By Contributing Columnist Donavan Hall Show notes: On today’s show, let’s talk about summer beers. Right now I’m drinking Shoals Pale Ale from Smuttynose. Okay it’s not a Long Island beer, but I picked this up at Big Z’s in Huntington along with some other summer beers. My idea of a summer beer is one that is thirst quenching, light on the alcohol, and has a dry finish (tartness is a bonus). Speaking of summer beers, I brewed a hefeweizen last Sunday. It’s fermenting away right now. I brewed this beer from extract (a prepared malt syrup) instead of starting…
Posts Written OnJune 2007
WTN: Osprey’s Dominion Vineyards 2002 Merlot (North Fork)
Sometimes I get completely and utterly sick of tasting merlot. It’s the most-planted grape on Long Island and every winery makes at least one varietal bottling-and often more than that. Hell, Wolffer Estate makes four ‘levels’ of merlot. And, despite growing conditions that are excellently suited to the grape, there is a lot of bad merlot being produced. It’s sad really, because when grown in the right way and treated the right way in the winery, merlot leads to this regions most consistently delicious wines…even if the best ones will cost you at least $30 and up to $125. Osprey’s…
June 30: Tour Peconic Bay
On June 30, join Long Island Traditions for our 3rd annual “Boating with the Baymen” tour, this year exploring the Peconics, where fishermen and baymen whose family histories date to the 1600s continue to work on the water, despite increasing obstacles. Space is limited and reservations are required! The cost is $40/person, $20 for children under 16. The tour will take place from 4 to 7 pm. To reserve your spot call Long Island Traditions at (516) 767-8803 or visit www.longislandtraditions.org. Deadline for registration is June 29. This program is sponsored in part by the New York State Council on…
Channing Daughters Winery’s New Website
I’ve written fairly regularly about the sad state of New York winery websites, so I was excited this morning to discover that Channing Daughters Winery, one of my favorite Long Island producers, has a new website. With their focus on all things artisanal, it’s nice to see the new site that more accurately reflects the beauty of their operation. The design is clean, visually appealing and the navigation reasonably simple. I also like the subtle, effective use of flash throughout the site. It’s well done and not overdone. That doesn’t mean that the Web guru in me doesn’t see several…
New NY Wine Blog: NiagaraEscarpment.net
Have you heard about the Niagara Escarpment wine region in Western New York? I have, but I’ll admit to not knowing a whole lot about it or its wines. Very few of the wines make it to Long Island and, so far, very few wineries that I’ve dealt with have much interest in publicizing their wines in this part of the state. But, that might be changing. Duncan Ross, of not-yet-opened Arrowhead Springs Winery, and I just did an interview together that will be published over at Appellation America soon-and I learned a ton about the region. It’s really an…
New Sponsor: domaine547
I’d like to welcome domain547 as LENNDEVOURS’ newest sponsor. domain547 is a site that I enjoyed long before they floated the idea sponsoring LENNDEVOURS, so I was thrilled when they approached me. The site combines a blog, a forum and a wine shop…all with a fun, irreverent attitude that is hard not to love. So check them out and help support your favorite blog (that’s mine, right?)
A Week Without Wine…Yes Really
This might surprise you, but every now and then, I like to take a week off from drinking wine (or alcohol of any sort for that matter)-and this is one such week. Sure, I’ve got a lot of wines in my tasting queue, but they can wait until the weekend. For now, I’m going to enjoy a week filled with lots of water, which will refresh my body, mind and also palate. But don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of tasting notes I haven’t published yet and a few more interesting things planned. I like lime wedge or even a cucumber…
Three Shinn Sips for Summer…and Breakfast to Boot
"There is no reason to produce wimpy little pink wines with no varietal character." That’s what David Page, co-owner of Shinn Estate Vineyards said when I asked him about his 2006 Rose ($16)-a much richer, bolder wine than many local bottlings. He’s right, the strawberry- and watermelon-scented wine with a faint buttery note is far from wimpy. It’s medium bodied and much rounder and fuller on the palate-but still balanced with gentle acidity and even a little tannic structure. While not the style I prefer, it’s hard to argue with this wine’s versatility. Page recommends it with "everything from lobster…
Beer Podcast: Captain Lawrence Brewing Company
By Contributing Columnist Donavan Hall I’m back this week with more reportage on the Long Island beer scene. For the whole story, you’ll have to listen to the podcast (links below), but I’ll give you a quick overview of what to expect. On today’s show, I take a trip to out to Big Z Beverage in Huntington (1675 East Jericho Tpk., 631-499-3479) and talk to the new owner, Mark Tuchman. He took over the business a little over two months ago and he’s been reshaping his beer store into a craft beer destination. In the Long Island Beer Round-up, I…
Vineyard Visuals: Wolffer Estate Through the Growing Season (June 21)
Ellen Watson, our resident photographer, got up before dawn this morning to take this picture at Wolffer Estate. This picture was taken on June 21 at around 5:30 a.m. and it has been added to my Flickr slideshow that is showing this same spot in the vineyard during the growing season.