch or dinner. One tasting experience included enough food for two people to share comfortably, which is useful if you want something to eat with the drinks but do not want to leave the tasting room to find a restaurant.

The food also has a practical purpose. Cheese and crackers help slow the pace of alcohol tasting, while sweet items such as chocolates and jelly give you different flavor combinations to try with the wines. You can compare how a drink changes beside something salty, creamy, or sweet.

The plate adds to the romantic feel, especially when paired with the opening toast and souvenir glass. It also makes the experience work for a birthday, anniversary, or small celebration without requiring a large event.

The premium pour and seasonal finish

After the main flight, you receive one premium wine. You can choose from sparkling, dessert, or reserve options. This is a useful chance to try a style that might cost more by the bottle, without making a larger purchase first.

The premium wine also gives the tasting a clear finale. After sampling several standard pours, you get one more distinctive option to compare. If you find a favorite, the tasting room allows you to buy bottles to take home, and Adirondack Winery also sells wine online.

The final drink depends on the season. In summer, you receive a four-ounce fruit-infused wine slushie. It is cold, sweet, and more casual than the tasting pours. In winter, the finish changes to warm mulled wine or a hot apple toddy.

This seasonal change is a nice touch because it suits the weather instead of forcing the same menu all year. The slushie may appeal most to visitors looking for something fun and refreshing. The warm drink makes more sense after a cold day around Lake George.

Do not expect a large dessert course. The finish is a small drink, not a plate of pastries. Still, it gives the hour a pleasant ending and adds variety to the tasting.

Your souvenir glass has a practical use

The included logo wine glass is more useful than a simple giveaway. It is designed to enhance the aroma of wine, so you can continue using it at home rather than packing it away as a keepsake.

The glass also adds value to the price. At $40.66 per person, you are paying for the drinks, food, premium sample, seasonal finish, and souvenir. The glass helps make the package feel more complete, especially if you are attending as a couple and each person receives one.

Pack it carefully if you are traveling with luggage. The provided information does not specify how the glass is packaged, so you should ask staff about safe transport if you are flying or moving between hotels.

What the $40.66 price gets you

The price is reasonable if you plan to use all parts of the experience. You receive a wine, cider, or whiskey flight, a sparkling toast, a shared plate of snacks, one premium wine, a seasonal four-ounce drink, and a souvenir glass.

The value is strongest for people who want variety in one sitting. Buying separate drinks, a snack plate, and a premium pour could add up quickly, especially in a popular resort town. Here, those parts are bundled into a one-hour visit.

The gratuity is not included. The listed gratuity is $6.84 per person, so include that in your working budget. You may also want money for bottles or other purchases, but those are optional and not part of the tasting fee.

A small caution: promotional packages may not always offer the same combination of pours and extras. One visitor found that a different package for children cost less and included more, then required an additional $11 to match the tasting amount. Check the exact package details before paying if you are comparing deals.

A tasting room, not a winery production visit

The Lake George location is a downtown tasting room. You can taste, ask questions, shop, and enjoy your snack, but you will not tour the winemaking facility here.

That distinction matters. If you want to see where the wine is made, the Queensbury location is the better place to investigate. The Lake George session focuses on the finished drinks and the social tasting experience.

The atmosphere can feel active because people may enter to buy bottles or ask about tastings. That gives the room a casual downtown character, but it may not feel like a quiet country winery. One visitor also found the lack of seating disappointing and said the setting was not what they expected from a winery.

I would book this for the tasting menu, staff interaction, and location, not for scenery or a formal cellar visit. If your ideal winery experience includes vineyards, production equipment, and lots of space, this may feel too compact.

Timing, group size, and the best time to go

The experience lasts about one hour and is offered at several times during the day. That makes it easy to fit between other Lake George plans. You can schedule it before dinner, after a morning walk, or as a midday break from sightseeing.

The group limit is 10 people. That is small enough for direct questions and personal guidance, though the tasting room itself may still have other people shopping or taking part in a separate tasting.

This experience is booked an average of 17 days ahead, so I would reserve early if you are visiting on a weekend, during a holiday period, or for a special occasion. Walk-ins may be accepted when space is available, but a reservation gives you a better chance of getting a time that suits your schedule.

Everyone tasting must be at least 21 and must show a valid government-issued photo ID. Underage children may wait inside away from the bar. A small children’s table and chalkboard are available, and non-alcoholic slushies can be purchased for an additional fee.

Service animals are allowed, and the tasting room is near public transportation. The supplied details do not promise a particular seating arrangement, so contact the provider if you need specific accessibility information.

Who will enjoy this experience most

I would recommend the tasting to couples who want an easy, shared activity with a little ceremony. The sparkling toast, snack plate, premium wine, and souvenir glasses give it a date-night feel without requiring a long drive or formal dress.

It is also a good first stop for visitors who do not know much about Adirondack wine, cider, or whiskey. You can sample several styles and use the staff’s guidance to decide what you might want to buy later.

Cider and whiskey drinkers are not left out. The three flight choices make the experience more inclusive than a standard wine-only tasting. Groups with mixed preferences can choose different options and still share the same snack plate and seasonal finish.

I would be less likely to recommend it to someone seeking a quiet, spacious winery with outdoor views. The downtown tasting room has a compact feel, and seating can be limited. It is also not the best choice for anyone who wants a full meal or a production tour.

Booking and cancellation advice

You receive confirmation at booking, and the experience is offered with a mobile ticket. The meeting point is Adirondack Winery and Extreme Heights Cidery, 285 Canada Street, Lake George, New York 12845.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Canceling inside that window means no refund, and changes made within 24 hours are not accepted. The cut-off follows local time, so keep that in mind if your plans change while traveling.

Should you book this Lake George tasting?

Book it if you want a compact, social tasting with several built-in extras. The drink choices are flexible, the staff can guide you through the selection, and the cheese and chocolate plate makes the hour feel like an occasion rather than a few hurried samples.

I would especially choose it for a couple, a birthday treat, or a first visit to the Lake George area. Reserve ahead, bring valid photo ID, and remember that the downtown setting may have limited seating.

Skip it if you are mainly looking for vineyards, production rooms, or a long countryside visit. For that type of outing, investigate the Queensbury location instead. For an easy hour of Adirondack drinks, snacks, and conversation in the center of Lake George, this is a solid value.

FAQ

How long does The Works Tasting Session last?

The experience lasts approximately one hour.

Where does the tasting begin?

It begins at Adirondack Winery and Extreme Heights Cidery Lake George Tasting Room, 285 Canada Street, Lake George, New York 12845.

What drink options are available?

You can choose an Adirondack Winery tasting with seven three-quarter-ounce wine pours, an Extreme Heights Cider Flight with four three-ounce pours, or an American Oak Whiskey Flight with four one-ounce pours.

Is food included?

Yes. The experience includes a shared snack plate with artisanal locally sourced cheeses, crackers, wine-infused chocolates and jelly, marshmallows, olives, and other items.

What else is included besides the main flight?

You receive a sparkling toast, one premium wine, a seasonal four-ounce wine slushie or warm drink, and a premium souvenir logo wine glass.

How old must I be to take part in the tasting?

You must be at least 21 and have a valid government-issued photo ID.

Can children enter the tasting room?

Underage guests may wait inside away from the bar. A small children’s table and chalkboard are available, and non-alcoholic slushies can be purchased for an additional fee.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted.