Shortly after graduating from high school in 1980, Tim Miller went to work on a Finger Lakes winery's bottling line. Soaking up all he could, he steadily rose through the ranks to become the assistant winemaker.

In 1996, Miller moved to Chateau LaFayette Reneau in Hector, Schuyler County, to make wine. With owner Dick Reno, Miller has stewarded the winery through a significant growth spurt.

Visitors willing to cast their itineraries aside may want to linger on the winery’s grounds, featuring ponds, woodlands and a grapevine arbor ideal for picnicking beneath. Also on the premises is a 1911 farmhouse, offering rooms with modern amenities and sweeping views of Seneca Lake.

— Sheila Livadas, for FingerLakesWine.com

April-October hours, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. November-March hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Wheelchair-accessible. On-site lodging available in a modernized farmhouse.