Browsing CategoryLong Island

At What Point is a Winery Not Really a Winery Anymore?

I get dozens of promotional emails from New York wineries each week. I can’t read them all, honestly, but it does help keep me abreast of the goings on in New York wine country. Last week, something really stuck out as I was scanning my inbox. Here’s a sampling of recent subject lines: “NEWS: 2013 Riesling Released” “Ship Wine Today for Mother’s Day – Or Visit the Winery” “The Whites of <Winery Name> Tasting” “Don’t Miss Our 28th Anniversary Sale” “Free Case Shipping from <Winery Name> Today” “Taste Our New Wines at Brooklyn Uncorked” Now, what do these have in…

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5 Questions with… Ami Opisso, Lieb Cellars

Ami Opisso, General Manager, Lieb Cellars

The New York Cork Report is back on the North Fork of Long Island for this edition of our “5 Questions With…” series. We recently had a virtual sit down with Ami Opisso, North Fork native and General Manager of Lieb Cellars. Opisso, a former city dweller living a fast paced life in New York City and Chicago working in advertising and marketing, made the brave jump into wine leaving her six figure salary behind for a small hourly tasting room job, something many of our readers (myself included) likely daydream about but are unwilling to risk themselves. Ami spent the…

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Race Wines 2010 Merlot

Race Wines is the new label from veteran North Fork winemaker Greg Gove, who most recently served at Peconic Bay Winery’s winemaker. The current releases were made at PBW before it closed, but he is now making his wines at Lenz Winery. I expected Race Wines 2010 Merlot ($20) to taste a lot like Gove’s Peconic Bay Winery 2010 Merlot, and while there are some similarities, they are far from the same. Aromas of cherry cordial and strawberry preserves are backed by notes of cocoa powder, toasty oak and vanilla — all with a smoky edge. The palate is dense…

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Moustache Brewing Co. Ocelot 2.0 IPA

I recently visited the Moustache Brewing Co. during their ribbon-cutting ceremony and was able to taste through three of their current releases.  The One Drop Pale Ale, Everyman’s Porter and Ocelot 2.0 IPA were all impressive, but the IPA filled my growler and made the ride back home with me. The ale pours a bright orange-copper hue that just looks delicious. A bit too cold at first, the nose shows orange blossom, grapefruit rind and lemon. Once warmed, the aromatic hops are even more prevalent with a piney character taking over. A slight caramel note hints that the palate will…

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Lieb Cellars to Re-Open Original Tasting Room as “The Tasting Group” Co-Op Tasting Room

This Saturday, Lieb Cellars will re-open its Mattituck tasting room — the one attached to Premium Wine Group — as “The Tasting Group,” a co-op tasting room where visitors can taste the winery’s Bridge Lane line as well as other wines produced at Premium Wine Group, including Bouke Wines, Brooklyn Oenology, Influence Wines, Leo Family Cellars, Surhru Wines and T’Jara Vineyards. From the press release: [box_light] The six non-Lieb producers will showcase up to three wines each; selections will be rotated on a seasonal basis, and producers may be rotated in/out throughout the year to give new Premium Wine Group members a…

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Moustache Brewery to Host Grand Opening April 19

Over a year after my visit to Moustache Brewing Co. for the NYCR, Matt and Lauri Spitz are ready to open their doors to the public. It may seem like a long time to wait for beer, but alas, the tired and thirsty masses will be quenched this Saturday. After years of toiling with permits, renovations and working full-time jobs, the undertaking of the Spitzs is about to pay off. Tomorrow, April 19 from 1-6 p.m. , Moustache will be offering growlers, half growlers, pints, and short pours of their One Drop Pale Ale, Everyman’s Porter, and Milk & Honey Brown Ale. In…

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Paumanok Vineyards 2010 Merlot

Paumanok Vineyards‘ “white label” merlot is often among the best values in under-$30 North Fork merlot. The Paumanok Vineyards 2010 Merlot ($28) continues that tradition with its fresh, fruity aromas of black plum and black cherry backed by high-toned floral notes and a sprinkling of grilled savory herbs. Well-balanced and juicy, the medium-bodied palate is fruit-forward and fruit-driven. Crunchy fresh cherry qualities mingle with flavors of plum, violets, and grilled and woodsy herbs. The tannins are well integrated and round while still providing grip. A medium-long finish lingers nicely with floral and cherry skin notes. It’s bottled under screwcap (of…

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Oyster Bay Brewing Company IPA

Reviewing IPAs can become quite redundant.  They’re all hoppy, bitter, citrusy, whatever.  I love the style, but it’s prevalence at the beer store can be overwhelming.  There are multitudes of styles, with brewers using varying amounts and varieties of hops and malt.  Why so many of them can taste so damn similar is a mystery to me. For a beer that is meant to knock you over the head with hops and malt, there are some rare exceptions when an IPA can bring subtlety and balance to the table. This rant was inspired by Oyster Bay Brewing Company’s IPA. It…

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Finding Inspiration in the Finger Lakes, by Regan Meador, Southold Farm + Cellar

Getting past New York City with a trailer overloaded with 350 gallons of wine had been a major milestone. As the truck lurched and faded, lurched and faded, every bang of a pothole had me questioning my decision on this endeavor, but I still had four hours to go until the Finger Lakes. I was taking perfectly good still red wine to Bellwether Wine Cellars in Trumansburg so I could turn it into an ode to dry lambrusco (an endeavor that had given more than a few colleagues on Long Island a good laugh). I needed to use their pressurization…

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