…what is going on in the kitchen. And when the beagle wants to know something, you best tell him. Seriously, he’s a tough dog. He’ll mess you up. (Okay, so maybe he won’t. Maybe we’ve never even heard him growl, let alone seen him bite anyone. Maybe he’s a big softy who likes nothing more than to cuddle with Nena on the couch every night. He still wants to knw what is going on in the kitchen — so just tell him, okay?)

Merlot is clearly the king of Long Island wine. Sometimes it’s the only grape we hear about. It’s the most planted variety and, in the hands of the best winemakers, consistently leads to many of the region’s best wines. But what else is out here on the East End? Sure, there’s a bay full of chardonnay, made in any number of different styles, and there’s cabernet franc, the often-dismissed variety of Bordeaux. But the wines that too often get lost in the tasting shuffle are the delectable dessert wines. Think you don’t like dessert wines because they are too sweet/heavy/syrupy/high…

This week on Wine Sediments my virtual tasting tour of America takes me to Altus, Arkansas to taste the wines of Chateau Aux Arc. The name comes from the original French name for the Ozarks and I tasted four of winemaker Audrey House’s white wine offerings. Read more about them.

I’m happy to announce that Grand Cru Classes, founded by LENNDEVOURS reader Jared Skolnick and his wife Tracy Kamens will be teaching their first wine classes starting June 10. Because their own facility, formerly the Catapano Goat Farm (which is in the process of relocating), isn’t quite ready, they will be teaching their classes at various North Fork wineries, including Bedell Cellars, Castello di Borghese and Martha Clara Vineyards. In June, the are starting with their Wine Discovery Series, which will provides students with a solid foundation in the basics of grape growing, wine making and tasting technique and can…

For the first course of our Old Home + Fresh Wine Stormhoek wine dinner, my mother in law, known as MIL, cooked up a delicious, flavorful goat cheese tart to pair with Stormhoek’s equally delicous 2005 Sauvignon Blanc. First, the recipe for the tart: MIL’s Goat Cheese Tart 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the board Kosher salt 13 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, divided 3 to 4 tablespoons ice water 3/4 cup chopped shallots (3 to 4 shallots) 10 1/2 ounces garlic-and-herb soft goat cheese (recommended: Montrachet} 1 cup heavy cream 3 extra-large eggs 1/4 cup chopped…

For at least six months (okay, more like a year) I’ve been knocking around the idea of putting together a party for my readers and friends both inside and interested in the Long Island wine industry. Every time I focus on it, however, I find myself wondering "Would anyone actually come? Does anyone really care?" So, rather than knock myself out…I figured I’d just ask. I’m thinking this party would happen on a weekend sometime just before, during or just after grape harvest (think October-ish time frame), out on the East End (either at a winery or at a B&B),…

Jay of the Wine Chicks and also a fellow Wine Sediments contributor recently relocated from the NYC metro area to western NY — Buffalo in fact. The Buffalo area is apparently much more than chicken wings and beer. Baco Noir a variety I don’t know all that much about, is leading to some good wine from that area, particularly one from Peller Estates. Jay, a Long Island native, believes in drinking local I think…and you all know how I feel about that.

My first column for Hamptons.com’s food and wine section was published today: Three Vintages. Three Styles. One Grape. It highlights what one North Fork winery, Paumanok Vineyards, is doing with their chardonnay program. You are all well aware of my love affair with low-to-no oak chardonnay, but I was reminded of an important lesson with these wines. Oak isn’t always a bad thing. Check it out and visit Hamptons.com every Wednesday to read my column, Corks of the Forks.

Macari Vineyards 2004 Estate Chardonnay ($15) is a lean, crisp white made 100% in stainless steel tanks. Still a bit tight, it takes vigorous swirling to coaxe faint citrus and just-ripe pear aromas from the glass. Fresh and clean in the mouth, the flavors are a little on the simple side, but are nicely balanced by acidity and minerality. A tart, kiwi-flavored finish is a highlight. If this wine were $10 or even $12 it would be a nice summer sipper because it’s so refreshing and easy drinking, but at $15 I expect more.