Picking your own grapes at Bristol Springs Viticulture during Grape Fest ’23 was a spiritual experience and a quiet moment of growth. The effort inspired you to grow your own Concord grape vine, achieving modest success during its first season. After all, Conesus Lake’s micro-climate is perfect for grapes and other berries. Before Europeans settled here, the Seneca people even named the lake “Ga-ne-a-sos,” meaning “berry place.”

Is a grape a berry? Botanically speaking, it is—though you might not find it labeled under the “Berries” section at the supermarket. But plenty of farm stands and local bakers around Conesus Lake sell fresh, home-grown berries and baked goods. You can practically catch the scent of grape pie drifting from the windowsill, the steam beckoning to you like in some classic cartoon scene. If you’re craving something sweet around the Lake, click below for local shops — just a quick drive or a local delivery away.