Raise a Glass to Vineyards at Dan's Taste of Two Forks
Dan’s Taste of Two Forks presented by Farrell Building Co. hosted by chef Alex Guarnaschelli will feature over 40 exquisite dishes from the best chefs on the East End and beyond. Macari Vineyards winemaker Kelly Urbanik Koch says, “I love the local bounty of fresh foods which pair so well with Long Island wines.” So do we! Meet Koch and five other wonderful winemakers from East End vineyards at Taste of Two Forks at Fairview Farm in Mecox.
Macari Vineyards is a family owned and operated North Fork winery. The present-day vineyard used to be a potato farm until Joseph Macari Jr. and his wife Alexandra moved there to start growing grapes and making wine in 1995. Macari features two tasting rooms in Mattituck and Cutchogue that are great spots to stop and sip fine wine, eat artisanal cheese and take in views of the vineyards and farmland. Winemaker Kelly Urbanik Koch grew up working on her grandfather’s vineyard and worked in wineries in California and France before coming to Long Island. Koch will be pouring 2010 Dos Aguas, 2015 Chardonnay Estate, 2016 Sauvignon Blanc and 2016 Rosé at Taste of Two Forks.
Claudia Purita of One Woman Wines & Vineyards grew up on her family’s farm in Calabria, Italy, where she assisted in growing wine grapes from a young age. After moving to Long Island and working in the restaurant industry, Purita decided it was time to “return to her roots.” So, she started One Woman Wines & Vineyard in Southold. Much of the vineyard was hand planted and each vine has been meticulously tended by Purita herself. A few sips will lead you to appreciate just what one woman’s hard work can produce. Stop by her tasting room in Cutchogue or try her wines at Taste NY in Grand Central Station. “My reward is when I see people really enjoy a glass of my wine. I see that smile, and I want some more,” Purita says. Guests will have a chance to sip and smile with Purita at Taste of Two Forks, where you can try her 2015 Chardonnay, 2015 Gruner Veltliner and 2016 Rosé.
Hound’s Tree in Mattituck was founded in 2015 in partnership with Apolloni Vineyards, a family-owned grower and producer of Pinot Noir in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Hound’s Tree brings two decades of West Coast winemaking experience to the unique maritime terroir of Long Island. They currently grow French and American clones of Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. “We’re a region that hasn’t defined itself by a single style or variety, which is part of what’s so exciting about making and drinking Long Island wine,” says Hound’s Tree’s Alexander Rosellini, “I definitely think of rosé as a reflection of terroir.” Hound’s Tree’s wines are available at the Sherwood House Vineyards tasting room in Jamesport. Taste the 2015 Hound’s Tree Estate Rosé for yourself, as well as 2015 Hound’s Tree Estate Chardonnay at Taste of Two Forks.
Known for its signature dry, racy, clean and fruit-forward style, Lieb Cellars offers a diverse portfolio of still and sparkling wines. Their second brand, Bridge Lane, consists of wines that are young, fresh, fruit-forward and meant to be enjoyed right away. The Lieb tasting room is housed in a converted barn on a picturesque farm. Few experiences can match sipping an elegant estate-grown wine while watching what’s purported to be the best sunset view on Long Island. Lieb owns the largest contiguous plot of Pinot Blanc in the U.S, and with the guiding hand of veteran winemaker Russell Hearn, the 30-year-old vines have produced nationally recognized and award-winning wines. Hearn will have the largest selection at Taste of Two Forks, featuring 2012 Sparkling Pinot Blanc, 2015 Cabernet Franc, 2016 Bridge Lane White Merlot, 2016 Bridge Lane Sauvignon Blanc and 2016 Bridge Lane Rosé.
In 1996, Charles and Barbara Smithen bought a farmhouse and the surrounding 38 acres of former corn and potato fields, which offered outstanding conditions for growing wine grapes. That land is now Sherwood House Vineyards. The Smithen house and vineyards are proudly displayed on the front of each bottle of Sherwood House wine. Sherwood House began planting Chardonnay vines, but have since added Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Stop by the tasting room in Jamesport to taste the full collection. Meet their award-winning Winemaker Gilles Martin at Taste of Two Forks where he’ll be pouring 2013 Oregon Road Red Blend and 2016 Oregon Road White Merlot.
After partnering in a small vineyard, Bob and Joyce Pellegrini quickly realized the potential of the North Fork region. In 1991, the Pellegrinis purchased their own vineyard, now Pellegrini Vineyards, and built a 14,000-square-foot winery complex, which features a state-of-the-art tasting room that allows visitors to observe the winemaking process. The private tasting area offers panoramic views of the winery’s courtyard. Aside from the 35 acres at the winery site, Pellegrini also has vineyards in Richmond Creek in Peconic and South Harbor in Southold. Winemaker Zander Hargrave will be serving 2014 Pellegrini Merlot, 2015 Pellegrini Gewurztraminer and, of course, 2016 Pellegrini Rosé at Taste of Two Forks.
Find the latest info on all of Dan’s Taste of Summer events remaining this summer—Dan’s GrillHampton presented by Pat LaFrieda (July 21) hosted by Robert Irvine, celebrity chef, entrepreneur, philanthropist, founder of the Robert Irvine Foundation and chef/owner of Robert Irvine’s Public House at the Tropicana Las Vegas at Fairview Farm in Mecox; and Dan’s Taste of Two Forks presented by Farrell Building Co. (July 22) hosted by Alex Guarnaschelli chef/owner of Butter, Judge on Food Network’s Chopped, author of Old School Comfort Food and soon-to-be released cookbook The Home Cook—at DansTaste.com. Follow Dan’s Taste of Summer on Facebook, on Twitter @DansTOS17 and Instagram @DansTasteofSummer. Event Hashtags: #DansTOS, #GrillHampton and #TasteofTwoForks. A portion of proceeds from Dan’s GrillHampton and Taste of Two Forks benefits the nonprofit AFTEE, All for the East End.