New York’s Finger Lakes has been named the “American Wine Region of the Year” for 2025 by the national magazine Wine Enthusiast.

The magazine cited the region as a “hotbed of innovation,” noting its wineries’ ability to make quality wines in a cold climate and its long tradition of evolving to meet new trends and consumer demands.

“New York’s largest wine-growing region has come a mighty long way in a few decades,“ Wine Enthusiast writer Christina Pickard wrote in the article announcing the award. ”Where wine lovers once had to search for quality, these days it’s the norm.”

The honor is part of Wine Enthusiast’s annual Wine Star Awards. Portugal’s Douro Valley won the 2025 nod as International Wine Region of the Year.

Last year’s Wine Star American Wine Region of the Year was Mendocin

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