CoCo Travels

NY Finger Lakes By The Glass

A 7-day small-group journey with Chelsea and Gigi

Join Us in the NY Finger Lakes wine region, on a journey shaped by cultural history, regional food, and great company.

At a Glance
  • September 21–27, 2027
  • Finger Lakes, New York (Cayuga Lake, Seneca Lake, and Keuka Lake wine trails)
  • Limited to 6 travelers
  • $4,400 per person (double occupancy, 2 queen beds)
    • Single occupancy supplement: approximately $900 (private room)

To request a place on this journey, please fill out this form (*no money is due until after we meet with you and our meeting does not obligate you to travel with us). After our meeting, a $500 non-refundable deposit reserves your place. The final balance is due May 1, 2027. Because this journey is limited to six travelers, spaces cannot be held without a deposit. All trip prices are quoted in US dollars.

Wine Journey Interest Form

This trip is open to travelers of all races and ethnicities. We ask every participant to help create a respectful, anti-racist, and community-minded travel environment.

Our Second Inclusive Wine Journey

Travel with wine expert Chelsea Stephens, PhD and social scientist Gigi Coulson, M.S. for an intimate four-day retreat in one of America’s most historically layered wine regions. The Finger Lakes of upstate New York is home to more than 140 wineries, two of the country’s most significant Underground Railroad corridors, and landscapes shaped by Indigenous nations whose names are still carried by the lakes themselves.

This carefully paced experience moves from Cayuga Lake wine country, where Harriet Tubman made her permanent home after escaping slavery, to the Finger Lakes Wine Train along Seneca Lake, through the historic Keuka Lake wine region, and to the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn. Along the way, we will sit with the full story of this landscape: the freedom seekers who traveled these routes, the Haudenosaunee nations whose land this was and is, and the complicated legacy of the women’s suffrage movement born at Seneca Falls. We name what history too often leaves out.

This is not a big-bus wine tour. It is a small, conversational retreat for travelers who want context, connection, beautiful wine, and an honest engagement with the places they are visiting. Space is extremely limited to six travelers. Interested travelers are encouraged to request information early.

  • Focus: New York wines, regional history, Underground Railroad, Indigenous history, women’s suffrage, and cultural landscape
  • Pace: intimate, educational, sensory, and thoughtfully paced
  • Regions: Cayuga Lake, Seneca Lake, and Keuka Lake wine trails, Auburn and the Finger Lakes corridor
  • Lodging: At a lakefront hotel on Canandaigua Lake with chic interiors, a spa, onsite restaurant, pool, and lake views

This is not a big-bus tour. It is a small, conversational journey for travelers who want context, connection, good food, and wines that open the door to history. Because this trip is intentionally limited to six travelers, space is extremely limited. Interested travelers are encouraged to request information early.

  • Included in the trip price:
    • 4 nights lakefront lodging on Lake Canandaigua — each room has two queen beds with lake or town views
    • Complimentary welcome drink per guest on arrival
    • Airport transfers through the hotel
    • Wine Train experience on Seneca Lake — a guided wine journey along the lake by rail, visiting multiple wineries
    • Bus tour on Cayuga Lake including a visit to the region’s first Black-owned winery
    • Visit to Keuka Lake, historically significant in the Finger Lakes wine boom
    • Guided visit to Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, NY
    • Yoga or morning wellness session with a practitioner of color — 2 mornings on property
    • Group meals: welcome dinner, 3 dinners, 3 lunches, 4 breakfasts, and farewell dinner
    • Educational leadership by Gigi Coulson, M.S., and Chelsea Stephens, PhD
    • Curated discussions on wine, regional history, Indigenous land, and the Underground Railroad
    • Planning, coordination, and reservation management for the group itinerary
    • All entrance fees and activities listed in the final itinerary
  • Not included:
    • Airfare to/from the Finger Lakes (fly into Rochester/ROC)
    • Travel insurance – get quotes here
    • Personal purchases and wine shipping
    • Meals or drinks outside the group itinerary
    • Optional activities during free time
    • Baggage, medical, or other personal travel costs
    • Tips and gratuities unless included in final trip materials
About the Hosts

Chelsea Stephens, PhD, is a sommelier and wine educator (WSET L2) who brings technical knowledge, tasting guidance, and a deep appreciation for the cultural life of wine. Chelsea will help travelers understand grape varieties, regional styles, winemaking choices, and how to taste with confidence and curiosity. Learn more about Chelsea here.

Gigi Coulson is a scientist, historical costumer, historian, and longtime scholar whose research and interests center cultural heritage, community, identity, and the stories told through dress and place. Gigi brings 15 years of study of Italian history to this journey, with special attention to social context, historical memory, and the lived experience behind monuments, meals, and landscapes. Learn more about Gigi here.

Together, Chelsea and Gigi create a journey that blends scholarship and pleasure: serious enough to be meaningful, relaxed enough to be joyful.

To request a spot on this journey, please fill out this form (*no money is due until after we meet with you and our meeting does not obligate you to travel with us):

Wine Journey Interest Form
Policies

Costumers of Color trips are open to travelers of all races and backgrounds. We ask every participant to help create a respectful, anti-racist, and community-minded travel environment. This includes following our community policies and being open to correction if harm occurs. Please review the policies here: https://costumersofcolor.org/policies/

Travel insurance is strongly recommended. All trip fees are nonrefundable. Find the best fit for your needs here: Faye Travel Insurance

Travel Terms & Conditions

By submitting a non-refundable per person trip deposit or balance payment, Guest is acknowledging, agreeing and accepting our Terms & Conditions Agreement, Policies, and Liability Waiver on behalf of himself/herself/themself and all persons for whom Guest is making payment. Guest understands that this is a legally binding and enforceable contract

Journey Gallery

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Frequently Asked Questions
  1. Do you offer refunds? All tickets, trip deposits, and trip payments are non-refundable. If you would like to transfer your ticket, deposit, or payment to someone else please email gigi@costumersofcolor.org
  2. How do I book my spot? Click the “Wine Journey Interest Form” button to send us your information. Shortly after, you’ll receive an email from us with further instructions on how to schedule a videoconference, make your deposit, and confirm your reservation. Spots are reserved on a first come, first served basis. 
  3. When is this trip? September 21–27, 2027
  4. Who is this trip for? This retreat is perfect for wine lovers, food enthusiasts, and curious travelers who want a deeper taste of wine, culturally and literally. You don’t need to be a wine expert, just someone who enjoys good company and beautiful places. If you appreciate quality over quantity and authentic experiences over tourist traps, you’ll love this trip.
  5. What is the price of this trip? $4,400 per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement is +$900 ($5,300 total for solo travelers).
  6. What’s included in the price?
    • 4 nights on Lake Canandaigua at a lakefront hotel
    • Finger Lakes Wine Train experience on Seneca Lake
    • Bus tour on Cayuga Lake with visit to the region’s first Black-owned winery
    • Keuka Lake winery visit
    • Guided visit to Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, NY
    • Yoga or morning wellness session, 2 mornings
    • All group meals: welcome dinner, 3 dinners, 3 lunches, 4 breakfasts, and farewell dinner
    • Educational leadership by Gigi Coulson, M.S., and Chelsea Stephens, PhD
    • Curated discussions on wine, regional history, Indigenous land, and the Underground Railroad
    • Planning, coordination, and reservation management for the group itinerary
    • All entrance fees and listed activities
  7. What’s NOT included in the price?
    • Airfare to/from the Finger Lakes (fly into Rochester/ROC)
    • Travel insurance (get quotes here)
    • Meals not listed in the itinerary
    • Alcoholic beverages, meals, or drinks outside of included meals & tastings
    • Optional activities during free time
    • Passport, visa, baggage, medical, or other personal travel costs
    • Personal purchases & wine shipping
    • Tips and gratuities unless included in final trip materials
  8. Can I come solo? Of course! Pricing is based on double occupancy, so solo travelers pay a single supplement to have their own private room and bathroom.
  9. Do I need travel insurance? Yes, we strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance that covers trip cancellation, medical emergencies, and medical evacuation. Given the non-refundable deposit and final payment, it’s an important safeguard. Get quotes here: Faye Travel Insurance
  10. What will the weather be like in Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna in April? Spring is a beautiful time to visit Italy!
    • Tuscany, usually has mild and pleasant temperatures. You can expect daytime highs around 63-70°F (17-21°C) with cooler evenings of around 46-50°F (8-10°C).
    • In Emilia-Romagna, April brings mild, pleasant spring weather, with average daily highs in the mid-to-high 60s°F (18–20°C) and chilly nighttime lows in the mid-40s°F (7–9°C). Light rainfall is possible, so bring a rain jacket or umbrella.