Finger Lakes pride in a lakeside classic
Skaneateles · Syracuse · American, regional tavern fare · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 19, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into The Sherwood Inn feels like stepping into a well-worn Finger Lakes postcard — wood paneling, lake views, the works. The wine list matches the room: approachable, regionally minded, and not trying too hard. It's the kind of list that locals know and tourists lean on without complaint.
Forty to sixty selections give you enough to work with, and the Finger Lakes representation is the clear highlight — Dr. Konstantin Frank and Ravines Wine Cellars anchor the local section with real credibility. California and Italy round things out in predictable fashion, and there's a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc tossed in for the crowd that always orders Sauvignon Blanc. What's missing is any sense of adventure beyond the familiar: no Finger Lakes Cabernet Franc, no Pét-Nat, nothing that suggests the list is keeping pace with how exciting the regional wine scene has become.
Ten to sixteen by-the-glass options is a reasonable pour count for a place this size. The glass range of $9–$16 is fair enough on the low end, and you can reasonably land a local Riesling without blowing your budget before the entrée arrives. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority here — don't expect anything unexpected to show up mid-season.
Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling 2021 — $42
Yes, it's marked up over retail, but Frank's Dry Riesling is the right wine in the right place — a world-class Finger Lakes producer served lakeside in its own backyard. The context alone makes it worth the ask, and it drinks well above its price point regardless of where you buy it.
Lamoreaux Landing Estate Riesling 2021
Most tables here will walk right past this one and order something they recognize from the grocery store. Don't. Lamoreaux Landing is one of the Finger Lakes' most consistent producers, and the Estate Riesling has real structure and local character that the big California names on this list simply can't touch.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
At $44 on a list where the retail price is $14, you're paying a 214% markup for one of the most mass-produced Cabernets in America. Josh Cellars is a fine grocery store pick — at grocery store prices. Order the Frank Riesling instead and spend your money on something that actually belongs here.
Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling 2021 + Fresh fish special
Frank's Dry Riesling has the acid backbone and mineral edge to cut through rich lake fish preparations without steamrolling them. It's the most natural pairing on a menu that leans into regional ingredients — local wine with local water, essentially.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Sherwood Inn is a reliable wine stop, not a destination one — the Finger Lakes selections are genuinely good, but the markups on crowd-pleaser bottles are hard to forgive. Stick to the local producers, skip the California staples, and you'll drink well enough in a room that earns its keep on atmosphere alone.
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