Sip the Season: Ciders, Wines & Fall Flavors in Saratoga County

Peak harvest is when Saratoga County pours its finest. Orchards press cider, vineyards fill tasting rooms, and brewers and distillers create flavors that make fall worth savoring.

Whether you're building a tasting weekend or just need a cozy stop after a day of leaf-peeping, here's where to sip, taste, and linger across Saratoga County this fall.

Cider & Wine

From a working orchard to downtown tasting rooms, the county's cider and wine makers put harvest season in the glass.

• Saratoga Apple (Schuylerville): A year-round orchard with a farm store and a hard cider tasting room. Pair a flight with a fresh-baked apple cider donut.
• The Saratoga Winery: Handcrafted wines, signature cocktails and pub fare, with an expansive backyard and a cozy tasting room for cooler days.
• Galway Rock Winery / Saratoga Sparkling Co. (Ballston Lake): Enjoy a wide variety of delicious still or sparkling wines with views of the Green Mountains.
• Keuka Spring Tasting Room (Saratoga Springs): The Finger Lakes winery's downtown tasting room on Spring Street near Congress Park features guided tastings, a bottle shop, and a rotating selection of seasonal snacks. Reservations recommended, especially on weekends.
• Adirondack Winery (Lake George and Queensbury): Pair fruit-infused and varietal wines with gourmet cheese and chocolates at one of their two tasting rooms in the county.

Breweries & Taprooms

Saratoga County's breweries are a fall tradition of their own, many with kitchens that turn a pint into a full meal.

• Tree House Brewing Company (Saratoga Springs): A Northeast craft beer destination known for highly sought-after IPAs, plus side pull lagers and speciality brews at a welcoming indoor-outdoor setup.
• Common Roots Brewing Company: A bustling campus for craft beer in South Glens Falls features a rotating lineup of seasonal beers with locally sourced seasonal fare from the scratch kitchen.
• Druthers Brewing Company (Saratoga Springs): Their lively Broadway brewpub features a wide lineup of year-round and seasonal brews, plus their Raised Expectation Series alongside a full pub menu.
• Whitman Brewing Company (Saratoga Springs): A craft brewery in the old Saratogian building downtown, with Detroit-style pizza and a cozy café for coffee and pastries.
• Artisanal Brew Works: Enjoy house-brewed IPAs, lagers, sours, and Belgian-style beers along with a tasty bite from Nature’s Edge Bistro, with outdoor seating surrounded by forest views.
• Hank Hudson Brewing Co. (Halfmoon): A British-pub-inspired taproom in a rustic, industrial space at the Fairways of Halfmoon golf club, pouring locally crafted beer with views of the course.
• Dancing Grain Farm Brewery (Gansevoort): A field-to-glass brewery that grows its own ingredients with lagers, ales, farmhouse styles, and sours overlooking their beautiful property.

Spirits & Specialty Pours

For a stronger sip, a couple of downtown stops offer whiskey, craft spirits, and one of the biggest beer lists in town.

• First Fill Spirits (Saratoga Springs): A boutique spirits shop on Washington Street known for its extensive international selection of whiskey. Join in one of their whiskey travel tours to truly immerse yourself in this fine spirit.
• Cooperstown Distillery Beverage Exchange (Saratoga Springs): The distillery's Broadway outpost features a tasting lounge, craft cocktails made from its award-winning spirits, and a shop stocked with New York State beverages.
• Pint Sized (Saratoga Springs): This Phila Street bar has a craft beer list which makes it a downtown standout and with over 60 constantly rotating craft beers on tap and in cans plus cocktails and non-alcoholic options.

From a cider flight in an orchard, to a craft brew on a brisk and sunny patio, to a whiskey tasting downtown, fall flavors are pouring across the county. Plan your tasting trip to Saratoga County today!