Posts Tagged“long island”

Has Gary Vaynerchuk Gone “New World” on Us? Or Just Crazy?

I love my readers. You guys are the best. Within minutes of Gary’s latest episode of Wine Library TV going live, I had a half dozen emails in my in box about it. As you can see above, he tasted Grapes of Roth 2002 Merlot on todays show and…well…he didn’t come away impressed. He even went so far as to call it a "pedestrian effort" and he says he’s had several bottles of $25 Bordeaux that compare. Of course he also said that it’s built to age. Why would you want to age a pedestrian wine, Gary? We all have…

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March 1: LENNDEVOURS/canvas Magazine Wine Event

I’ve been toying around with the idea of hosting a Long Island wine event for some time. But now, through my affiliation with canvas Magazine, it’s becoming a reality. On Saturday, March 1 at 5 p.m., join me, three North Fork wineries, and Whole Foods Market at canvas’ Footprint Art Gallery in Huntington, NY for a local wine tasting with light food pairings. The three participating wineries are Raphael, Lieb Family Cellars and Macari Vineyards, and they’ll be pouring a variety of wines along side some food from Whole Foods. In addition to great wine and food, there will be…

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canvas Magazine’s February Issue is Out

As many of you know, I run the website for canvas Magazine, a Huntington, N.Y.-based magazine that focuses on sustainable, "green" life on Long Island an beyond. One of my best friends, Matt O’Grady is one of the publishers, so I’ve been helping them out for a little over a year now. But this February issue, which just hit the streets, is one that I’m particularly proud of because the new editor, Diana Murphy, and have been working great together and this issue shows it. If you look at the cover of the magazine this month, you might recognize that…

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WTN: Lieb Family Cellars 2004 Bridge Lane Bubbly (North Fork of Long Island)

Lieb Family Cellars’ Blanc de Blancs, made entirely using the pinot blanc grape, has long been a favorite (look for a review and rating later this week). But at $35, it’s not the sort of bubbly we can keep on hand for casual consumption. Luckily, they’ve recently introduced a sparkler under as part of their second-label Bridge Lane product  line — a 2004 Bridge Lane Bubbly ($27). Bright and impressively flavorful from the first refreshing sip, this affordable bubbly is made with 60%  pinot noir and 40% chardonnay by French-born Gilles Martin (formerly of Martha Clara Vineyards and currently winemaker…

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WTN: Lieb Family Cellars 2004 Cabernet Franc Reserve

Every time I taste a wine like this one, I wonder if Long Island wineries aren’t crazy to push merlot as the be-all-end-all red in the region. Crazy might be overstating it a bit, but I wonder if cabernet franc would get more publicity in these parts if it were a better known variety amongst the wine-drinking population. You all know of my undying devotion to the grape probably best known as the key red France’s Loire Valley. But I’m not alone. Not by a long shot. General Manager Gary Madden, the sometimes-reluctant face of Lieb Family Cellars, loves the…

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All is NOT Quiet in Long Island Wine Country

Long Island wine country might seem quiet right now. But it’s not. Visit the North Fork this time of year and (even without any snow) the landscape seems barren compared to any other time of the year. Most of the farm stands are closed, with the few that do stay open relying on greenhouse vegetables and crops like potatoes, carrots and apples. The vineyards, alive with lush canopies, ripe clusters and harvest teams only a few short months ago, have fallen silent. It’s a quiet that you can feel when you visit the tasting rooms this time of year. To…

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The Politics of New York Wine

By Finger Lakes Correspondent Jason Feulner My educational background is in public policy, which does occasionally mix with talk of wine, although not often. Last month my interest was aroused by a news release from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, the contents of which were shared on several websites and in print. Through the Agriculture Department a task force has been formed to address the regulations, research and promotion of New York State’s wine industry. To preemptively analyze this task force’s mission before it even produces a word is perhaps foolish for observer and reader alike,…

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4th Annual Menu For Hope: December 10-21

Menu For Hope is the annual event when food and wine bloggers the world over unite to raise money for the U.N. World Food Programme. Founded by Pim several years ago, this is one holiday tradition that I hope never falls by the wayside. This year, LENNDEVOURS is offering two prizes for the fund raising raffle: WB19: Long Island Cabernet Franc Three-Pack A lot of people think that Long Island is all about merlot, but those in the know realize that some of Long Island’s best, most-interesting wines are made with cabernet franc. This lot is a simple one. It…

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The 2007 Vintage and Howard Goldberg, the Wine Curmudgeon

Over the weekend, you may have seen Howard Goldberg’s "Long Island Vines" column in the New York Times, which focuses on Long Island’s 2007 vintage and it’s potential quality. He starts the column with quotes from Charles Massoud of Paumanok Vineyards and Roman Roth of Wolffer Estate, two of Long Island’s most respected vintners. The quotes mirrored what I’ve heard from local grape growers and winemakers. John Levenberg, winemaker at Bedell Cellars told me that 2007 was a "a great growing season with plenty of heat and good sunshine, punctuated by bouts of rain that happened upon us when our…

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WTN: Lenz 2005 “Old Vines” Chardonnay (North Fork of Long Island)

Yesterday I wrote about a $20 chardonnay that I just wasn’t into from Lenz Winery. Today, I’m going to tell you about another chardonnay that they just released that shows much more balance, elegance and overall quality. And, it’s only $5 more. Yes, I think you’ll do well to upgrade to the Lenz 2005 “Old Vines” Chardonnay ($25), one of Long Island’s better values in barrel-fermented chardonnay. It’s debatable whether or not any vines on Long Island qualify as old — I think these vines are still less than 30 years old — but that’s a discussion for a different…

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