Louisa_hargraveIn the interest of bringing the many faces and personalities of New York wine to my readers, I’ve decided to start doing bi-month (or so) posts about the amazing number of interesting, intelligent and supremely talented people in the New York wine world.

For the first "bottling" I’ve chosen Lousia Thomas Hargrave, who I often call the "founding mother" of Long Island wine. She was the co-founder of Long Island’s first vineyard, Hargrave Vineyards, planting the first wine grapes on the North
Fork in 1973. She is also a founder and a member emeritus of the Long Island Wine
Council and is one of the most respected an influential people in our wine region.

After 26 years running Hargrave Vineyard, she sold her winery in 1999 and became a writer,
columnist, wine judge and consultant. She is
the wine writer for the Suffolk Times and The News Review, and a
columnist for the Wine Press. In 1986, she authored “The History of
Wine Grapes on Long Island” for the Long Island Historical Journal. Her
memoir, The Vineyard was published by Viking Penguin in May, 2003.


In October, 2004, Louisa was also named Interim Director of the Stony Brook University Center for Wine, Food and Culture, which is how our paths crossed. I was invited to attend one of the many classes/lectures the center holds and we met there. She is an extremely warm, knowledgable woman with an instense drive and passion for wine. I learn something every time I talk to or email with her.

Louisa received her B.A. in 1969 from Smith College and Harvard
University and her M.A.. in education from Simmons College in 1971. She
was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree by Dowling College in
1998.


When you started your vineyard 30-plus years ago, did you ever imagine Long Island wine country would be what it is today?
Not at all. We were entirely focused on what we thought we could achieve ourselves. It was an obsession to prove that the climate would support Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir, in particular.

And don’t forget, we were in our mid-twenties.


As the founding mother of Long Island wine, you’ve seen it all. What has changed the most about the region’s wineries and winemaking?

There is more dialogue between everyone; a feeling that it’s important to present a united front as a wine region. Earlier, we were a scattered group of winery owners who were pursuing goals for different reasons.

Now, there are so many more people involved in the industry that it is more corporate. It’s not just a matter of owners creating policies; there are levels of employees who all take part. It makes a difference, but it’s not necessarily a negative change.

Also, there is more capital invested here (but still not enough to make us competitive the way we could be).
 

Besides yourself, who do you think has been the most influential person in Long Island’s 30-year wine history?


  • Ursula and Charles Massoud from Paumanok Winery. They are devoted, hospitable and inspired people.

  • Dan Damianos of Pindar and Duck Walk Vineyards. He’s a real popularizer of wine.

  • Joyce and Bob Pellegrini from Pellegrini Vineyards. They are tenaciously devoted to quality and aesthetics.

  • Eric Fry of The Lenz Winery. He’s fiercely idiosyncratic and talented.

  • Michael Lynne, who owns Bedell Cellars and Corey Creek Winery. He understands the need to upgrade while retaining tradition.


How do you respond to so-called experts that say our wines don’t measure up on the world stage?

They are opinionated people who have bought into the myth that alcohol + tannin=great wine, and they probably have never experienced a truly blind tasting of top French wines with Long Island wines in the mix.
 

Many of my readers and fellow wine bloggers only hear about Long Island wines from me. Why do you think they should care about Long Island wines? Why am I write to be so passionate about them?

You are right because greatness in wine comes from nuance, not from bludgeoning. Long Island wines are grown in a cool, temperate climate that protects the elements that make aromatic, smooth, highly energized wines with great natural balance.

The word natural is important because most west coast wines are made with added tartaric acid, water, and tons of oak (chips, barrels, beads etc.) to cover up their alcoholic excess.
 

What Long Island wines and wineries are you most excited about right now?

Every time I go out and taste, I find new ones. Here are a few:


  • Lieb Family Cellars Blanc de Blancs

  • Paumanok Assemblage

  • Pellegrini Vineyards Cabernet Franc

  • Sherwood House Vineyards reserve Chardonnay

  • Comtesse Therese Hungarian Oak Merlot

  • Raphael Sauvignon Blanc

  • Lenz Cabernet Sauvignon


What/who are the up and coming stars of the region?

I don’t see anything startlingly new on the horizon. Eric Fry, Russ Hearn, Gilles Martin, Bernard Cannac, Chalres Massoud, and Roman Roth…they all make great wines.

That  said, I have been blown away by Sal Diliberto’s wines — all of them.


Beyond convincing the "experts", what do you see as Long Island wine country’s biggest challenges? How do you think they can best be overcome?

Getting a more national market so that media will be willing to report on the wines is key — but that’s unlikely to happen soon because New York is a huge market and why would anyone sell in another state (with all the problems of accounts receivably that entails) if the wine can be sold at home?

We need to be "discovered" by someone powerful and loyal who will not succumb to propaganda about the superiority of high priced over-promoted gigantic wines.

The wineries need to follow the lead of the Napa Valley Vintners and dedicate themselves to quality, even over tourism.

A lot of people here in NY and the world over are intimidated by wine. Why do you think that is? How can we make it more accessible to more people?

Wine is not a traditional part of the American lifestyle (unless you are Italian American). People need to picture themselves enjoying wine as a normal part of every day life, not just something exotic.

I have based my classes at the Stony Brook Center for Wine, Food and Culture on this understanding — that people are intrinsically interested in learning about wine, and they need to be helped to expand their knowledge in an inclusive way that is fun, where they are not preached at by experts.

My guest speakers share their knowledge in a dialogue, while tasting together.

And food is always part of it. Food is more necessary to us than wine. There is no point isolating wine just to be pure about a tasting.

You’re stranded on a desert island and can only take one bottle of Long Island wine. What would it be?


1993 Hargrave Vineyard Cabernet Franc.