In recent years, Long Island wines have finally achieved the notoriety that they deserve. The sandy soil, sea breezes and open farmland of the east end have demonstrated that Long Island is prime real estate for producing respectable wines. This has inspired the explosion of vineyards to pop up across the North Fork, bringing today's number up to roughly 50 Long Island vineyards, wineries and tasting rooms in operation. A drive along Sound Avenue offers breathtaking scenes of lengthy, sunlit rows of grapevines that span for countless acres. Each vine is now clad in weighty clusters of juicy grapes that await their final destinations, where they will ultimately make contact with the wine aficionado's palate.
The first two wineries to greet all who travel east along Sound Avenue are Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard and Roanoke Vineyards. One of the draws to Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard is that it is also home to the Baiting Hollow Farm Horse Rescue, where roughly 30 rescued horses now live an idyllic life, greeting vineyard visitors and benefiting from the proceeds of wine bottle sales. The draw to Roanoke Vineyards is, quite simply, the exquisite quality of their finely crafted wines. While Roanoke Vineyards hosts wine-themed events for their wine club members, they opt to refrain from holding the fall festival events, wisely choosing to channel all of their creativity and resources into producing spectacular wines, most notably their Cabernet franc, their merlot and their unique red blends.
The furthest, eastern most wineries on Sound Avenue are Sparkling Pointe and One Woman Vineyards. Sparkling Pointe specializes in outstanding sparkling wines created by the methode champenoise under the artistry of prestigious winemaker Gilles Martin, who also serves as a consultant winemaker for Sherwood House and McCall Wines. The winery is elegantly decorated inside and out, outdoor seating provides sweeping views of the vineyard, and a menu is available for ordering some wine-friendly nibbles to sip with your bubbly. One Woman Vineyard is owned and lovingly operated by the devoted Claudia Purita, whose wines reflect the dedicated efforts employed by this one remarkable woman.
Also on Sound Avenue is Macari Vineyards in Mattituck, where you can enjoy a number of excellent wines that include their celebrated rosé, estate merlot or Bergen Road red blend. Shinn Estate is also located in a Mattituck, and the historic farm and homestead not only serves as a sustainably farmed vineyard, but tourists from afar can stay at the farmhouse inn and enjoy breakfasts created with local ingredients.
On Route 25, a stop at Bedell Cellars in Cutchogue is imperative for an impressive lineup of spectacular wines, particularly their merlot, their Gallery blend for white wine lovers and their Musee red blend for red wine enthusiasts. Also on Route 25, consider such notable venues as Clovis Point, Sherwood House, Lenz Winery, Osprey's Dominion and McCall Wines.
While the wine trail stretches primarily along the North Fork, there are a couple of outstanding wineries that are situated on the South Fork, making for ideal wine tasting opportunities en route to Sag Harbor or the Hamptons. Wolffer Estate delivers consistently superb wines, courtesy of Roman Roth, one of Long Island's leading masters of wine creation who is also credited with the delectable artistry of creating many of the wines for Roanoke Vineyards. Channing Daughters prides itself on producing premium quality wines with a focus on artisanal experimentation.
If you stop at Castello de Borghese, a glass of their notable Pinot noir is in order for a toasting nod to the late owners of the oldest vineyard on Long Island. Over the summer, Marco Borghese was tragically killed in an automobile crash that occurred just days after his wife, Anne Marie, succumbed to cancer. Similarly, be sure to pour a glass of the grape at Pindar, Long Island's largest production vineyard, in honor of the late Dr. Herodotus Damianos, who also passed away this summer.
Now that harvest season is upon us, Long Island farms and wineries alike are bustling with weekend activity, from the simple relaxing elegance of live jazz performances to full-scale celebrations of the autumn harvest season. As you drive out for a day of fall festival revelry, be sure stop at a couple of wineries along the way. Check the winery websites for their tasting room hours, tour availability, event calendars and directions to their facilities.
The first two wineries to greet all who travel east along Sound Avenue are Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard and Roanoke Vineyards. One of the draws to Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard is that it is also home to the Baiting Hollow Farm Horse Rescue, where roughly 30 rescued horses now live an idyllic life, greeting vineyard visitors and benefiting from the proceeds of wine bottle sales. The draw to Roanoke Vineyards is, quite simply, the exquisite quality of their finely crafted wines. While Roanoke Vineyards hosts wine-themed events for their wine club members, they opt to refrain from holding the fall festival events, wisely choosing to channel all of their creativity and resources into producing spectacular wines, most notably their Cabernet franc, their merlot and their unique red blends.
The furthest, eastern most wineries on Sound Avenue are Sparkling Pointe and One Woman Vineyards. Sparkling Pointe specializes in outstanding sparkling wines created by the methode champenoise under the artistry of prestigious winemaker Gilles Martin, who also serves as a consultant winemaker for Sherwood House and McCall Wines. The winery is elegantly decorated inside and out, outdoor seating provides sweeping views of the vineyard, and a menu is available for ordering some wine-friendly nibbles to sip with your bubbly. One Woman Vineyard is owned and lovingly operated by the devoted Claudia Purita, whose wines reflect the dedicated efforts employed by this one remarkable woman.
Also on Sound Avenue is Macari Vineyards in Mattituck, where you can enjoy a number of excellent wines that include their celebrated rosé, estate merlot or Bergen Road red blend. Shinn Estate is also located in a Mattituck, and the historic farm and homestead not only serves as a sustainably farmed vineyard, but tourists from afar can stay at the farmhouse inn and enjoy breakfasts created with local ingredients.
On Route 25, a stop at Bedell Cellars in Cutchogue is imperative for an impressive lineup of spectacular wines, particularly their merlot, their Gallery blend for white wine lovers and their Musee red blend for red wine enthusiasts. Also on Route 25, consider such notable venues as Clovis Point, Sherwood House, Lenz Winery, Osprey's Dominion and McCall Wines.
While the wine trail stretches primarily along the North Fork, there are a couple of outstanding wineries that are situated on the South Fork, making for ideal wine tasting opportunities en route to Sag Harbor or the Hamptons. Wolffer Estate delivers consistently superb wines, courtesy of Roman Roth, one of Long Island's leading masters of wine creation who is also credited with the delectable artistry of creating many of the wines for Roanoke Vineyards. Channing Daughters prides itself on producing premium quality wines with a focus on artisanal experimentation.
If you stop at Castello de Borghese, a glass of their notable Pinot noir is in order for a toasting nod to the late owners of the oldest vineyard on Long Island. Over the summer, Marco Borghese was tragically killed in an automobile crash that occurred just days after his wife, Anne Marie, succumbed to cancer. Similarly, be sure to pour a glass of the grape at Pindar, Long Island's largest production vineyard, in honor of the late Dr. Herodotus Damianos, who also passed away this summer.
Now that harvest season is upon us, Long Island farms and wineries alike are bustling with weekend activity, from the simple relaxing elegance of live jazz performances to full-scale celebrations of the autumn harvest season. As you drive out for a day of fall festival revelry, be sure stop at a couple of wineries along the way. Check the winery websites for their tasting room hours, tour availability, event calendars and directions to their facilities.