Rachael Ray visits North Fork wine country.

Our Rachael is visiting North Fork wine country in todays (tues) show!! So says my Google alert which keeps track on all RR activities!! Much better than those sleazy mags in the grocers.
Who`s watching??!!!

[David M. Bueker]

Hmm...let's see bad tv host & bad wine region...nope

Sorry Bob, but she's intolerable. Now if Geddy Lee was visiting the North Fork I would watch, so I am not biased against Canadians.

From a geological aspect (surrounded by the Long Island Sound to the north and Peconic Bay and the Atlantic Ocean to the south; soil conditions; etc) the North Fork is not a bad place to grow grapes.

Salute

From a disciple of the grape to the guru of the grape: try some Paumanok Riesling, damn good stuff.

[David M. Bueker]

I like Paumanok. It's about the only producer on Long Island I do like. I've done the North Fork touring thing and came away very unimpressed with the exception of Paumanok.

[James Roscoe]

Ed and Dave B. agree that a wine is impressive. Where do I get it? That is as good a recco as anyone can get!

We miss the potatoes and ducks that used to grow there. A couple of the tasting rooms are a pleasant visit after getting off the ferry at Orient Point. Hope that RR doesn't muck up the atmosphere.

David, glad you like it but I'm sorry to hear that they are a "lone outpost" of that kind of quality Riesling. I have limited experience in the region and was hoping Paumanok was typical- maybe someday.
James, it looks like you will have to return to NY to get some. According to the website http://www.paumanok.com/ they only distribute in NY/NJ area. I don't sell the wines (Chautauqua and Finger Lake wines dominate in WNY) but I'll try to scource some for the next NiagaraCool.

Hmm...let's see bad tv host & bad wine region...nope

Sorry Bob, but she's intolerable. Now if Geddy Lee was visiting the North Fork I would watch, so I am not biased against Canadians.

As someone who lives part time in the Hampton Bays Area I am familiar with the Long Island wineries on both Forks and I definitely disagree with your assessment of the region. My folks moved out there in 1980 and at that time the wines were almost all poor. That was a long time ago and now there are many producers and lots of very good wine. I assume that Schlobbockelheim isn't on Eastern Long Island, so when you say you "did the North Fork thing" perhaps it was a single trip? If you were to visit only the more high profile wineries and drink only what is offered in the tasting room you might well underestimate the region, and as in any wine region LI possesses it's share of unimpressive wines.

As to the good ones, however, many of the best LI wines are limited production and are not offered in the tasting rooms which tend to pour the less esoteric bottlings. Also, some very good LI wine is made by producers who don't have tasting rooms open to the public.

If you had the opportunity to become truly familiar with LI wines I think you would have a higher regard for them. Unfortunately, the availability of LI wines is very limited outside the region, and this of course is part of the problem.

As for Rachel Ray, I doubt any deep insights will result from her visit. Although she may drop a few "YUMMMMMMY!"'s , and in so doing let loose a stampede of disciples who will inundate the Forks and drive up the prices! Tom V

Although she may drop a few "YUMMMMMMY!"'s , and in so doing let loose a stampede of disciples who will inundate the Forks and drive up the prices!

Better think of opening that RR wallpaper store, sounds like you will be busy there!!!

[David M. Bueker]

If you had the opportunity to become truly familiar with LI wines I think you would have a higher regard for them. Unfortunately, the availability of LI wines is very limited outside the region, and this of course is part of the problem.

Between my own time there (visits since 2002) and the numerous bottles (more than 20 over the last 3 years) that other friends and well-meaning folks open for me I have become rather more familiar with Long Island wines than i would like (and I'm not that far away, as I live in Connecticut). My opinion stands firm. Several of the worst wines I have ever tasted came from North Fork wineries. Gristina (is that still their name?) was particularly foul.

Paumanok remains the only place I would willfully visit again.

David wrote:

...Several of the worst wines I have ever tasted came from North Fork wineries. Gristina (is that still their name?) was particularly foul.

Paumanok remains the only place I would willfully visit again.



A shame you've had such unpleasant experiences with Long Island wine! Hope at some point you tie into some really good ones. After all, "several worst wines" don't define an entire region in most instances.

As for myself, I've had many wines from Long Island that I've enjoyed, and in many different styles, everything from simple unoaked Chardonays and a very enjoyable Petit Meunier to both whites, reds and Sparklers that can hold their own with wines from almost any region.

Some of the producers whose wines I have appreciated over the years are Hargrave and it's successor Castello di Borghese, Paumanok, Osprey's Dominion, Pindar, Comtesse Therese, Ternhaven Cellars, Duck Walk, Lenz, Laurel Lake, Lieb Family Cellars, & Wolffer Estate.

Many wine writers and someliers from diverse sources have also praised Long Island wines, hope you find some nice ones! Tom V

[David M. Bueker]

Given my proximity I will sooner or later be back & will taste with an open mind (except at Gristina).

In the late 1990s and early 2000 Gristina was having problems, and eventually it became Gallucio Family Winery in August of 2000. Some of the older vines which were planted when it was Gristina were “neglected”, but the new owners thought it best to keep these vines and try to rejuvenate them with “tender-loving care”. Also when the new owners took over, there was quite a bit of “neglected” wine in vats and barrels. Today you can find wines labeled both Gallucio and Gristina (actually Gristina can be considered a “second label” of Gallucio Family- Gristina Winery did have a loyal following). Rumor has it that Gallucio Family Winery is now up for sale. One should realize that on Long Island there are a lot more vine-growers than one thinks, vines are grown in Baiting Hallow, St James, Manorville, and even Flushing (Queens). Some of our fruit (or should I say juice or wine) gets shipped to Conn. and Jersey wineries. We are fortunate to have one of the first custom crush facilities on the east coast (Premium Wine Group- PWG). Because of this a lot of the small vine growers are now becoming bonded wineries and new wineries are popping up every year. There are some very talented and knowledgeable winemakers and vine-growers on Long Island and good things are happening.

Salute

Is she one of those that ended up drunk, nude and in the fishpool??

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/09/nyreg ... ref=dining

Hmm...let's see bad tv host & bad wine region...nope

Sorry Bob, but she's intolerable. Now if Geddy Lee was visiting the North Fork I would watch, so I am not biased against Canadians.

I have no idea who Geddy Lee is, but Canada doesn't have to apologize for Rachael Ray (if anywhere does). She's from Glens Falls, NY, not far from where I'm typing this.