Ultimate Tasting Experience Wine, Whiskey or Hard Cider

The main draw here is the generous tasting lineup. You begin with bubbly, work through seven handcrafted wine samples, and finish with a premium pour, dessert, and a seasonal drink. If wine is not your thing, you can choose a whiskey or hard cider flight instead.

I like the food as much as the drinks. The Adirondack Board brings cheese, cured meats, fruit, bread, crackers, and wine-infused treats, while a dessert board adds truffles, macarons, cupcakes, and cookies. I also like the small group size, capped at 10, which gives Arielle, Kat, or another host room to explain the pours without rushing.

The main consideration is the price. At $64.20 per person, plus a listed $10.80 gratuity, you are budgeting about $75 each before any extra purchases. That is fair for the amount served, but it is more than a quick tasting at a bar.

Key Details at a Glance

• Seven guided pours: Sample bold reds, crisp whites, rosés, and fruit-infused wines, then finish with a premium sample.
• Three drink paths: Choose wine, whiskey, or hard cider, so mixed groups have a practical option.
• Food is part of the sitting: Share an Adirondack charcuterie board and a dessert board rather than buying snacks separately.
• Seasonal finish: Expect warm mulled wine in winter or a wine slushie in summer.
• Small-room format: The experience accepts a maximum of 10 people and ends where it begins.
• A useful souvenir: Your booking includes a premium wine glass to take home.

Starting With Bubbles in Queensbury

You meet at Adirondack Winery and Extreme Heights Cidery’s Queensbury Tasting Room at 395 Big Bay Road. The experience lasts about 90 minutes, and you remain at the tasting room throughout, seated either at the tasting bar or at a rustic oak table.

That seated format matters. This is not a quick stand-up flight where someone places glasses in front of you and moves on. Your Wine Concierge leads the tasting, describes each sample, and helps you compare styles. Arielle has been especially good at giving clear explanations, while Kat brings a friendly, attentive approach and takes time with first-time visitors.

The opening sparkling toast gives the session a clear beginning. It also helps set the pace. You are not expected to race through seven pours, a food board, dessert, and a seasonal drink in a few minutes.

You can see the barrel room and wine-making facility from your seat. That gives the setting a little more substance than a simple retail counter, though the core activity remains a tasting rather than a full production tour. If you want to see more, ask your host about a winery tour. The staff will try to accommodate the request, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed part of the 90-minute package.

Choosing Wine, Whiskey, or Hard Cider

Wine is the main focus, with seven handcrafted samples covering several styles. You might taste bold reds, crisp whites, refreshing rosés, and fruit-infused favorites. The exact selection can vary, so you should arrive ready to sample rather than expecting a fixed bottle-by-bottle menu.

The structure works well if your group has different tastes. A wine lover can follow the full wine flight, while someone who prefers spirits or cider can select whiskey or hard cider instead. One recent tasting included a cocktail flight, which gives you another sign that the room can suit a group that is not united around one drink category.

The host-led format is useful here. If you already know wine, you can focus on the styles you enjoy. If you are new to tasting, the explanations help you notice differences without turning the session into a lecture.

I would ask early about the order of the samples and the final pour. The experience includes a special dessert wine, sparkling wine, or reserve sample at the end. That closing glass is more than a bonus. It gives the tasting a proper finish and may introduce a more polished or distinctive style than the standard flight.

Because the package includes many alcoholic samples, this is best treated as a full activity rather than a quick stop before driving elsewhere. Arrange your transportation with the 90-minute tasting in mind, especially if you plan to purchase bottles or linger at the tasting room afterward.

The Adirondack Board Makes This More Than a Flight

The shared charcuterie board is one of the strongest parts of the package. It includes artisanal cheeses, cured meats, fresh fruit, bread, crackers, and wine-infused treats. Those items give you something to eat between samples and help soften the effect of the alcohol.

The board also serves a practical tasting purpose. Cheese and cured meat can change how a wine tastes, while fruit and bread offer a reset between pours. You get more from the flight when you are not tasting on an empty stomach.

Gluten-free options are available, but you should raise that need when booking or at the start of the experience. The provided details confirm that options exist, but they do not specify every item or how the board is adjusted. Ask your host what is safe before eating.

The portion is designed for sharing at the table. This suits couples and small groups, though it may feel less substantial if you expect a full restaurant meal. Think of it as a well-paired snack board, not dinner.

Dessert, Chocolate, and the Seasonal Pour

After the main tasting and charcuterie, the experience moves into a sweet finish. The dessert board can include wine-infused chocolate truffles, macarons, cupcakes, and cookies made locally.

This ending gives the session a different rhythm. You move from savory foods and structured pours into sweeter flavors, which pairs naturally with the dessert wine or sparkling sample. If you prefer dry wines, you may find the final course more useful as a playful change of pace than as a serious wine comparison.

The seasonal drink adds another point of difference. In winter, you can expect warm mulled wine. In summer, the package includes a refreshing wine slushie. The slushie is especially suited to a casual girls’ weekend or birthday outing, while mulled wine gives a colder-season visit a cozy touch.

The seasonal element is also a reason not to assume every visit will feel identical. The core flight and food remain the backbone, but the final drink changes with the time of year.

What the Seating and Group Size Mean

The maximum group size is 10 people. That is small enough for a more personal session, especially compared with a large tasting room where you might struggle to hear the person leading the flight.

You can sit at the tasting bar or at a rustic oak table. Ask about your preferred seating when you arrive, though the supplied details do not promise a specific table for every booking. Indoor and outdoor seating are available at the tasting room, according to the experience information and recent visits, but the activity itself requires good weather. If poor weather cancels the session, you are offered another date or a full refund.

The visible barrel room and wine-making facility add interest without requiring you to walk through a separate production area. You can watch the working side of the business from your seat, then ask questions as they come up.

This is a good setup for a date night because the sitting allows conversation. It also works for birthdays and girls’ weekends, when the food boards and take-home glasses give the group a few shared details to remember.

Staff Guidance Makes or Breaks the Tasting

The strongest part of this experience is the host. Arielle and Kat are both singled out for being welcoming, clear, and well informed about the wines and winery.

That matters more than it may sound. A flight of seven samples can blur together if nobody explains what you are drinking. A good host gives each pour a purpose, points out differences, and answers basic questions without making you feel out of place.

Kat is a particularly useful name to know if this is your first visit. She has been praised for explaining the process carefully, staying attentive, and making newcomers feel comfortable. Arielle has also received strong marks for her passion and detailed descriptions.

Staff can also help if your group includes people with different preferences. Ask about switching to whiskey or hard cider before the tasting begins, and ask what the premium or reserve pour will be. The exact selection is not fixed in the supplied details, so a quick question can help you understand the lineup.

Is $64.20 a Fair Price?

The listed price is $64.20 per person. A $10.80 gratuity is not included, bringing the expected cost to about $75 per person if you add it.

At first glance, that may seem high for 90 minutes. The value becomes clearer once you count what is included: the sparkling welcome, seven guided pours, a premium sample, a shared charcuterie board, a dessert board, a seasonal drink, and a premium wine glass to take home. Alcoholic beverages and meals are included, so you are not paying a low entry price and then adding food separately.

I would call it a good value for a celebratory outing or a planned tasting day. The package gives you enough food to avoid treating the tasting as an empty-stomach activity, and the small group format adds to the experience.

It is less compelling if you only want to sample one or two wines. In that case, a shorter tasting may suit you better, if available. This package is designed for people who want a full sitting with food, explanation, and several drink styles.

The gratuity detail deserves attention. Since $10.80 is listed separately, include it in your budget instead of comparing the $64.20 base price with a lower-cost tasting elsewhere.

Who Should Book This Experience?

I would choose this for a couple seeking a relaxed date activity, a birthday group, or a girls’ weekend in Queensbury. The mix of drinks, shareable food, desserts, and a souvenir glass gives the occasion enough structure without making it formal.

It also works for mixed groups. Wine drinkers can choose the seven-sample flight, while whiskey and hard cider options prevent one person from being left out. Ask the staff what is available on your date if your group wants different categories.

First-time tasters should feel comfortable here. The hosts explain the wines and guide the flight, so you do not need prior knowledge. The 10-person limit also helps keep questions and conversation manageable.

I would be more cautious about booking if you want a large production tour, a full meal, or a very short tasting. The barrel room and wine-making facility are visible, but the winery tour is only something you can request. The charcuterie and dessert boards are satisfying accompaniments, but they are not presented as a full lunch or dinner.

Most people can take part, and service animals are allowed. The tasting room is near public transportation, though no specific route or schedule is provided, so check your own transport plan before booking.

Cancellation and Planning Notes

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not accepted and are not refunded.

Good weather is required for the activity. If the provider cancels because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. This policy is worth remembering if you plan an outdoor seating experience, even though much of the tasting takes place inside.

You receive confirmation when booking, and the activity begins and ends at the Queensbury Tasting Room. Plan for about 90 minutes, then allow extra time only if you want to ask about a winery tour or browse beyond the tasting itself.

Should You Book It?

Book it if you want a complete tasting with food, dessert, a seasonal drink, and a host who takes time to explain what is in your glass. The seven pours and choice of wine, whiskey, or cider make it flexible, while the 10-person limit keeps the setting personal.

Skip it if you want a simple, inexpensive sample or a guaranteed production tour. For everyone else, the package offers a well-paced Queensbury outing, especially for a date night, birthday, or weekend with friends. Just budget the extra $10.80 gratuity and arrange transportation before you start tasting.

FAQ

Where does the experience begin?

It begins at Adirondack Winery and Extreme Heights Cidery Queensbury Tasting Room, 395 Big Bay Road, Queensbury, New York 12804.

Where does the experience end?

It ends back at the Queensbury tasting room.

How long does the tasting last?

The experience lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

How much does it cost?

The listed price is $64.20 per person. A $10.80 gratuity per person is not included.

What drink options are available?

You can choose a wine tasting, a whiskey flight, or a hard cider flight.

How many wine samples are included?

The wine option includes seven handcrafted wine samples, followed by a premium sample such as dessert wine, sparkling wine, or a reserve pour.

Is food included?

Yes. The experience includes alcoholic beverages and meals, along with a shared charcuterie board and dessert board.

What food comes with the tasting?

The Adirondack Board includes cheeses, cured meats, fresh fruit, bread, crackers, and wine-infused treats. Dessert may include truffles, macarons, cupcakes, and cookies.

Are gluten-free options available?

Yes. Gluten-free options are available for the food board.

Is there a seasonal drink?

Yes. The experience includes warm mulled wine in winter or a wine slushie in summer.

How many people can join?

The activity has a maximum of 10 travelers.

Can I request a winery tour?

You can ask your host for a tour of the winery and wine-making facility. The staff will try to accommodate the request, but it is not guaranteed as part of the tasting.

Is the activity accessible to most people?

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The tasting room is near public transportation.

What is the cancellation policy?

You receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.

What happens if bad weather cancels the experience?

You are offered a different date or a full refund if the activity is canceled because of poor weather.