A Fine Wine Night at Dan’s Taste of Two Forks

With 40 restaurants and 20 wineries represented at Saturday night’s Dan’s Taste of Two Forks, I spent a glorious evening tasting, sipping and mingling inside the glamorous white tent. The stage was set, as the chefs tables lined the perimeter and a middle aisle, and three separate circles of wine producers greeted guests as they entered and exited the event. By all accounts, the event was a huge success, as foodies from across the East End indulged in the wide variety of fine dining options.

The general feeling amongst the wine purveyors was that they brought wines that paired well with the summer atmosphere—whites and roses dominated the scene. (I should note that many of the vineyards told me that their rosé was “the official rosé of a Hamptons summer,” and I must say that it was difficult to choose a true ‘winner.’) Most wineries also chose to keep is simple. They brought two or three of their preferred wines, and let guests pair them with scrumptious array of food options.

Though it was near impossible to hit all of the wine tables, which allows me to draw the conclusion that Long Island is fast becoming one of the nation’s premier wine-producing regions, below is a sampling of what was overheard at the different wine tables:

At Lieb Cellars, I sampled the Pinot Blanc 2010. “This wine is not yet released.” Given the posh atmosphere of the event, it felt very exclusive to be on the inside of an unreleased wine. But lovers of previous varieties of the Pinot Blanc need not fret—it should hit the shelves by next week.

Raphael brought two blends—a white and a red. ”The blends seem to work the best for us.”

Bedell Cellars brought the four wines whose labels were designed by Barbara Kruger. “We thought it would be fun to have wines at a Bridgehampton event whose label artist has a house in Bridgehampton.”

At Wolffer Estate Vineyards, it was no surprise when I was told that their rosé is the “most popular” of the three varieties they brought. Everyone seemed to be clamoring for it.

From outside the world of Long Island wines, I was treated to the tastes from Loire Valley Wines. The diverse winegrowing region stretches across France and is capable of producing over 65 different types of wine. I tried the sauvignon blanc—the 2011 Touraine—which I was told is area’s the most popular variety. It isn’t hard to see why.

Selecting a favorite wine, a favorite moment, from Dan’s Taste of Two Forks is no easy task. And, really, with so many choices, the beautiful thing is, I don’t have to!