Browsing CategoryLong Island

Pindar Vineyards Founder, Long Island Wine Pioneer Dies

The Long Island wine community lost another of its pillars earlier this week when Dr. Herodotus “Dan” Damianos died of pulmonary fibrosis. Dr. Dan as he was known to most, Founded Pindar Vineyards in 1980 and was a great populizer of Long Island wine, gaining wide distribution for his wines and seeing his tasting room packed with tourists. I didn’t know him well, but I know that he was well respected by his colleagues within the New York wine community. The Long Island Wine Council posted this tribute yesterday: “The Long Island wine community is mourning the passing of a regional…

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Macari Vineyards Named 2014 “Winery of the Year”

Regardless of what anyone thinks about wine competitions — how they are run, how the results are used to sell wine, etc. — when a deserving group of people are recognized for their work, it’s worth noting. Macari Vineyards being named “Winery of the Year” at the 2014 New York Wine & Food Classic yesterday is newsworthy because the Macari family, and the family-run culture they’ve cultivated at their winery, is worthy of even more attention than it already gets. “Family-run” gets thrown around a lot in the wine world. I guess it’s meant to to indicate a level of artisanal, hands on-ness.…

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Varieties and Varietals: It’s What Makes A Family

Say what you want about my infrequent visits out on the North Fork. Blame whomever you wish for the lack of attention I have given to writing about wine. Sometimes you need an excuse to get out there. And when you get that excuse and take advantage of it, magical things happen. It had been six months since I spent any real time at a vineyard or winery. It’s not important what the cause was or is. The important thing is that I made it happen. And used my wife’s birthday as the excuse to make it happen. Sure, we had family…

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Roanoke Vineyards 2010 Cabernet Franc

Long Island merlot is often — and consistently — delicious. But when Long Island cabernet franc is done well — which is almost always the case at Roanoke Vineyards — it is much more distinctive and compelling. At it’s best, Long Island cabernet franc combines forward, ripe fruit with savory notes — often herbs but sometimes mushrooms or leaf tobacco — and restrained oak that frames rather than overwhelms the grape’s varietal character. Usually there is a freshness too, which makes it one of my go-to wines for the dinner table. Of the 2010 cabernet francs I’ve tasted, Roanoke Vineyards 2010 Cabernet France ($34) best exemplifies my personal local…

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Macari Vineyards 2013 Rosé

Macari Vineyards 2013 Rosé ($17), a blend of 60% cabernet franc, 38% merlot, 2% pinot noir, doesn’t jump out of the glass at you. It’s more subtle on the nose than that, but if you pay attention, the melange of red cherry, straweberry and sweet herbs is quite elegant. Medium bodied with a serious bolt of acidity, the palate is fruit forward, but not overly fruity because of nice, savory herbal notes. There is an earthy component too that is somewhat reminiscent of raw button mushroom. All of that acidity sticks out just a bit, but overall this is a wine that…

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5 Questions with… Anthony Quattrone, Paumanok Vineyards

If you’ve taken the drive out Route 25 on the North Fork east of Riverheard and stopped in at Paumanok Vineyards in the last 8 months,  you’ve likely met Anthony Quattrone. A self-described jack-of-all-trades Quattrone spends most of his time in Paumanok’s tasting room pouring for, educating and giving tours to all those who stop by the vineyard. But, as many in the industry do, Quattrone wears multiple hats and also manages fulfillment of wholesale accounts, works in the cellar and assists with harvest for Paumanok. A Long Island native, Anthony is originally from Coram, NY and after moving around he…

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Wolffer Estate 2013 “Summer in a Bottle” Rose

Even though it was just released in May — 1,530 cases worth — Wolffer Estate 2013 “Summer in a Bottle” Rose ($24) is sold out at the winery.  Yes, you read that correctly. More than 1,500 cases gone in about two months. You still may find it at shops or restaurants, but you can’t get it at the winery anymore. That’s pretty incredible and a problem that many wineries would love to have. Of course it’s not really a problem for Wolffer Estate. Winemaker Roman Roth makes five different roses — three still, one sparkling and one dessert wine — so there…

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Castello di Borghese Owner, Marco Borghese, Dies After a Car Accident

It’s hard to believe that five year have passed since Long Island winery owners Christian Wolffer and Bob Palmer, as well as respected vineyard manager Ben Sisson passed away. Over the past week, the Long Island wine community has lost two more pillars — Ann Marie and Marco Borghese, just days apart. Details on Ann Marie’s passing are few and far between, but I’ve been told that she died after a short fight with cancer. As reported by The Suffolk Times, Marco died last night as the result of a car accident in Wading River: Marco Borghese, a pillar of Long Island’s…

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Raphael 2013 “First Label” Sauvignon Blanc

Not that long ago, Raphael produced what I considered the benchmark sauvignon blanc on the North Fork of Long Island. It was fruit-forward but not too ripe or fruity. It was minerally but not austere and flavorless. Then, with some  staffing changes in the cellar came a fall off. The wine was still solid, but rarely more. The 2013 vintage was winemaker Anthony Nappa’s first at the helm and after tasting Raphael 2013 “First Label” Sauvignon Blanc ($28) Raphael could be on its way to again becoming a quality leader in the region. Sourced from the estate’s oldest sauvignon blanc vines, this intensely aromatic white shows…

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