Posts Tagged“long island”

Holiday Wine Survival Tips

Ah yes, the holiday season. It overflows with extra food, extra family time and – if we’re lucky – lots of extra drink to get us through that extra family time. Of course it also brings the ubiquitous holiday party as well – thrown by your neighbor, your friends, your boss or, again, your family. This time of year, it seems like everyone I know asks me for suggestions on what wines they should take to all of those parties. Maybe your friends try to serve you koolaid-like white zinfandel or cheap, way-too-simple-for-the-holidays Aussie shiraz with a furry creature on…

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Wine Blogging Wednesday #28: Martha Clara Vineyards 2001 Rose Brut (North Fork of Long Island)

Wine Blogging Wednesday is here yet again, with Brenda aka the Culinary Fool playing the role of hostess with the mostest. The theme — Sparkling Wine not from Champagne. I love many of the local sparklers here on Long Island. Our relatively cool growing conditions seem to lend themselves to the craft of methode champenoise. But which bubbly to choose for WBW? A new release caught my eye…and my palate as well. Martha Clara Vineyards, named after Martha Clara Entenmann (of Entenmann bakery fame), might be best known for their always-fun events and always-packed tasting room, but winemaker Gilles Martin…

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canvas Magazine Website Launched

You may or may not have noticed that my blogging has been a bit scant the last few weeks. I wish I could tell you that it was because I was too busy eating at the finest restaurants and drinking the world’s best wines to write much. That wasn’t the case, but the real reason is almost as exciting. You see, I’m the online editor of a new magazine, canvas, which hits news stands on Long Island today. And, I’m happy to report, the website has launched today as well. I’ve also contributed a column about sustainable viticulture on Long…

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Wineries for Sale — It’s Just a Natural Progression

You’ve probably heard that two more local wine producers – Sherwood House Vineyards and Lieb Family Cellars – have put property up for sale. Dr. Charles and Barbara Smithen, current owners of Sherwood House, are asking $4.1 million for their 36-acre Mattituck property, while Mark and Kathy Lieb are asking $7.75 million for their vineyard house and 47.5 acres of property in Cutchogue.        Houses and property go on the market every day. So what’s the big deal? Well, some onlookers are worried that these newest properties, joining Ackerly Pond Vineyards, Castello di Borghese, Galluccio Family Winery, Schneider…

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Wines for the Days After Thanksgiving

You’re read all of the recommendations for what to drink with Thanksgiving dinner. Any magazine or newspaper has run a story already. But what about the leftovers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday? I’ve got a few suggestions. First, remember that most, post-Thanksgiving meals are more casual affairs than the day itself, so you won’t want to serve that special $100 bottle. You probably don’t want to ‘waste’ that wine on your family anyway, right? If you are making turkey sandwiches, try a dry, or even off-dry rose’. With fresh acidity, light-to-medium body and bright berry flavors, it’s a great combination…

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WTN: Bedell Cellars 2005 Gallery (White Blend)

This week on Appellation America, I have recommended a white wine that I think captures the unique terroir of Long Island’s North Fork as well as any I’ve tasted. 2005 Bedell Gallery ($45), from Bedell Cellars is a complex, richly textured blend of 52% chardonnay, 32% sauvignon blanc and 16% viognier. This is a unique blend for the North Fork, or most anywhere else for that matter. Five separate lots of chardonnay were barrel fermented in French oak with primarily native yeast, and were blended with the viognier and sauvignon blanc. Pale straw yellow in the glass, the aromas immediately…

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Two More North Fork Properties for Sale

Newsday’s Mark Harrington is reporting today that: "Sherwood House Vineyards this week put its 36-acre Mattituck property on the block for $4.1 million, joining a list of vineyards for sale that includes Ackerly Pond, Castello di Borghese, Galluccio Family Winery, Schneider Vineyards and several smaller properties. At the same time, a "country vineyard estate" in Cutchogue owned by Mark Lieb of Lieb Vineyards went on the market for $7.75 million, along with 47.5 acres of property, according to Sotheby’s International Realty Web site. Ed Petrie, the agent at Sotheby’s handling the listing, declined to comment, and Lieb didn’t return a…

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A North Fork Gallery Worth Seeking Out

I consider myself fairly sophisticated and cultured, but a trip to an art gallery — and just an art gallery — isn’t necessarily my cup of tea (or glass of wine.) I need a fine meal either before the gallery or after (or maybe both) to entice me. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, right?        But, there’s a new Gallery on the North Fork that I’m willing to visit — and open — any time. In fact, I plan to several times over the course of the next few months.       Bedell…

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Long Island Pumpkin Ales — Too Much About the Spice?

By Contributing Columnist Donavan Hall Over the last week or so, the weather on Long Island turned cool.  A few of the trees in my yard took this as a signal to start dropping their leaves — my yard is littered with auburn, brown, garnet and orange.  The signs of Fall are everywhere.  Last weekend, I took my family to the Garlic Festival (see Denise’s article on Growers and Grocers), the second in what might prove to be an annual event.  In addition to last weekend being a celebration of garlic (I was seriously tempted to brew a garlic beer…

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Read Local: New Long Island Magazine — canvas

Long Island has more than its share of publications — too many in fact (and this coming from a guy who writes or has written for several of them). So many of them are the same — too many advertisements and too few interesting stories. Long Island’s newest magazine, canvas, is a little different. For one, the production value is through the roof compared to so many of the ad-supported papers in these parts. Two, the editor isn’t some just-out-of-college rookie or crazy person without any real talent. canvas’ editor, Ramin Ganeshram is an experienced journalist, editor and cookbook author…

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