Long Island Wines at the U.S. Open 2009
Yesterday, Newsday reported that Long Island wines will be served at this year's U.S. Open at Bethpage State Park. Specifically, Bridge Vineyards wines will be served by the USGA caterers.
This is obviously a great deal for Bridge, which operates a vineyard on the North Fork and sells its wines both at the co-op The Tasting Room in Peconic and at it's own facility in Brooklyn. But wouldn't it be great if this arrangement included more than one Long Island winery so that attendees could taste a wide array of local wines during the tournament?
In addition to Bridge Vineyards' wines, local strawberries, lettuce and herbs will be used during the tournament.
Kudos to Senator Charles Schumer, the Long Island Wine Council and the Long Island Farm Bureau for making this happen. It'd be great to see the USGA adopt this model for all of its tournaments.
Though not the US OPEN, in Finger Lakes Wine Country the region hosts in May the LPGA’s Corning Classic that offers Finger Lakes wine tastings during the tournament. Sadly, however this will be the last year of the tournament that has been part of our region for 30 years.
There is indeed lots of further potential for all major sporting events to partner more with New York wines.
Congrats to Bridge and the entire Long Island wine industry for the partnership.