A Chat with Laura Klahre of Coffee Pot Cellars
Family owned and operated by dynamic duo Adam Suprenant, a winemaker, and Laura Klahre, a beekeeper, Coffee Pot Cellars is a small-production winery located on the North Fork. Not only can you purchase a variety of some of the best regional wines at Coffee Pot’s tasting room, you can give them a try. Klahre runs the show in the renovated tasting room, which she also stocks with handcrafted beeswax products from her company Blossom Meadow. Here, Klahre explains the ins and out of this North Fork gem.
What appeals to you about Long Island wines?
The majority of the winemakers on Long Island are focused on quality these days so you can find some excellent wines at almost every winery you visit.
Any tips for novices buying wines?
Firstly look for the vintage. On Long Island, 2007, 2010 and 2012 were fantastic growing years, resulting in almost sure bets for selecting a top-quality Long Island wine. Secondly merlot, cabernet franc, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc are the four major varieties that grow well on Long Island. It’s a good idea for the novice to start exploring these before branching out to lesser-known varietals such as gewürztraminer and malbec.
Where did the name “Coffee Pot Cellars” come from?
Adam was striped bass fishing off Orient Point years ago. He saw the Orient Point Lighthouse and it just hit him; he needed to name his winery after the Orient Point Lighthouse. The nickname of the Orient Point Lighthouse is “Coffee Pot” because it looks like an old percolator.
What are some of the standout wines you have in stock?
Adam makes about 750 cases of wine a year for Coffee Pot Cellars. Our portfolio currently includes five different wines: sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, gewürztraminer, merlot and a red blend known as a Meritage. In Adam’s view, the 2010 Meritage and 2013 chardonnay really stand out in Coffee Pot Cellars’ line up.
Tell us about your tasting room.
Adam and I opened up our tasting room on Memorial Day Weekend in 2013. Having a store shared by both our businesses seemed like the natural next step as our companies grow. We continue to be a mom and pop business where we make everything we sell, including the wine, lip balm, lotion bars, candles, crayons, birdseed ornaments, honey and even mason bees!
By working at the tasting room, I have found the perfect balance of hanging out with folks that are enthusiastic about wine and nature, and working out in the field with the bees. I work at the tasting room full-time and Adam works alongside me on Saturday afternoons, although he is always on speed dial for the technical wine questions for which I don’t have an answer! To us, success in life is balance. Working in the tasting room and working in the field, including in the winery, all feeds the creative process. Our tasting room is a cheery, intimate space where one receives personalized attention from the owners.
Can you suggest some general food pairings for your wines?
Pair the 2010 Meritage with grilled lamb chop, braised short ribs or a nice fat, juicy porterhouse steak. Pair the 2013 chardonnay with monkfish with saffron-leek broth or broiled Cornish game hen with tarragon.
Coffee Pot Cellars, 31855 Main Road, Cutchogue. 631-765-8929, coffeepotcellars.com.