From New York City, a flight out to San Francisco and a drive up to Napa is quite the trek and a flight overseas to wine country in Europe is also a bit of a trip. But you don’t have to travel far to enjoy vineyard visits and wine tastings. The North Fork on Long Island has some great options that are a quick drive from the city.
Not familiar with the North Fork? Split by the Peconic Bay, Long Island has the South Fork – known as The Hamptons – and the North Fork – a quieter, more casual part of Long Island. Boutique hotels have been popping up on the North Fork and new restaurants have been opening. In case you missed it, Montauk’s beloved Duryea’s Lobster Deck opened an outpost in Orient Point. A big draw to the North Fork are the vineyards – so what are some of the best vineyards to visit in the North Fork?
KONTOKOSTA
A beautiful winery in Greenport, Kontokosta has sweeping views of the Long Island Sound. The tasting room sits on a hilltop and requires reservations, which can be made on their website. The winery is family-owned and managed. The 62-acre winery focuses on sustainable, wind-powered operations. Though there are currently no tastings offered, you are able to order by the glass or by the bottle to try some award-winning wines.
BEDELL CELLARS
Bedell Cellars does not take or require reservations for visits and can accommodate groups up to 14 people, which is a very French practice. (If you visit vineyards in France, many do not require reservations for tastings – only for guided tours.) But back to Bedell – Michael Lynne, a film producer known for his work with Lord of the Rings, purchased it in 2000. The winery is located in Cutchogue and is committed to sustainable farming. Tasting flights are $15 or you can select to taste by glass starting at $6.
MACARI VINEYARDS
Located in Mattituck, Macari is a family owned vineyard sprawling across 500 acres with views of the Long Island Sound. The property is both a vineyard and a farm, complete with Texas longhorns. Tastings are available by reservations and are offered either on their covered deck or in the barrel cellar. Tasting experiences range from $40 to $75 but you can also visit on the weekends for $25, which includes a glass of wine and a cheese/charcuterie small bites. This option is available only for first-come, first-served indoor standing room or outdoor tables.
ROSE HILL VINEYARDS
Formerly known as Shinn Estate Vineyards, Rose Hill Vineyards is located in Mattituck and is focused on biodynamic and sustainable farming. In warmer weather, enjoy your wine outside on the deck overlooking the vineyards or covered grass area while cooler weather allows you to enjoy the wine library with views of the barrel cellar. They accommodate groups of less than eight people and reservations via Resy are strongly recommended on the weekends. Walk-ins are on a first-come, first-served basis only. Tasting flights are $26 – $30 or you can order wines by the glass.
SPARKLING POINTE VINEYARDS AND WINERY
The 40 acres of Sparkling Pointe Vineyards are planted with only classic Champagne grape varieties. The winery is dedicated to the exclusive product of Méthode Champenoise Sparkling Wines and prioritizes sustainable practices. Reservations are requested for tastings and can be made on their website. The winery will accommodate groups of six or less. Tastings for the sparkling wines are offered on two levels, the flagship at $20 and the prestige at $30, each with three sparkling wines. There is also caviar service or cheese service to accompany your tasting.
LENZ WINERY
Lenz houses some of the oldest vines on Long Island. There are two levels of tasting flights offered, one at $25 and the other at $30, including 5 wines each. There is even an option to taste wine held in the Lenz Library, from the late 1980s when the winery started producing bottles.