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Posts Written ByLen Dest

What New York Wines Would You Have Oregon Winemakers Taste?

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Recently at a wine dinner in Manhattan featuring Oregon’s Bergström Wines, general manager, vineyard manager and winemaker Josh Bergström expressed significant interest in New York wines, but due to limited distribution in Oregon, he has only had a few samples when he has visited New York City. As I always take advantage of such opportunities to share New York wines, I told him that I would provide him with some great examples, and in return he and his staff will do tastings of the wines and provide their tasting notes to compare with New York winemaker notes and wine reviews. Josh…

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Why Does Long Island Produce So Much Chardonnay and Merlot?

Regan Meador in his Kickstarter pitch for Southold Farm & Cellar indicated that he wants to plant some “weird grapes” on the North Fork of Long Island rather than more chardonnay and merlot. The April edition of Wine & Spirits Magazine presents the results of a survey of the most popular wines served in U.S. restaurants. The trends are that the preference for chardonnay continues to decline from 27% to 12% over the past decade, while sauvignon blanc continues to increase and is now in the 8% range, while the preference for sparkling wines at restaurants is in the same…

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Is there a Market for Long Island Wine Beyond New York?

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Since I first became involved with Long Island wine, I have said privately and publicly that I simply do not understand the general lack of national distribution. I have argued that with wider distribution there would be increased recognition and demand, which will benefit all of the wineries on Long Island. In response to my recent NYCR piece which included another comment with regard to Long Island wine distribution issues, I received two comments. Charles Massoud, proprietor of Paumanok Vineyards in Aquebogue, commented: “As to distribution, indeed we may never be able to distribute beyond our local market, because our…

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Some Personal Observations on Long Island Wine’s 40th Anniversary

Photo Courtesy of Long Island Wine Council

  This year Long Island wine is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first vinifera grape plantings by Louisa and Alex Hargrave that kicked off the Long Island wine region. As one who arrived very late to Long Island Wine some ten years ago, my perspective is somewhat different than that of the wine professionals and writers who have watched the evolution of wine making on Long Island over the past 40 years and the establishment of a solid wine region that today is acknowledged as producing both outstanding and unique wines. Although I was raised and educated in Northeastern Pennsylvania,…

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