Posts Written OnMay 2005

WBW #9 Round-Up — a-Ring-a-Ring-of-Rosés

After swimming through posts covering 39 wines, Sam from Becks & Posh has finally gotten around to posting her round-up of Wine Blogging Wednesday #9 — Tickled Pink. It’s about damn time! (Just teasing Sam) As you can see, she did a wonderful job for us…breaking the posts up by origin. Looking at the list, I’m thinking I need to reach beyond this over-grown sand bar for my wines…some great stuff out there it seems. If nothing else, I need to get myself some of the most-enjoyed bottles to try over the summer. Let’s thank Sam for the great job…

Down With the Wine Shipping Ban!

Finally…the Supreme Court has declared wine shipping prohibitions unconstitutional. This is going to be big for Long Island wineries I think. While some argue that the old laws protect small, local producers…I think a lift on this ban is going to help some of our top winemakers get their wares in front of more people…which is always a good thing. I’m busy at the day job today…but I’m sure the entire wine blogging community be writing about this in coming days and weeks.

Two Firsts and a New Old Favorite from Raphael

(This column originally appeared in the 5/13 issue of Dan’s Papers) Two Firsts and a New Old Favorite from Raphael Located on sixty gently sloping acres in Peconic, Raphael is best known among North Fork wine trail junkies for its magnificent tasting room. Overflowing with Mediterranean style and offering spectacular views of the vineyard, the popularity of the facility is easy to understand. Behind this aesthetic splendor, I’ve always found the tasting room staff friendly and the wines good. The focus is Merlot, but I’ve always liked the Rose and Sauvignon Blanc as well. In fact, Raphael’s Sauvignon Blanc was…

WBW #9 — Think Pink — Wolffer Estate 2004 Rose

Wine Blogging Wednesday #9 is finally here, hosted by Sam of Becks & Posh…who has demanded that we Think Pink. Everyone knows that I try to drink Long Island wine when possible for WBW, and this edition is no different. In the past few weeks, several Long Island wineries have released new, Provence-style pink wines…but the one I got my hands on first comes from Wolffer Estate Vineyards in Sagaponack — 2004 Rose. Year in and year out, Wolffer makes one of the best Roses not only on the Island but that I taste period. It’s always bone dry and…

Galluccio Family Wineries for Sale

As of yesterday, Galluccio Family Winery and its 82 acres are up for sale. The asking price is $8.97 million. Vincent Galluccio, formerly a telecom executive, bought the former Gristina Vineyards for $5.2 million in 2000, so he’s looking at a nice profit (depending on how much he’s put into the place). The winery in Cutchogue features with two renovated tasting rooms and two barns, and has the capacity to produce 9,000 cases of wine a year. A story in Newsday today mentions breaking up the 82 acres and doing some residential stuff with it. I can only hope that…

Opus One Wine Dinner at The Plaza Cafe (Southampton, NY)

On Monday, May 16th The Plaza Cafe will be playing host to Michael Silacci, head winemaker for Opus One Winery and five of Long Island most respected chefs for an Opus One wine dinner. Chefs Michael Meehan, Culinary Director of the Peconic Bay Winery, John Montgomery who is currently planning a new restaurant, Tom Schaudel who owns and cooks at four of Long Island’s hottest restaurants, Blake Verity of the Muttontown Country Club, and, of course, Doug Gulija, chef and owner of the Plaza Cafe have put together this impressive menu: Robert Mondavi Fume Blanc 2001 The Plaza Café Canapes 1995 Opus…

Pictures From Our First Catering Gig

Well, thanks to some hard work (largely on Nena’s part) we pulled it off…cooking for 125 people or so…doing 95% of the work in our tiny kitchen 45 minutes away from where the actual party took place. Everyone raved about the food, so we felt really good about that. I even handed out a few business cards to people…of course I’m not sure either of us wants to do this again any time soon. It was much more work that either of us expected… We had what we consider a pretty interesting menu…a few standards…but some unique things that you’ll…

Don’t Forget — Wine Blogging Wednesday #9 is May 11th

Even though I know you haven’t forgotten, Wine Blogging Wednesday is back…coming at you in just two days. The Day: Wednesday, May 11thThe Theme: Rosé The Host: Sam of Becks & Posh Who doesn’t enjoy a good rosé as the weather warms? Get the details and join us. The more merrier… wine newbies, novices and nerds are all welcome. Drink up and post about it! See you Wednesday.

A Wine Writer Reflects on Windows 15

(This piece appeared originally in the 5/6 issue of Dan’s Papers) The 15th Annual Windows on Long Island Wine event, held April 25 at Capitale in Manhattan, has come and gone. Months of planning on the part of the Long Island Wine Council, Earth Pledge and participating sponsors, wineries and restaurants resulted in a great evening filled with great food, great wine and great people. Because I’m one of only a few wine writers that cover our wine region extensively and regularly, few of the wines being poured were new to me. But, several winemakers and winery managers contacted me…