Sheldrake Point Winery – Finger Lakes, NY

Sheldrake Point Winery is on the western shore of Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes wine region. My significant other and I were immediately struck by the beautiful grounds with a nice lake view. An interesting tidbit is that you can visit the winery by boat – boats up to thirty-five feet in length can tie up at one of their dock spaces.

Upon entering the winery, we were impressed by the welcoming warmth and cheerfulness of the person behind the tasting bar. We enjoyed trying the various wines, which were accompanied by some education about each one. I am always a fan of learning about the wines I am tasting, and I am always open to trying something different. Although I am much more of a dry wine drinker, I found their sweet Ice Apple Wine dangerously drinkable.

The person pouring the wine also shared some entertaining stories. We learned that her husband is a chef, and she is quite the foodie. When asked if she was so into food before she met her husband, she exclaimed that she absolutely was not – she mostly ate tuna fish and potato chips!

The principle of liking was in play here – the principle that people tend to say yes to or make purchases from those they like. Being knowledgeable, warm, engaging, and finding some commonality with customers (wine is a pretty obvious commonality at a winery and often food too) leads to a great winery experience. Of course, the enjoyable wine and beautiful view didn’t hurt either, but the excellent customer service really made the experience.