Seven pours, but it feels like more. At Adirondack Winery & Extreme Heights Cidery in Queensbury, you start with a sparkling toast and move into a guided tasting with the barrel room in view. It’s a fun setup that keeps the pace moving without feeling rushed.

What I love most is the way the tasting is guided step-by-step, so you’re not just handed a flight and sent on your way. I also really like that you can swap the format to match your taste, with whiskey or hard cider flights available if wine isn’t your thing, plus a shared charcuterie and dessert finish.

One consideration: this is a 1 hour 30 minutes experience built around alcohol and food pairing, so if you’re looking for an all-day winery stroll, you’ll want to keep expectations small. Also, gratuity is listed separately, so plan for that extra cost.

Key highlights you’ll care about

• Sparkling welcome toast to set the vibe right away in the tasting room
• Guided 7-sample tasting with a finish that can include a dessert wine, sparkling option, or reserve pour
• Choose your style: wine, whiskey, or hard cider flights (handy if your group is split)
• Adirondack-style charcuterie board made for sharing, with gluten-free options available
• Dessert finale with wine-infused truffles plus macarons, cupcakes, and cookies
• Take-home keepsake: a premium wine glass to remember the day

Where you taste: Queensbury’s tasting room layout and vibe

This experience centers on the Queensbury tasting room at Adirondack Winery & Extreme Heights Cidery, with a start point at 395 Big Bay Road. You’ll sit either at the tasting bar or at a rustic oak table, and that little detail matters because it changes the whole feel.

At the tasting bar, you get a close-up, conversational style. At the oak table, you get more of a shared social setup for groups, birthdays, and date-night energy. Either way, you’re not tucked away in the back. The barrel room and wine-making facility are viewable right from your seat, which adds a “we’re actually here” feeling without requiring you to hunt down a tour.

If you’re traveling with a group, the setting is also designed for interaction. The experience is limited to a maximum of 10 travelers, so you’re unlikely to feel lost in a crowd. And if indoor/outdoor seating is a factor for your comfort, you can plan around the room setup once you arrive.

The welcome toast and the guided tasting flow

Everything starts the same way: you’re welcomed with a sparkling toast. It’s a small move that works. It gives you a celebratory start and gently cues you to slow down and pay attention to the pours that follow.

From there, your host guides the tasting. For the wine option, you’ll sample 7 handcrafted wines, chosen from bold reds, crisp whites, rosés, or fruit-infused favorites. The practical benefit here is that the tasting isn’t just a lineup. You get help connecting flavor to style—so your final picks are easier to make, especially if you’re new to wine.

Your host role is important. In past visits, hosts like Arielle and Kat have led the experience with clear explanations and a friendly, attentive approach. You’ll likely get that same guided rhythm: sip, pause, ask, then move to the next pour. That structure is a big reason these tastings tend to be more fun than the quick self-guided ones.

The experience also includes a finish: after the main flight, you’ll end with a special pour like a dessert wine, a sparkling option, or a reserve sample. It’s a clever way to end, because your palate is already warmed up, and the final flavors land with more impact.

If you prefer whiskey or hard cider, you’re not stuck

One of the smartest parts of this experience is that it doesn’t treat wine as the only option. If you don’t want wine, you can choose a whiskey or hard cider flight. That’s a real convenience for mixed groups—think one person who loves wine, another who prefers something else, and nobody needing to negotiate.

This also changes how the tasting experience feels. Wine flights often push you toward acidity, fruit, and texture. Whiskey flights and cider flights tend to highlight different aromas and styles—so you’re still learning, but in a way that matches your taste.

The key takeaway for you: this is built to keep the group together. Even if the flight type changes, you’re still seated at the same tasting experience level, guided through the pours, and moving through the same food-and-dessert pacing.

Adirondack Board charcuterie: the shared meal that keeps things balanced

The charcuterie portion is not an afterthought here. It’s a real part of the experience: you get an Adirondack Board made for sharing with artisanal cheeses, cured meats, fresh fruit, bread, crackers, and wine-infused treats. There are also gluten-free options available, which makes a big difference if you’re coordinating a group meal.

What I like about pairing a board with a guided tasting is that it gives you a reset. Between sips, you can take a bite that changes how flavors register. That matters because wine and spirits can be intense if you only taste liquids.

The board also helps the social side. You’re not sitting with empty space while someone talks. Everyone has something to nibble, and it naturally turns the tasting into a shared experience instead of a solo activity.

If you’re trying to plan your own appetite, aim to treat this as both tasting and meal. The included “Meals” line is accurate in practice—you won’t leave thinking you just had a snack.

Dessert wine, truffles, and the sweet ending

The tasting doesn’t end with your last sip. You’ll get a dessert finale, with wine-infused chocolate truffles, macarons, cupcakes, and cookies. And the food is described as locally crafted, which is the right kind of detail: you’re not just buying a package of sweets and calling it dessert.

The dessert board is shared, so it’s ideal for groups. It also works for couples and friend visits because the options are varied. If you prefer chocolate, truffles and wine-infused treats cover you. If you’re more of a cookie person, you have cupcakes and cookies in the mix. Macarons bring a lighter, more delicate texture that balances the heavier sweets.

Depending on the season, there’s also a seasonal sip: warm mulled wine in winter, or a wine slushie in summer. That’s more than a gimmick. A warm mulled pour works with cozy food flavors, while a slushie can feel like a fun palate reset when it’s hot outside.

The barrel room view and the chance to ask for a tour

Even though the experience is focused on tasting and food, you still get a behind-the-scenes feeling. The barrel room and wine-making facility are visible from your seat. That means you can glance up during the tasting and feel like you’re in the middle of the process.

You can also ask your host for a winery tour. The key phrasing here is “they’ll do their best to accommodate you,” so don’t treat it as guaranteed. Still, if you’re the type who wants context beyond flavor—how things are made, not just how they taste—this is a solid chance to request more.

Price, value, and what $64.20 really buys

The price is $64.20 per person, for about 1 hour 30 minutes. On paper, that’s not a cheap tasting. In practice, the value comes from how much you get in that time.

You’re receiving:

• A guided tasting (with 7 handcrafted wines for the wine option, or whiskey/cider flights)
• Additional finish pours (like dessert wine/sparkling/reserve options)
• A shared Adirondack Board charcuterie
• A dessert board with multiple sweet items
• Alcoholic beverages and meals are included
• A take-home premium wine glass

So you’re not just paying for liquids. You’re paying for a guided experience plus food and dessert. That’s a different value proposition than the $25 or $35 flights that don’t include a meal.

One small cost note: gratuities are listed separately as $10.80 per person. It’s not unusual, but it is something you’ll want to factor in so you don’t get surprised at checkout.

Who this tasting works best for (and who should skip)

This experience fits best if you want a guided tasting without heavy planning. It’s great for:

• Birthdays and date nights
• Girls’ weekends (the social format and dessert finish help a lot)
• Groups where not everyone likes wine
• People who want a short, organized activity with enough food to feel like a full outing

You might reconsider if:

• You’re hoping for a long, formal tour with minimal alcohol focus
• Your group needs zero-alcohol options (the alcohol component is built in)
• You dislike guided tastings and prefer free-form exploring

The small group size (up to 10) is a big plus here. You’re less likely to feel like a number, and the guide can keep explanations moving at a human pace.

Timing, weather, and what to expect when you show up

The session runs about 1 hour 30 minutes. That’s a sweet spot: enough time to taste multiple samples and eat, but short enough that you can still plan dinner after.

You’ll need good weather because the experience has a weather requirement. If conditions aren’t right, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. On a practical level, it’s worth checking the day-of forecast and having a flexible mindset if plans get shifted.

You’ll also receive a mobile ticket, which makes entry simpler. And the meeting point is clearly identified at the Queensbury tasting room address, so you’re not guessing where to go.

Should you book the Ultimate Tasting Experience?

I’d book it if you want a guided tasting that feels like an evening out, not a quick stop. The combination of a sparkling welcome, a guided flight (plus dessert and charcuterie), and a take-home wine glass makes the $64.20 feel more like value than just a tasting fee.

Book it with confidence if your group has mixed tastes. The ability to choose wine, whiskey, or hard cider keeps everyone in the same experience while still letting people pick what they’ll enjoy most.

I’d skip or swap plans if you’re chasing a full production-style tour. You can see the barrel room and you can ask about a tour, but this is built around tastings and shared boards, with time kept tight.

If you want a fun, well-paced Queensbury food-and-drink experience that’s easy to do and hard to get wrong, this one is a strong pick.

FAQ

How long is the Ultimate Tasting Experience?

It lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Where does the experience start?

It starts at the Adirondack Winery & Extreme Heights Cidery Queensbury Tasting Room, 395 Big Bay Road, Queensbury, NY 12804, USA, and ends back at the meeting point.

What does the $64.20 price include?

Alcoholic beverages and meals are included.

What extra costs should I expect?

Gratuities are listed as $10.80 per person, and that amount is not included in the base price.

Can I choose whiskey or hard cider instead of wine?

Yes. If you’re not into wine, you can opt for a whiskey flight or a hard cider flight.

Is there food included, or is it just drinks?

There is food included, including a charcuterie board and a dessert board.

Are gluten-free options available?

Yes, gluten-free options are available.

What desserts are included?

You’ll have wine-infused chocolate truffles, macarons, cupcakes, and cookies.

Is the barrel room or winery area visible during the tasting?

Yes, the barrel room and wine-making facility can be viewed right from your seat.

What happens if weather is bad?

This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

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