Finger Lakes charm hiding serious ice wine game
Fairport · Rochester · Winery Restaurant · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Casa Larga Vineyards’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Casa Larga, the list reads like a love letter to their own estate — and honestly, that's not a bad thing. This is a winery first and a restaurant second, so the wine program is the whole point. The focus is tight, the prices are sane, and the Finger Lakes setting does most of the heavy lifting.
The list leans hard into estate-grown New York State varietals with a nod toward Italian heritage — fitting for a family operation that traces its roots to the old country. You're getting Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Noir that genuinely belong in the Finger Lakes conversation, plus their celebrated ice wines that put Casa Larga on the map. The range is narrow — don't come expecting a global tour — but what's here is grown, made, and poured with clear intention. The absence of outside producers keeps things honest and cohesive, even if it limits your options.
With 10-20 by-the-glass options almost entirely from the estate, you're essentially getting a structured tasting menu in pour form. The Riesling and Gewürztraminer are the workhorses of the glass program and for good reason — these are varieties that thrive in this climate. Rotation appears to track the seasons, so what you find on a summer patio visit may differ from a winter dinner.
Casa Larga Riesling — $
Finger Lakes Riesling at a winery's own price point is as close to fair as it gets — no middleman markup, just estate fruit poured straight from the source. This is the house specialty and it drinks well above whatever they're charging for it.
Casa Larga Gewürztraminer
Most people sleeping on Gewürztraminer at a New York State winery are making a mistake. The Finger Lakes climate actually suits the variety — you get that signature aromatic intensity without it going full perfume counter. Order it while everyone else debates the Pinot Noir.
Casa Larga Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is a tough sell from this region — the Finger Lakes does whites and ice wines far better than reds. The white wines are where Casa Larga earns its stripes; the Pinot feels like an obligatory red on a list that was built for aromatics and dessert pours.
Casa Larga Fiori delle Stelle Ice Wine + Cheese Board
A proper Finger Lakes ice wine against a well-assembled cheese board — salty, funky, fatty cheeses versus that concentrated sweetness and acidity — is the reason you drove out to Fairport in the first place. Do not skip this.
The Bottom Line
Casa Larga is a wildcard worth the detour — not for range or discovery, but because drinking estate ice wine on a scenic Finger Lakes property at a fair price is its own reward. Send your friends who think they don't like wine; send your wine friends who think they've seen it all.
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Solid Range
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Varietal Specific
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Steep
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Willing but Green
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Small but Thoughtful
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