Welcome to Bully Hill Vineyards in Keuka Lake.

If you’ve been staring down traffic on the FDR, stuck on the 6 train again, or watching your email pile up working from home in your fourth-floor walk-up all week, consider this your invitation to unplug. Just a few hours north of the noise, the Finger Lakes offer something NYC can’t: no car horns, green grass, and a view that doesn’t involve scaffolding.

And at the heart of it all is Bully Hill Vineyards, perched high above Keuka Lake with enough charm, character, and chaos to make you forget where you parked your stress.

This isn’t a wine stop—it’s a full-sensory reset. A place where wine is poured with a smile, not a Ted Talk. A place built by a man named Walter S. Taylor, who made wine fun before Sideways was released. Painter, rebel, and storyteller, Walter turned Bully Hill into a place that’s equal parts vineyard, museum, and slightly madcap art project.

So if you’re craving something real—somewhere with stories, views, and wine that doesn’t care about your follower count—this is it.

The Main Event: Bully Hill

Bully Hill doesn’t take itself too seriously—a welcome change in a wine world that can feel more curated than a design showroom. Founded by Walter, who literally fought the government for the right to use his own name on a label (and lost), Bully Hill is part museum, part rebel camp, part vineyard—and all heart.

You’ve got 40+ wines to choose from—dry reds, peachy whites, and unapologetically fun blends like the local’s favorite Love My Goat. There’s no velvet rope, no gatekeeping. Just great wine, amazing views, and real people.

Start your visit in the Cellar Room, where staff lead you through tastings like they’re inviting you into a story. Then head to the restaurant deck, where their crab cakes and scallops are served with a side of big sky and lake shimmer.

And whatever you do, don’t skip the extras:

A quirky wine museum filled with Walter’s art, artifacts, and attitude.
Free winery tours (Memorial Day–Columbus Day) that walk you through vines and barrels with equal parts education and entertainment.
The legendary gift shop, a curated chaos of wine gadgets, handmade goods, and things you didn’t know you needed until you saw them.

Bully Hill isn’t just a stop—it’s a destination you want to tell your friends about.

Walter S. Taylor The Man Who Painted Outside the Lines—and Bottled It

Walter S. Taylor was the kind of guy you'd want to share a bottle with on a porch overlooking the Finger Lakes—unfiltered, passionate, and not one to follow the rules. Born into a winemaking dynasty, he was famously pushed out of the Taylor Wine Company, but instead of backing down, he built Bully Hill as a defiant love letter to creativity and independence.

He hand-painted labels, filled his winery with art and personality, and coined the now-legendary phrase, “They can take my name, but not my goat.” Bully Hill wasn’t about fancy tasting notes or polished pretenses—it was about real wine, real people, and having a little fun along the way. Walter didn’t just make wine—he made a statement.

Getting There: The Scenic Route Is the Only Route

You don’t just swing by the Finger Lakes. You go. You drive. You let the road unspool and the pace slow.

From NYC, it's about five hours of winding roads, sleepy towns, and the kind of countryside that slows your pulse. If you're flying from outside of NY, land in Rochester, Syracuse, or Elmira/Corning, then rent a car. You’ll need it. Rideshares are rare out here, and you don’t want to be stranded waiting trying to get a signal.

Where to Stay: Hammondsport Is the Move

Stay in Hammondsport, just down the hill from Bully Hill and right on the southern edge of Keuka Lake. It’s small-town lovely, the kind of place where breakfast comes with conversation and porch swings are still a thing.

Options range from lakefront cabins to historic inns with squeaky floorboards and real charm. Book a room at The Park Inn, where the food is chef-driven, and you are within walking distance of restaurants, shops, the village square, and Keuka Lake. It’s truly a central and convenient location in the center of town.

What Else to Do: Wine Is Just the Beginning

Wine may have brought you here—but there’s more to explore:

Paddleboard or kayak across Keuka Lake. It’s calm, clear, and scenic enough to make your phone camera weep.
Hike the trails at Keuka Lake State Park. Short, sweet, and worth every step, most hikes are moderate in difficulty and range from 0.5 to 2 miles. Connect multiple loops for longer hikes—up to 2–3 hours.
Drop into the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum to learn about the man who flew before the Wright brothers and raced motorcycles in leather goggles.
Hit the Windmill Farm & Craft Market on Saturday for a taste of upstate life—jam jars, hand-carved spoons, leather belts, and kettle corn all included.

A Few Tips from Someone Who’s Been

Pace yourself. This is a slow dance, not a sprint. T
Make reservations for groups. You do not need a reservation to visit. We do kindly encourage you to make a reservation if your party is more than 10 people.
Bring a cooler. You’re going to buy wine. Lots of it.
Talk to the people. The staff here? They’re storytellers. Let them tell you about Walter, the wines, and the land. You’ll leave smarter and smiling.

A Little Wild, A Lot Wonderful

Sure it’s a little off-kilter. A little colorful. A little chaotic. But it’s real. The wine is real. The people are real. The view is almost too good to be real.

So, raise a glass to Walter. To the rebels who planted grapes where no one thought they’d grow. To the weird and the wild and the wonderful.

And to the Finger Lakes—where slowing down tastes pretty great. Head over to Bully Hill’s website for more information.

NYC, you don’t have to travel far to ESCAPE THE CITY