Posts Written OnMarch 2006

When I wrote about the Long Island Merlot Alliance back in September, they were still getting their acts together in terms of brand identity (and their website is still not quite finished). But, it seems that they’ve finally settled on a logo, which will appear on their materials going forward and on their first wine — 2004 Merliance. I’ve also been invited to a barrel tasting of the first Merliance release in early April at Craft in Manhattan. I’ve never been to Craft, so that’s one incentive to go, but so is the wine, which is made using the best…

When I reported that both locations of The Tasting Room were closing their doors for the last time on March 2, I wasn’t able to dig up more more information. But, I have since learned that Comtesse Therese are now available for tasting and purchase at Vineyard 48, which is great…winemaker Theresa Dilworth makes one of my favorite local roses along with two different merlots, a chardonnay and a cabernet sauvignon. Also, I hear that the reason they had to close was that their retail license expired. Bummer.

If you’ve read Gastronomie at all, you’ve no doubt seen references to "C" (also known as Fatemeh’s husband). I’m not going to "out" his full name, but now that I’ve met them, the mystery has been solved. We had an awesome time stopping at three of my favorite wineries yesterday — Roanoke Vineyards, Lieb Family Cellars and Waters Crest Winery. We were a little pressed for time, so I wanted to take them to places where I knew we’d get to talk to passionate winemakers and owners who really just love what they are doing. Early on in the tasting,…

First it was Kori and Beau, then Melissa and Derrick…and this Sunday, I’ll be playing tour guide for yet another one of my favorite bloggers, Fatemeh (and C). Originally they were coming to get to our place in the early afternoon, but it seems now that to maximize wine tasting time (and accomodate a reservation they have a Babbo for C’s birthday that evening) they’ll be heading out in the morning, which is excellent…it will give us more time for more stops. Sorry Fatemeh…if we don’t have any Zinfandel here, but hopefully we’ll find a few things you enjoy.

LENNDEVOURS Chardonnay Week 2006 continues with a bottle of Comtesse Therese 2004 Russian Oak Chardonnay ($18). Comtesse Therese wines are made by Long Island’s only female winemaker, Theresa Dilworth, whose "day job" is in Pfizer’s legal department. Theresa is one of only a few local producers using Russian oak for her chardonnay (or at least one of the few that promotes it so much) and she also makes a merlot that is made in 100% Hungarian oak, which is also highlighted on the front label. All of Theresa’s wines are made at Premium Wine Group, the only custom-crush facility on…

Looking for the ultimate wine country experience right here on Long Island’s bucolic East End? Look no further than Wine Camp, sponsored by the Long Island Wine Country B&B Group. For four days and three nights, you’ll live the Long Island wine life. You’ll work the fields, learn tasting technique, blend wines along side some of the best local winemakers and explore food and wine pairing. It’s not cheap at $749 per person, double occupancy but the package includes three nights at one of four B&Bs, breakfast each morning, lunch in the vineyards, dinner at The Fifth Season, and a…

Over the past couple of years, Corey Creek Vineyards has moved from being it’s own entity to serving as the white wine label for Bedell Cellars, which the noteable exceptions of a rose and cabernet franc under the Corey Creek label. Both are owned by New Line Cinema co-CEO Michael Lynne and all of the wines are made at Bedell Cellars’ state-of-the-art winery facility. Corey Creek still has it’s own tasting room, which is much more rustic than that Bedell’s, but if you pay for a tasting at one, you get a free tasting at the other. This charrdonnay, one…