Long Island Wines

Growing up on Long Island from 1950-1972, I got to see many changes out in the areas past Stony Brook. What was first Duck and Potato farms have slowly been changed into vineyards.
On the North Fork of Long Island, you can visit wineries, door to door, much like in Napa, California. The South Fork does have a number of vineyards, but not as many as the North Fork.

I've tried many of the Long Island wines in recent years. I like some of the Cabernet Franc's from the North Fork (Pelligrino, Palmer), I have found them to be a bit on the rough side and need some aging or some attitude adjustments to make them easier to drink. Still, I do like those wines.

The wines from the South Fork, I prefer the whites, which I have posted before (Channing Daughters Sauvignon Blanc)

I am happy, since Long Island was my early stomping grounds and to see them producing wines , and better wines is really nice.

I would love to hear from others who have tasted some of the Long Island wines

Do you take the ferry over? I imagine it's shorter than driving around! For me, driving to the forks of LI is like me driving to Rhode Island- too far for a day trip.

[David M. Bueker]

It's been about 5 years since my last trip, so my tastings are outdated, but I liked Paumanok the best of the producers I visited.

From Danbury to Sag Harbor (South Fork) near the Hamptoms is about a 2 1/2 hour ride for us. I guess I really dont mind it, since I was so used to driving on the LIE and other
Long Island highways. During the summer, my son generally moves out there to be with employer (private chef) , so long weekend visits down there seem like a short drive

I live less than an hour from LI wine country, yet I have nothing much to add to David's note. Each time we drive out, which is about once a year, we stop at Paumanok and there we stay. Charles and Ursula Massoud are charming hosts, and we have become friends with them. When we visit, unannounced, we spend the better part of the afternoon, and have little interest in trying other wineries. I highly recommend their Chenin Blanc. One of these days, we should force ourselves to bypass Paumanok and stop in to some other wineries, i.e. Shinn, about which I've heard good things.

We always take the ferry; even when visiting relatives in Babylon and Islip.

We always take the ferry; even when visiting relatives in Babylon and Islip.

Yep, and also pick up some corn and sheep/goat cheese for the ride home.

Yep, and also pick up some corn and sheep/goat cheese for the ride home.

We've got plenty of that stuff right heah!

[David M. Bueker]

FYI - Charles Massoud is related to retired, former Muller-Catoir winemaker Hans-Gunter Schwarz.

I can't find my notes right now, but we brought a bottle of Peconic Bay Chardonnay back to South Carolina with us and just opened it (a year later) and it was "on point". My impression was mostly very favorable. I thought the wine were very much like the Loire valley wines, the only draw-back was the price. Most were easily twice what a comparable wine from the Loire would be. But it was nice to see us making competitive wines, quality wise. If I remember correctly, I liked most of the Cab Francs and Merlots, Sauvignon Blancs and Chards. We did get a dozen oysters from Oyster Bay Point, and I've got to tell you, they were some of the best oysters we've ever had. They don't let many of their oysters, or their wines, out of the area. Understandable, when you consider that they both have to get past NYC to get to us.

Richard, there is a lot to be said about Long Island giving up some of its best things.

Over the years, I have never had better Little Neck Clams then from Stony Brook area. And for Blue Crabs, just take a coat hanger dip into the waters around the costals of Jones Beach and Long Beach.... Heaven! My first soft shell crab dinner came from a little restaurant in the Oyster Bay area. It was amazing and I have yet to taste another soft shell crab that was as good. (And as a side note, Billy Joel came from Oyster Bay and did many of his early year partying out on the Island)

FYI - Charles Massoud is related to retired, former Muller-Catoir winemaker Hans-Gunter Schwarz.

Are you certain it isn't his wife, Ursula? Her family is in Germany and is in the wine industry.

The nicest thing about being a “wine lover” growing up (and still living) in Western Suffolk County, so close to Long Island’s East End wine country and watching it evolve over the years, is that you can say (what Tom Hill I guess made famous is) “I followed them from the very beginning”.
According to the Cornell Extension’s Viticultural Research Dept in Riverhead, in the year 1996 Chardonnay and Merlot made up almost 80% of all the vines planted. Today that is not the case One can now find besides Merlot and Chardonnay other varieties such as Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Barbera, Chenin Blanc, Dolcetto, Gewurztraminer, Lemberger, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Shiraz (Syrah), Tocai Friulano, and Viognier.
One of the biggest changes came in 2000 when PWG (Premium Wine Group) the East Coast’s first custom crush facility was established. This enabled small “long time” growers to become producers. Today there are 56 licensed and bonded wine producers on Long Island. Annual production is now around 500,000 cases, 1.200,000 gallons.
One note about Channing Daughters, they “outsource” about 50% (this is one reason why it has become very difficult for me as an amateur winemaker to buy locally grown premium wine grapes) of their fruit. A lot of their Sauvignon Blanc comes from the North Fork (Mudd Vineyards- one of the areas “oldest” and top growers). Their Sauvignon Blanc labeled Mudd Vineyards or Mudd West I believe does state North Fork AVA.
(As far as the relationship thing goes, I believe Diane is correct).

Salute