Long Island has always been a unique vacation destination, what with its close proximity to New York, beautiful beaches, and quaint little towns. One of its more popular places to go, though, is out to the South Fork vineyards. A handful of vineyards exist out here on this tiny strip of land, but all offer tours, tastings, and otherwise complete and total isolation from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Here are a few of the very best vineyards that this area has to offer, in no particular order.
Live Music & Great Wine
Duck Walk (South) Vineyard
231 Montauk Highway (RT. 27)
Water Mill, NY 11976
726.7555 (Water Mill)
The wine produced here includes some of the most popular bottles on Long Island, with the vineyard regularly producing over 25,000 cases of wine from some 130+ acres of vineyard, and repeatedly being recognized for its superb taste and overall excellent quality in national competitions. The view from the tasting room truly can't be beat, with an awe-inspiring view of the Vineyard's lush landscape. The experience here is made that much more unique with live music playing on the tasting patio every Saturday and Sunday (weather permitting). Open year round, seven days a week, from 11am-6pm in season, and 11am-5pm off-season, tastings are done every day, year round.
Great tastes:
Gatsby Red
Windmill White
A Unique Vineyard Experience
Wölffer Estate Vineyard
139 Sagg Road
Sagaponack, NY 11962
631.537.5106
Perhaps one of the more distinct vineyards on the entire East End of Long Island is Wölffer Estate. The entire estate sits on 55 beautiful acres and its 12,000-square-foot Tuscan building is filled with Old World charm. The tasting room itself seems like a grand hall with its high ceilings and historical pieces throughout. It is open for tastings and tours during the Summer from Sunday through Wednesday, 11am-6pm, Thursdays, from 11am-730pm, and Friday & Saturday, from 11am-7pm. Live music is played here, while award-winning wines are sold by the glass, and complimentary cheese is sometimes served; or, as frequent guests refer to it, “Just another day in the Hamptons.”
Great Taste:
Wolffër Rosé
The North Fork of Long Island has long been a tourist destination for its vineyards and truthfully, we’d be a doing disservice to the area as a whole to recommend only two as being worth visiting.
With that said, all of the vineyards are worth visiting, each with their personal touches and charm, and offer patrons the chance to get away from it all – if only for an afternoon.
Here are two, in no particular order, that stand out to us as being vineyards worth visiting if you’re ever in the neighborhood.
A Fun Vineyard to Visit with Friends
Martha Clara Vineyards
6025 Sound Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901
631.298.0075
Located on 200+ acres of sprawling farmland, Martha Clara Vineyards has a spacious, all-wood tasting room inside that is cavernous and gorgeous, almost making you feel as though you’re actually within a wine barrel. The room itself is open year-round, Monday through Friday, from 11am-5pm, and Saturdays and Sundays, from 11am-6pm and is seemingly always filled with friendly local folk looking to share a warm conversation with out-of-towners. Make sure to check out the vineyard’s Web site before visiting for additional event information.
Great taste:
‘Five-O’ White Blend
The Complete Vineyard Experience
Pindar Vineyards
37645 Main Road
Peconic, New York 11958
631.734.6200
Pindar Vineyards, Long Island’s longest continuously family-owned vineyard happens to also be its largest, with nearly 550 acres of ever expanding prime viticultural property. There are many popular varieties of wine offered here, including Cabernet, Merlot, and Chardonnay, as well as some lesser known styles, such as Viognier and Syrah.
The grounds that the vineyard is built upon are exquisite and the staff who work here are amicable and very knowledgeable when it comes to wine and the local area. Pindar Vineyards Winery & Pavillion is open 7 days a week, from 11am to 530pm for tastings and until 6pm for sales. Guided tours are available from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Great taste:
Viognier blend
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