| 1. | Where can I purchase grapes or juice for home winemaking? |
 | Several wineries and/or vineyards sell their grapes, such as: Jamesport Vineyards (631 722-5256) Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes; Christiano Family Vineyards (631 325-3545); Clovis Point (631 722-4222); Comtesse Therese (631 765-6404) minimum half ton; Peconic Bay (631 734-7361).
|
|
| 2. | I love Long Island wine. What can I do to support the industry? |
| Thanks for your support. We have two specific ways you can help - you can join the Long Island Wine Ambassadors, a volunteer group which assists with regional pours, distribution of marketing materials, events and administration.
You can also ask us for some restaurant calling cards, which you keep in your wallet or your purse and leave behind with your check when dining out at a restaurant that has no Long Island wine on the menu - call 631-722-2220 or e-mail info@liwines.com. |
|
| 3. | What else can we do when visiting the East End wineries? |
| There are so many wonderful things to see and do on the East End. For tourism information please go to the Regional Links page and click on the appropriate links.
The Farm Stands with their fresh produce are a great attraction. You can find out more by clicking on the Long Island Farm Bureau's website link. An example of one of these is Long Island Wine Council member Harbes Family Farm which has two locations on the North Fork in Jamesport and Mattituck. |
|
| 4. | Do any of the wineries have Wine Clubs? |
| Yes, a number of them do, including: Bedell Cellars, Bridge Vineyards, Castello di Borghese, Channing Daughters Winery, Corey Creek Vineyards, Jamesport Vineyards, Laurel Lake Vineyards, Lieb Family Cellars, Macari Vineyards, Martha Clara, The Old Field Vineyards, Pellegrini Vineyards, Roanoke Vineyards, Sannino's Bella Vita Vineyard, The Tasting Room, Vineyard 48, Waters Crest Winery and Wolffer Estate. For further information, please visit their individual websites by following the links on the Vineyard & Winery page on this site. |
|
| 5. | Do the vineyards take coach tours? |
| All wineries require an advance reservation for coach tours and most have some type of fee. The majority of them do accept coaches on that basis. Please visit the Vineyard & Winery page for links to the individual vineyards' websites. |
|
| 6. | Do the vineyards accept tour buses? |
| Many of them do. Please see the Vineyard & Winery page for this information. All of them require advance reservations and some of them charge a fee for coach parties. |
|
| 7. | Are there any courses available where I can learn about wine? |
| When planning your trip out to the North Fork vineyards, you can include one of the offerings at Grand Cru Classes in your itinerary. Whether you are new to wine or a seasoned wine lover, they will add to your knowledge of this luscious elixir, from vine to wine. All classes include a guided wine tasting with several wines. For more information, visit their website, www.GrandCruClasses.com.
In the Hamptons and Manhattan, The Stony Brook University Center for Wine, Food and Culture offers a range of events and classes, many featuring Long Island winery representatives. The classes and events, which are open to the general public, are designed to provide wine and food tasting experiences that are not offered in any other venue. They do not require any advanced knowledge of winetasting, and will be conducted in a relaxed, informal style, with an opportunity for discussion. Participants must be 21 years or over. For a full list of classes at the Manhattan, Stony Brook and Southampton locations, as well as to register, go to www.stonybrook.edu/winecenter.
Wine Camp is a 4 Day/3 Night escape on the North Fork. This is a vacation and life experience that includes meals, tastings, lodging and a case of wine to take home with you from the vineyards at which you work. There are several participating wineries that will host seminars/activities and tastings. For more information: www.winecamp.org.
Channing Daughters Winery on the South Fork holds wine tasting classes once a month, nine months out of the year (excluding Oct, Dec & Feb). The classes focus on specific grape-growing regions or grape varieties from around the world and are led by Channing Daughters winemaker and partner Christopher Tracy who also selects the wines. Reservations are necessary (call: 631-537-7224) and prices vary depending on the class.
Sannino's Bella Vita Vineyards, the first home winermaker's center on the North Fork, affords you the opportunity to experience the entire winemaking process from vine to wine. You will produce your own custom barrel of wine to share with family and friends. For more information, call 631-734-8282.
If you live in the Manhattan area, you should consider taking one of Kevin Zraly's Windows on the World Wine School classes. He holds them at the Marriott Marquis and is renowned for the superb quality of his course. For further information call: 1-845-255-1456 or visit: www.wowws.com
International Wine Centers offers beginner-to-advanced wine courses for wine professionals and wine lovers who are serious about learning. The programs include the courses of the respected Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET®) in London, which are the traditional preparation for those who aspire to become Master of Wine candidates; these courses include exams that enable students to earn internationally-recognized WSET credentials. Classes take place in Manhattan and Connecticut. For details on the classes, visit www.internationalwinecenter.com or call 212-627-7170
Another great opportunity now available is Wine Spectator magazine's on-line wine school, launched last year. WineSpectatorSchool.com offers comprehensive wine courses for consumers and trade professionals who want to enhance their understanding and appreciation of wine. The curriculum includes modules that highlight the Long Island wine region and tutored tastings that recommend our wines. |
|
| 8. | Where can I buy Long Island wine? |
| Aside from at the wineries themselves, you can find Long Island wines on the menu at many top Long Island and New York City restaurants and in a growing number of retail stores in New York City, on Long Island and elsewhere in the Northeast. In addition, a few wineries have distribution in Florida, California and elsewhere. For more detailed information, please go to the vineyards & winery page on this site and go to the individual wineries' web sites. |
|
| 9. | Which wineries have half bottles of wine available? |
| Channing Daughters - 631-537-7224: Scuttlehole Chardonnay
Jamesport - 631-722-5256: Island Blanc; Island Rouge; Late Harvest Riesling
La Comtesse Therese - 631-871-9194: 2001 Traditional Merlot
Martha Clara - 631-298-0075: Ciel Dessert Wine & custom favors
Palmer - 631-722-9463: Custom gifts and favors Red blend $6.00/ White blend $5.00 includes custom label.
Peconic Bay Winery: 631-734-7361, Barrel & Steel fermented Chardonnay
Pindar - 631-734-6200: Cabernet Port; Late Harvest Gewurztraminer; Johannesburg Riesling Ice Wine
Pugliese - 631-734-4057: Late Harvest Riesling, Late Harvest Niagara
Wolffer - 631-537-5106: 2001 La Ferme Martin Chardonnay, 2000 La Ferme Martin Merlot |
|
| 10. | Do any companies do tours of the wineries? |
| There are a number of different companies that offer bus and limousine tours of the vineyards. Four Long Island Wine Council affiliate members to consider are:
Long Island Wine Tours
www.longislandwinetours.com
Call: 631-775-8686
E-mail: liwinetours@optonline.net
Long Island Vineyard Tours
www.livineyardtours.com
Call: 718-946-3868
E-mail:website.email@livineyardtours.com
Regency Transportation
www.regencylimos.com
Call: 631 543 2500
E-mail: regencylimo@aol.com
Vintage Tours
www.northfork.com/tours
Call: 631-765-4689
E-mail: vintagetour1@aol.com |
|
| 11. | When was the first winery opened? |
| The first winery was opened at Hargrave Vineyards in Cutchogue by Alex and Louisa Hargrave in 1975. Today, there are 26 wineries open to the public on Long Island. |
|
| 12. | How many visitors do the wineries host per annum? |
| The list of enthusiastic wine lovers has grown every year. We hosted 500,000 visitors in 2000 and 940,000 in 2003. Last year we estimate there were 1.2 million visitors to Long Island Wine Country! |
|
| 13. | Do all vineyards have their own winery? |
| No, some vineyards only grow grapes and sell them to various wineries. There are currently 52 vineyards on Long Island with 26 wineries open to the public. |
|
| 14. | How many wineries/vineyards are open to the public? |
| The Long Island Wine Council has 37 member wineries. There are 35 tasting rooms open to the public, 2 by appointment only and 1 soon to be opened. The wineries open to the public are in the following locations:
29 on the North Fork
3 on the South Fork
2 elsewhere in Suffolk County
1 in Brooklyn |
|
| 15. | Do any of the wineries host weddings? |
| Yes, the member wineries which entertain weddings are:
Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard (631 462-6602)
Bedell Cellars/Corey Creek (631 734-7537)
Castello di Borghese (631-734-5111)
Clovis Point (631 722-4222)
Diliberto Winery (631 722-3416)
Duck Walk Vineyards (Water Mill: 631 726-7555; Southold: 631 765-3500)
Harbes Family Vineyard (631 298-0700)
Jamesport Vineyards (631-722-5256)
Jason's Vineyard (631-926-8486)
Laurel Lake Vineyards (631-298-1420)
Macari Vineyards & Winery (631 298-0100)
Martha Clara Vineyards (631-298-0075)
Mattebella Vineyards (888-628-8323)
The Old Field (631-765-2465)
Osprey's Dominion Vineyards (631-765-6188)
Palmer Vineyards (631-722-9463)
Peconic Bay Winery (631-734-7361)
Pellegrini Vineyards (631-734-4111)
Pindar Vineyards (631 734-6200)
Raphael (631-765-1100)
Roanoke Vineyards (631 727-4161)
Sherwood House (631-298-1396)
Shinn Estates Vineyards (631 804-0367)
Sparkling Pointe (631-765-0200)
Vineyard 48 (631 734-5200)
Wölffer Estate (631-537-5106)
For further information, visit the individual wineries web sites by clicking on their links on the Vineyards & Wineries page on our website.
Also visit NorthForkWeddings.com or SouthForkWeddings.com - a web portal for events and wedding information. |
|
| 16. | Do Long Island wineries do tastings and tours? |
| Yes. The majority of wineries do have tasting rooms and some offer tours - either self-guided or guided. Check out the Vineyards & Wineries page on this site for further details.
All wineries require that buses and limousines have advance reservations for tastings and tours. |
|
