Donate and Win the “Big Reds of Long Island”

In case you missed it, I’m participating in A Menu for Hope again this year. We’ve already raised over $10,000, so thanks to each and every one of you who have donated already. For those of you that haven’t, I’m going to highlight some of the Long Island wine-related lots that are available as raffle prizes. Today, I want to talk about the "Big Reds of Long Island" prize. If you win this three-pack of Long Island reds, you’ll get a bottle of Roanoke Vineyards 2003 Blend Two, which I’ve reviewed previously on this site, saying: "Cabernet franc (48%) dominates…

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A Menu for Hope III — December 11-22

For the past two years, members of the food and wine blogging community have raised money for various charities through a tremendous project called A Menu for Hope. The original event was conceived shortly after the Asian tsunami a couple years by my friend Pim (of the Chez Pim blog) to raise aid money for the victims. That initial project was a great success and last year, the culinary blogging community raised an amazing $17,000 for UNICEF by doing an online raffle of various culinary/food/wine items. It’s time for A Menu for Hope III and this year’s beneficiary is the…

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Clovis Point (Jamesport, NY): Current Releases

Last week I wrote about Clovis Point, one of the North Fork’s newest wine labels, but I didn’t say much about the wines themselves. And many of you didn’t like that too much. I must have gotten at least ten emails saying "what about the wines, Lenn?" So, here’s a brief rundown of the wines Clovis Point currently has available on their website: Clovis Point’s 2004 Chardonnay ($13.50). This wine was fermented mostly in stainless steel with just a little barrel-fermented chardonnay and Gewürztraminer added. With bright fruit, super-subtle barrel notes and nice balance at this price point, this was…

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Are You a Serious Eater? I Am.

It’s rare that I publicize new food/wine websites and blogs. There are just SO many that launch every week that I’d have to be insane to try to keep you up to date on all of them. But, every now and then, one comes along that I think is worth pointing out. Food writer Ed Levine has launched a new site called Serious Eats. And, he’s gathered quite a group of writers, including some of my favorite bloggers: Adam Kuban of A Hamburger Today and Slice Meg Hourihan of Megnut Alaina Browne of A Full Belly Adam Roberts of The…

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WTN: Sheldrake Point 2005 Dry Riesling

As a resident of the great state of New York resident, I have at least somewhat ready access to a plethora of great local Rieslings. German — particularly those from the Mosel — are my absolute favorites, but the Finger Lakes region is responsible for what I consider to be the best bottles this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Truth be told, vinifera grapes shouldn’t succeed in central New York. But, the narrow, deep Finger Lakes gather and hold enough heat in the summer to stretch the growing season into the fall and stave off early frosts. As anyone who…

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canvas Magazine Website Launched

You may or may not have noticed that my blogging has been a bit scant the last few weeks. I wish I could tell you that it was because I was too busy eating at the finest restaurants and drinking the world’s best wines to write much. That wasn’t the case, but the real reason is almost as exciting. You see, I’m the online editor of a new magazine, canvas, which hits news stands on Long Island today. And, I’m happy to report, the website has launched today as well. I’ve also contributed a column about sustainable viticulture on Long…

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LENNDEVOURS Partners with The Greene Grape Wine Company

Please join me in welcoming The Greene Grape wine company to LENNDEVOURS as a site sponsor. Founded in April 2004, with a store in Manhattan and a store in Brooklyn, they strive to provide everyday wines made with integrity, skill and pride. I first became familiar with the company through an article in a food magazine. Their passion for hand-crafted, affordable wines impressed me and I’m more than excited to have them on board. But the new sponsorship is only a fraction of the excitement this brings. This is a true partnership between LENNDEVOURS and The Greene Grape. I know…

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Are There Really “Old Vines” on Long Island?

Tom over at Fermentation has resurrected an interesting discussion that has gone around and around in the wine blogosphere (and media at large) that I thought I’d bring over there to this here blog as well — Old Vines. What does it mean? Should it be a regulated term? Does it matter to you when you see it on a bottle? As far as I know, the only Long Island winery using "old vines" on their labels is Lenz Winery, which uses it on a merlot, chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon. I think that the oldest vines at Lenz are around…

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Clovis Point Joins the North Fork Wine World

“We immediately agreed that our winery and tasting room would be oriented to serious wine drinkers like ourselves. We did not want to create a gift shop that also sells wine. We also did not want to build a bar that happens to focus on wine sales.” That’s how Hal Ginsburg, one of the proprietors of Clovis Point, describes he and his partners’ vision for their new wine venture. In 2001 Ginsburg and two friends of his – Nasrallah Misk and another who is no longer involved in the project – looked at ten acres of property on Main Road…

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