5 Excellent Wineries to Visit In Long Island
A hidden treasure of Long Island are it’s wineries, many of which welcome visitors to stop in for tastings and tours. Figuring out which ones to visit can be be a challenge. They all offer their own unique charm, set of rules and offers to attract enthusiasts to their tasting and vineyards. Maybe you want to sit on a North Fork vineyard’s deck with a glass of wine and listen to a little live music. Or perhaps you’re gathering a big group of friends for an afternoon of serious wine-tasting. Or you just might want to have you want to have a picnic with the family and pets. While Long Island does have a lot to offer here’s a quick guide on just a few of the excellent places you can try out when in the area. These do not represent all the wineries in Long Island but rather just some suggestions.
Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard & Horse Rescue
Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyards does more than make savory wines. Since 2007 Baiting Hollow has been operating a horse rescue effort, giving horses who had been marked for death at the hands of Mexican and Candian slaughterhouses a safe haven. The staff at Baiting Hollow gives the same amount of love and attention to these horses as they do their wines. And if you’ve tried their wines, that’s saying a whole lot. Profits brought in from a selections of their wines goes directly towards their horse rescue effort. Baiting Hollow also has vetted live bands that draw crowds on their own so expect a whole lot of dancing going on. Children are not only welcome, there’s a kids menu with items such as mac and cheese. Most adults find the “merlot meatballs” are a big hit. Expect to sit either inside the bar or covered porch or outside at picnic tables. The horse rescue farm gives tours Saturdays and Sundays, with each horse’s story told. Expect to see retired race horses, Clydesdales, Arabians and miniature ponies.
For more information visit their website: http://www.bhfvineyard.com/
Bridge Lane Vineyards
The North Fork of Long Island’s Lieb Cellars was founded in 1992 and since then they have found a healthy rhythm. Their wines shared a common thread: they’re bright, clean, refreshing and delicious. Lieb Cellars gets their juice from 11 classic vinifera varieties, which are planted in Tetris-like blocks across four different vineyards. Showcasing a satellite tasting room for Lieb Cellars in Cutchogue, Bridge Lane is a cozy little place with a sophisticated atmosphere and a holiday spent at the beach decor. Adorn with platform benches along the wall and small ottomans for seating. Bridge Lane has its own label of small-batch wines, and is known for its wine in a box, good takeout for parties, picnics or the beach, or in a keg, as well as bottles. They are reasonably priced and offer cheese platters on weekends as well as year-round live bands.
For more information visit their website: http://www.liebcellars.com/
Corey Creek Vineyards
Going through the driveway of Corey Creek Vineyards feels like going to a party at a beach house at this vineyard, part of the Bedell Cellars family operations. A short, winding road leads to this airy, chalet like tasting house with a spacious deck and one of the best vineyard views in the area. Make your way up the back and climb the steps to a large deck overlooking the vineyards. Indoors, the tasting room is clean, crisp and cozy nooks with a love seat. They host events like the Twilight Series, featuring live music and food trucks from late May to early September, some for an additional cover charge. One of Bedell Cellars’ finest, they continue to produce acclaimed wines like the Chardonnay Reserve and Late-Harvest Reisling. You are allowed to either bring your own food, or buy from Noah’s food trucks and they also have live music.
For more information visit their website: http://www.bedellcellars.com/
Jason’s Vineyard
Get ready to try the coolest bar on the North Fork. Jason’s Vineyard looks like a Viking ship crashed through the tasting room’s back wall and landed in the middle. Try the vineyard’s own Golden Fleece – a blend of five white wines (chardonnay, Seyval blanc, Cayuga, Vidal blanc and riesling) and listen to live music on the deck and offering flavorful eats and tasty desserts. Restaurant customers can take advantage of the nearby parking options. For those who prefer to travel by bike, Jason’s Vineyard is a great option due to its generous bike parking options. If you want to simply go out for a nice meal Jason’s Vineyard food consists of cheese and crackers, pepperoni on weekdays, sandwiches and salads on the weekends. Pet the friendly old English sheep and alpacas, Coco and Lolo, in the front of the property. The host was excellent and the bartenders are knowledgeable of the different types of wine and Jason’s Vineyards simply has a great atmosphere!
For more information to to their website: http://www.jasonsvineyard.com/
Sparkling Pointe
Sparkling Pointe Vineyards and Winery serves only sparkling wines. Gray wicker-style Parson chairs, a fireplace and high-ceilinged crystal chandeliers in this spacious vineyard tasting room emit a mellow feel that goes with the wine. The facility is gorgeous. It’s spacious, with tall ceilings and huge windows that provide lots of natural light. Sporting a modern touch, the predominant colors are white and shades of gray with black chairs with nice splashes of color everywhere in the festive atmosphere of its Brazilian Carnaval art and the The back room contains comfortable sofas and a fireplace. There’s also a large outdoor terrace overlooking the vineyards, with ample seating and a great view of the sunset. It was too chilly to sit outside on the day we went, but I could certainly envision an elegant wedding or a fabulous anniversary party. Tastings can be accompanied by a cheese platter as well as chocolate, nuts and olives. The winery does not allow outside food. A large outdoor deck has chairs overlooking the vineyard. You can also visit the large gift shop, where in addition to wine, you can find a variety of interesting items unique to this venue. There’s also live bands from Monday through Saturday, and on Sundays from May through October.
For more information to to their website: http://www.sparklingpointe.com/
These are just a few of the many wineries you can find on Long Island. For more information give us a call or make a reservation.