We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Winter Falk and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, what’s your definition for success?
I define success based on the impact I have on people’s lives. I measure the success of our company based on: – The impact we have on our guest’s lives in terms of sharing our region with them and educating them about the wonders of the world of wine

– The impact we have on our community. Our partnership-based model is all about working with small businesses that value the importance of creating a quality product and offering exceptional customer service. Though this model, we have directly infused millions of tourism dollars into the local Finger Lakes economy over our 15-year existence. This is one of the things of which I am most proud. 

– The impact we have on the lives of our employees. We like to feel that we have impacted the quality of the lives of our employees through creating a business that they feel they feel proud to be a part of. I have personally mentored staff members through career changes, helped them through personal challenges, as well as supported their professional development and education. These are some of our most poignant success stories for our company. So many of our past and present employees are considered an extension of our family.

– Lastly, through my work as an adjunct professor at our local community college, some of my most rewarding successes have come from inspiring young adults to bring forth their best selves in their work, both in the classroom and in their post-college careers. Connecting with students who came into the class unengaged and having them leave inspired, not just by the subject matter, but by the concept that putting forth your best self, through both showing self-respect and respect for others, have been some of the most rewarding successes of my 30 year career.


What should our readers know about your business?

This year, Experience! The Finger Lakes celebrates 15 years of providing guests with the highest-quality experiences in the region that are fun, informative, personalized, and authentic. Becoming a sommelier in 2016 and wine educator in 2017, has had a significant impact on the way we choose to run our business. Today, our goal for both our tours and our events is to share with our visitors and guests the place the Finger Lakes fits within the vast world of wine. A wine region is not just a place – it is the story of its people, history, and culture. We share the region through a lens that not only reveals what makes it unique in the world of wine, but also what unites it with all the other regions of people, histories and cultures that share a passion for this special beverage.

We are proud that Experience! The Finger Lakes has grown into one of the area’s most popular attractions and the top-rated touring company in the Finger Lakes.  We have been recognized two years running as one of the 10 Best Wine Tour Companies in the country by USA Today.  TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, named us as one of the Top 10 wine tours in the United States, and the #1 tour in the Finger Lakes region. Our sight-seeing tours have been recognized by Best Things New York as one of the 10 Best Sightseeing Tours in New York State.  Our goal since 2007 has been to help our guests love the Finger Lakes as much as we do, and through the feedback from the thousands of people we have hosted on our premium tours and custom events, we believe that we have delivered.


Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

As a touring company that represents 9000 square miles of amazingness it is almost impossible to list just one itinerary that would show them the best time ever. Most likely I would create a custom itinerary based on their interests, and preferences in food and wine, and then share it with them by weaving stories, tasting the locally-sourced bounty produced here, and having them spend time with the people behind the products.  All this done within the context of the stunning beauty of the region. This may look like a vineyard tour with owners Shannon or Paul Brock of Silver Thread Vineyards, tasting and learning about sparking wine with Chris Missick from Missick Wine Cellars, or tasting through library wines with Chuck Tauck of Sheldrake Point. Lunch or dinner would be at any of the wonderful restaurants that feature locally-sourced ingredients, like Coltivare in Ithaca, Kindred Fare in Geneva, Quincy Exchange in Corning, or Graft in Watkins Glen. Natural beauty is everywhere you look in the Finger Lakes, but aside from the stunning views they would get when visiting the wineries, we would head into the gorges of one of the amazing State parks surrounding Ithaca, and always conclude with the finale of hiking right up to Ithaca Falls. In terms of accommodations, I would want them to stay at La Tourelle in Ithaca so they can experience the warm hospitality of the Wiggins Family. Lastly, getting on the water through a either sunset cruise on the MV Teal on Cayuga, or a sail on the True Love in Watkins, would be the finishing touch of experiencing the wonder of the Finger Lakes.


The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My success and inspiration are drawn from the wonderful Finger Lakes community of which I choose to live, support and represent. Our business was created based on knowing and appreciating the power of relationships. I am blessed to be able to work with such talented, passionate, and mindful individuals.

Website: experiencefingerlakes.com or winterfalksomm.com

Instagram: experienceflx or experienceflxsomm

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-falk-48bbb06/

Facebook: experienceflx

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWhv8oDO1SkWC02da2JZErw

Other: Reviews: Google: https://www.google.com/search?q=experience+the+finger+lakes&oq=experience+the+finger+lakes&aqs=chrome..69i57j46i39i175i199j69i59j0i22i30j69i60l3.5361j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#lrd=0x89d0827397720ce3:0x8236fe70778f7860,1,,, Tripadvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g47958-d1873591-Reviews-Experience_The_Finger_Lakes-Ithaca_Finger_Lakes_New_York.html

Image Credits
Laura Winter Falk in Vineyard Photo by Matt Wittmeyer All other photos taken by Experience! The Finger Lakes

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.