The Works Tasting Session (Wine, Whiskey or Cider)

Seven pours, one small-town stop. The Works Tasting Session gives you a polished introduction to Adirondack Winery without requiring a full afternoon. I like the choice between seven wine pours, four ciders, or four whiskeys, and I like the friendly guidance, especially the warm service associated with Kat and the tasting-room team. The sparkling toast, local cheese plate, premium pour, and take-home glass also make the $40.66 price feel more substantial than a basic bar tasting.

The main drawback is the setting. This is a downtown tasting room, not a quiet tour through vineyards or a working production facility. Seating can be limited, and the Lake George location does not offer a winery tour. If you want a behind-the-scenes look at how the wine is made, you will need to consider Adirondack Winery’s Queensbury location instead.

Key points to know before booking

• Three tasting paths: Pick seven wine pours, four Extreme Heights ciders, or four American Oak whiskeys.
• A full snack pairing: The shared plate includes local cheeses, crackers, wine-infused chocolates and jelly, marshmallows, olives, and more.
• Several finishing treats: You also receive a premium wine, a seasonal drink, and a souvenir logo glass.
• Small group format: The maximum is 10 people, which allows for personal guidance without making the session feel like a large tour.
• Downtown Lake George location: The tasting room is on Canada Street, near public transportation and other town attractions.
• Plan around the rules: Tastings are for people age 21 and older with valid government-issued photo ID, and gratuity adds $6.84 per person.

What the $40.66 tasting includes

The Works is built as a compact tasting menu rather than a single flight at the counter. Your $40.66 admission covers alcoholic drinks and snacks, with several small extras placed around the main tasting.

You begin with a sparkling toast. That opening drink gives the session a little ceremony, which helps this feel like a date or special-occasion outing instead of a quick stop between errands.

Next comes your main flight. Wine drinkers receive seven pours of three-quarters of an ounce each. That is enough to compare several styles without committing to full glasses. You choose the wines with help from the person guiding your tasting, so this works well if you know a little about wine but do not want to pretend you can identify every grape in a blind test.

If wine is not your thing, you can choose the Extreme Heights Cider Flight. It includes four three-ounce pours. The whiskey option is the American Oak Whiskey Flight, with four one-ounce pours. These are different serving sizes, so the flights are not identical in volume. Still, the choice is useful for couples or friends with different tastes.

The snack plate is intended to share. It includes artisanal, locally sourced cheeses, crackers, wine-infused chocolates and jelly, marshmallows, olives, and other small bites. The portion has been described as enough for two, though it is better thought of as a tasting snack than a full meal.

The package then adds one premium wine. You can choose from sparkling, dessert, or reserve options. This is one of the better parts of the deal because it lets you try something outside the regular flight without paying for a separate glass.

You finish with a four-ounce seasonal drink. In summer, that is a fruit-infused wine slushie. In winter, it may be warm mulled wine or a hot apple toddy. The final touch is a premium souvenir wine glass with the Adirondack Winery logo. It is a practical keepsake, not merely a paper coupon or tiny sample bottle.

Starting at Adirondack Winery on Canada Street

The session begins and ends at Adirondack Winery & Extreme Heights Cidery’s Lake George tasting room at 285 Canada Street. Its downtown position is a strong point for a short visit. You do not need to build a separate excursion around it, and you can fit the tasting into a day spent around central Lake George.

The location also explains some of the tradeoffs. This is a retail tasting room where people may stop in to buy bottles or ask about tastings. The counter can be active, and the space may feel more like a town tasting bar than a country winery with sweeping grounds.

That distinction matters. If you want scenery, a production tour, or a slow afternoon among barrels and equipment, this is not the right version of the experience. The Lake George site does not offer a tour of the winemaking facility. The wine is made at the Queensbury location, where you can look for other options if production details are important to you.

For a first visit to Lake George, though, the downtown setting is handy. You can reach the tasting room near public transportation, and the one-hour schedule leaves room for other plans.

Choosing wine, cider, or whiskey

The choice of flight is the central decision. Wine is the obvious option, but the cider and whiskey alternatives give this package more range than its name might suggest.

The wine path offers seven pours. I would choose it if you want to compare several Adirondack Winery bottles and learn what styles suit your taste. The tasting concierge can help steer you, which is particularly useful if you are buying a bottle afterward. One person described enjoying a Cabernet Franc enough to plan another purchase online, a good reminder that this can double as a shopping guide.

The cider flight includes four three-ounce pours from Extreme Heights Cidery. It is a sensible pick for anyone who finds wine too sweet, too dry, or simply less appealing. The cider option also works well for a mixed group, since one person can sample cider while another chooses wine or whiskey.

The whiskey flight includes four one-ounce pours of American Oak Whiskeys. Those are generous enough to assess each sample, so pace yourself. The session is only about an hour, and the sparkling toast, premium wine, and final drink are still part of the package.

You can ask the staff for guidance throughout. The service has earned strong praise for being friendly, professional, and well informed. Kat was singled out for helping make the cider tasting relaxed and enjoyable, although staffing can change from one visit to another.

The snack plate is more useful than a token pairing

Many tasting packages include a few crackers and call it a food pairing. This one goes further. The plate includes cheese, crackers, chocolates, jelly, marshmallows, olives, and other small items, giving you several ways to reset your palate between drinks.

The wine-infused products add a local touch and make the plate more interesting than a standard grocery-store tray. The cheeses and crackers are also practical. Alcohol on an empty stomach is rarely a good travel plan, and this plate gives you something substantial enough to share while you taste.

Still, do not arrive expecting lunch. The snack plate is called a happy snacker for a reason. It is a generous accompaniment for two people, but you should plan another meal if you are hungry.

The plate also helps couples settle into the experience. Instead of standing through every pour with nothing to do between sips, you have a shared centerpiece for the table or counter. That makes the package especially appealing for anniversaries, birthdays, and low-key date outings.

A one-hour format that keeps the day flexible

The scheduled tasting lasts about an hour. That is long enough for a guided flight and the added treats, but short enough to fit into a wider Lake George itinerary.

I see this as a strength for first-time visitors. You can get an introduction to Adirondack Winery without giving up half a day. It also works well in poor weather, when you want an indoor activity that is more engaging than simply browsing shops.

The schedule is offered at multiple times during the day. Booking ahead is smart because the maximum group size is 10, and the session is often reserved about 17 days before the date. Walk-ins may be accepted if space remains, but you should not rely on that during a busy Lake George visit.

The small group limit is another plus. You are less likely to get lost in a crowd, and the person leading the tasting has a better chance to answer questions. At the same time, this is still a public tasting room, not a private appointment. Other people may be purchasing wine or asking about flights nearby.

Price, gratuity, and what value looks like here

The listed price is $40.66 per person. A $6.84 gratuity is not included, bringing the stated total to $47.50 per person before any extra purchases or paid nonalcoholic drinks.

That is not the cheapest way to sample a few wines in town. It is also not just a seven-pour tasting. You receive a sparkling toast, the main flight, a shared food plate, one premium wine, a seasonal four-ounce drink, and a souvenir glass.

The value is strongest if you enjoy the full sequence and plan to share the snack plate. It is weaker if you only want to taste one or two wines, dislike food pairings, or have no interest in taking home a glass.

A useful comparison is the choice of flight. Wine drinkers receive seven pours, while cider and whiskey drinkers receive four. The smaller number of whiskey and cider samples does not automatically make those choices poor value, but you should know that the package is not identical across all three paths.

The staff can also help you decide what to buy afterward. That matters if you want to take a bottle home, though bottle purchases are separate from the tasting price. A recent visitor found the Cabernet Franc especially memorable and planned to order more online.

The atmosphere and the seating question

The tasting room offers a relaxed, social setting. People may come in to browse bottles, ask questions, or join a tasting, so the room has some movement rather than the stillness of a formal dining room.

That can be part of the fun. You get a sense of a real town tasting room, where locals and holiday visitors cross paths. It also means the experience may not match your picture of a large winery with comfortable seating and quiet views.

Seating is the clearest caution. One person found the lack of seats disappointing and expected a different type of winery. If standing for much of an hour would be uncomfortable, contact the provider before booking or ask what seating is available at your chosen time.

The package is best for couples and small groups who want conversation, snacks, and guided tasting in one place. It is less suited to anyone seeking a silent, scenic retreat.

Age limits, identification, and practical details

Every person taking part in the tasting must be at least 21 and show valid government-issued photo ID. Bring the ID even if you look well over 21. The rule applies to the tasting itself, not simply to buying a souvenir bottle.

Underage people may wait inside away from the bar. A small children’s table and chalkboard are available, and nonalcoholic slushies can be purchased for an additional fee. This makes the location more workable for a family group, though the main activity remains designed for adults.

Service animals are allowed, and the tasting room is near public transportation. The experience uses a mobile ticket, and confirmation arrives when you book.

The activity returns to the same Canada Street meeting point. Since the session lasts about an hour, you can keep your plans simple and avoid arranging a separate ride between locations.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted, and the cut-off follows local time.

Who should book The Works

I would recommend this for couples, first-time Lake George visitors, and small groups with mixed drink preferences. The cider and whiskey alternatives make it easier to include someone who does not usually choose wine, while the food and final drink give the hour a clear beginning and end.

It is also a good choice for a birthday, anniversary, or thoughtful treat for someone who enjoys trying regional products. The premium pour and souvenir glass give the occasion more weight than a standard tasting flight.

I would hesitate if your main goal is a production tour, vineyard scenery, or a seated meal. The Lake George tasting room does not provide a winemaking-facility tour, and the available seating may not suit everyone.

Should you book this Lake George tasting?

Book it if you want a friendly, well-organized introduction to Adirondack Winery in about an hour. The strongest reasons are the three flight choices, the generous food pairing, the premium wine, and the seasonal finish with a take-home glass.

Skip it if you only want a quick sample, need guaranteed comfortable seating, or expect to tour the winemaking operation. For everyone else, the package offers a pleasant downtown activity with enough variety to feel like a special outing, not just a few sips at a counter.

FAQ

Where does The Works Tasting Session begin?

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

How long does the tasting last?

The experience lasts approximately one hour.

What tasting options are available?

You can choose seven Adirondack Winery wine pours, an Extreme Heights Cider Flight with four pours, or an American Oak Whiskey Flight with four pours.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $40.66 per person. A gratuity of $6.84 per person is not included.

Is food included?

Yes. The package includes a shared snack plate with local cheeses, crackers, wine-infused chocolates and jelly, marshmallows, olives, and other items.

Do I receive a premium wine?

Yes. You can try one premium wine from the sparkling, dessert, or reserve selections.

What drink finishes the experience?

In summer, you receive a four-ounce fruit-infused wine slushie. In winter, the finish is warm mulled wine or a hot apple toddy.

Is a souvenir included?

Yes. You receive a premium Adirondack Winery logo wine glass to take home.

What is the minimum age?

You must be at least 21 and provide valid government-issued photo ID to participate in the tasting.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes within that period are not accepted.