Touring the Wineries of Long Island

A summer on Long Island wouldn’t be complete without making at least a few stops along the North Fork Wine Trail and Hamptons Wine Trail. But with more than 50 wineries and vineyards to choose from, you can be hard-pressed to visit them all. With that in mind, here are a few highlights you definitely do not want to miss.

Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard grows cabernet sauvignon, merlot and riesling grapes. Since 2007, Baiting Hollow has also worked to rescue horses and nurture them back to health and exuberance. A selection of the vineyard’s wines is devoted to their horse rescue efforts, so visiting oenophiles can indulge while also helping a worthy cause. Stop by and enjoy live music from 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
2114 Sound Avenue, Calverton. 631-369-0100 baitinghollowfarmvineyard.com

Bedell Cellars is a family-owned estate vineyard that uses entirely indigenous yeasts as part of its holis
tic winemaking program. This 30-year-old winery produced the first New York wine ever served at the inauguration of a U.S. president (it was poured at Barack Obama’s 2013) and specializes in aromatic, acidic wines, as is typical of grapes grown in a maritime climate. Bedell focuses on sustainability in its winemaking, avoiding synthetic fertilizers and encouraging natural ecological processes to nurture its grapes.
36225 Main Road, Route 25, Cutchogue 631-734-7537 bedellcellars.com

One of the mantras at Castello di Borghese is “good wine is first made in the field,” and at Borghese they tend to their vines with great care. They also host many events through the Terra Cotta Art Gallery.
Route 48 and Alvah’s Lane, Cutchogue. 631-734-5111 castellodiborghese.com

If you’re looking for something new this year, then you’re looking for Coffee Pot Cellars. Named for the iconic lighthouse at Orient Point, Coffee Pot Cellars has been producing small-batch, ultra-premium wine since 2008. Join them throughout the summer at the newly renovated tasting room in Cutchogue.
31855 Main Road Route 25, Cutchogue 631-765-6188 coffeepotcellars.com

Jason’s Vineyard is famous for its Meritage blend, featuring an oak-aged blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot grapes. Its 20-acre space is devoted to a number of specialized grapes, including chardonnay, merlot and cabernet. The winery is open seven days a week and offers tastings for curious wine aficionados.
1785 Main Road Route 25, Jamesport 631-238-5801 jasonsvineyard.com

Estate winery Jamesport Vineyards was first planted in 1981, with its first production debuting in 1986. A family collaboration of Ron Goerler and his son, Ron Jr., Jamesport Vineyards has great events and tastings year-round. Their grape varieties include chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, riesling, cabernet franc, Semillon and Syrah. There also have specialty wines such as semi glace (ice wine).
1216 Main Road, Jamesport. 631-722-5256 jamesportwines.com

Lenz Winery in Peconic has become known for its rustic, Old World-style wines and its dedication to aging since they planted their first vines on an old potato farm in 1978. Enjoy Friday Nights at Lenz with live music by HomeGroan, the Nice Buns food truck and wine by the glass specials.
38355 Route 25, Peconic. 631-734-6010 lenzwine.com

Lieb Cellars boasts three tasting rooms, with the East Hampton location celebrating its first summer this year. Tucked away on one of the North Fork’s most rural back roads, Lieb Cellars’ Oregon Road tasting room in Cutchogue is a vision of rustic chic nestled in 62 acres of vines. Head there on Saturday afternoons for live music. Firefly Fridays at Lieb Cellars Mattituck features music and food until 8 p.m. Among the numerous special events is the 10th Annual Oyster Fest in Mattituck on July 10. In addition to their lineup of reds and whites, Lieb will add Rumor Mill, a dry sparkling hard cider, to their collection this summer.
13050 Oregon Road, Cutchogue. 631-734-1100 liebcellars.com

In the picturesque countryside of the North Fork rests the 200-acre Macari Vineyard. This family-owned winery has been producing award-winning wines with a careful eye on the environment and sustainability since 1995. The 2013 rosé marks the first time that Macari has done a rosé with mainly cabernet franc. The tasting room is open daily, and offers three different flights, as well as wine by the glass or bottle.
150 Bergen Road, Mattituck. 631-298-0100 macariwines.com

Martha Clara Vineyards is the brainchild of Robert Entenmann, who created the vineyard from the family farm. As it says on the Martha Clara Vineyards Facebook page: “In 1995 Robert Entenmann caught the grape bug and planted 18 acres of vines. Over the next four years his vineyard acreage grew to over 100 acres as he anxiously waited for the grapes to come of age.” Martha Clara Vineyards is open year-round and is named after Entenmann’s mother.
6025 Sound Avenue, Riverhead 631-298-0075 marthaclaravineyards.com

Located on a small family farm, Mattebella Vineyards specializes in European clones of grape varietals. The tight spacing keep the grapes in close quarters, and everything is done by hand. Mattebella is committed to using sustainable viticultural practices while finding solutions to old problems by maximizing the health of their vineyard.
46005 Route 25, Southold 631-655-9554 mattebellavineyards.com

One Woman Wines & Vineyards is the brainchild of Claudia Purita, who grew up on a farm in Calabria, Italy, where she helped grow vegetables and wine grapes. Purita meticulously tends to the vineyard personally and it shows in the final product. Among its special events, One Woman Winery hosts Tastings Under the Stars every Saturday from 6–10 p.m. until Columbus Day.
5195 Old North Road, Southold. 631-765-1200 onewomanwines.com

Palmer Vineyards was founded in 1983 and is one of the oldest wineries on the North Fork. Palmer makes merlot, chardonnay, pinot blanc, sauvignon blanc and more. They host many events throughout the summer season, and the lovely courtyard at Palmer Vineyards is available for private groups of up to 30 for gatherings.
5120 Sound Ave 631-722-9463 palmervineyards.com

Raphael is dedicated to the production of world-class, artisan-style wines. Enjoy the new releases, including the 2013 Sauvignon Blanc F.L., the 2013 Reisling and the 2013 Portica. Stop by for the 2014 Summer Concert Series; or for Late Night Thursdays, when the tasting room stays open until 10:30 p.m.
39390 Route 25, Peconic. 631-725-1100 raphaelwine.com

The beautiful and rustic Sannino Bella Vita Vineyard and Bed and Breakfast is a little piece of Tuscany nestled in Peconic. This small-scale winery produces 1,500 cases a year, including some summer favorites like steel-fermented chardonnay, riesling, rosé and their new white merlot. Once a month, Sannino hosts their Winemaker for a Day, where guests can blend their own custom wine. The vineyard will feature live acoustic music by Bob Blatchley every Sunday.
1375 Peconic Lane, Peconic. 631-734-8282 sanninovineyard.com

Scarola Vineyards is a small vineyard “dedicated to honoring and sustaining a family tradition begun generations ago in Bari, Italy.” In 1947, the Scarola family came to the United States for a better life, and more than 60 years later, Frank Scarola began a vineyard inspired by his family. The winery is small, “producing only 500 cases a year,” and their wines are featured at restaurants and wine shops in New York and Long Island.
4850 Sound Ave, Mattituck. 631-298-7676 scarolavineyards.com

Sherwood House Vineyards, with locations in Jamesport and Mattituck, is family run by Dr. Charles and Barbara Smithen and makes merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, petit verdot and chardonnay. Winemaker Gilles Martin has a Master of Oenology from France’s Universite Montpellier and has directed more than two dozen wineries, including Macari Vineyards, where his 1997 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay was served at the White House. Among their wine offerings are the 2012 Stainless Steel Fermented Chardonnay, 2010 Merliance, 2005 Merlot and the 2012 White Merlot.
1291 Main Road, Jamesport/2600 Oregon Road and Elijah’s Lane, Mattituck 631-779-2817 sherwoodhousevinyards.com

Nothing says celebration like a bottle of bubbly, and Sparkling Pointe, New York’s only sparkling-exclusive winery, certainly has something to celebrate. Their 2003 Brut Seduction and 2008 Blanc de Noirs became New York’s first sparkling wines to receive 90 points from Wine Spectator, and both will be available throughout the summer. Sparkling Pointe offers tasting flights with tableside service all week in their luxurious tasting room and on their spacious patio. Join them each Sunday 2-5 p.m. for live bossa nova and jazz music, and don’t miss their 4th Annual Carnivale in July, which will feature live drummers and samba dancers.
39750 County Road 48, Southold 631-765-0200 sparklingpointe.com

Suhru Wines, run by Susan and Russell Hearn, distributes wines throughout New York State that can be purchased at various restaurants and retail outlets. Their first vintage was released in 2008. Russell Hearn, who has been making wine on Long Island for 30 years, creates young, innovative and vibrant wines, and has international experience. Their riesling and pinot grigio are from the Finger Lakes region.
The Winemaker Studio, 2885 Peconic Lane, Peconic. 774-641-7488 suhruwines.com

Waters Crest Winery produces high-quality, boutique wines that you can’t find anywhere else. All of Waters Crest’s wines are produced, bottled and labeled on-site. Tours are available, as well as special memberships and tastings. Among their popular vintages are the 2008 Campania Rosso, 2012 Dry riesling and 2012 Rosé.
22355 Route 48, Unit 6, Cutchogue. 631-734-5065 waterscrestwinery.com

New this year, Wölffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack has released a third rosé—Summer in a Bottle. The floral design is evocative of the Bohemian spirit of a Hamptons summer. Throughout the summer, Wölffer Estate will be hosting a number of weekly events, including Local Nights on Tuesdays at the tasting room and Sunset Fridays and Saturdays at the wine stand, where guests are invited to enjoy an evening of live music and wine by the glass. Plus, every weekend, you can enjoy a session of yoga in the vines.
139 Sagg Road, Sagaponack. 631-537-5106 wolffer.com

For more wine news and roundups, check Grapevine.