I heard last week that Sannino’s Bela Vita Vineyard, Long Island’s only custom winemaking facility for home vintners will be expanding its operations for 2009.

Owners (and great people) Anthony and Lisa Sannino have entered into a long-term arrangement with Ackerly Pond Vineyards to share production facilities and other space on Peconic Lane in Peconic.

You can think of Bella Vita as sort of a mini-, locally focused Crushpad, where you can make your own barrel (or partial barrel) of wine with locally grown fruit. I've made a few wines there and I've been very happy with the reds as they mature in bottle (they are from 2007).

Anthony and Lisa will be hosting a Grand Opening of our their custom winemaking center at Ackerly Pond on May 16-17 from 1-4 p.m. Anyone interested in making wine there in 2009 should definitely attend and you’ll be able to taste samples of 2008 wines.

Visit SanninoVineyard.com for details and to RSVP.