Jamesport Vineyard’s Tasting Room on the Dock

Residents and vacationers of the North Fork are blessed with the opportunity to have the best of the best. The best local seafood, the best organic fresh produce and of course, the best local wines. Along with a bottle of aloe for the days spent on the beach, these are three things that should accommodate any Long Islander’s refrigerator.

Now, Jamesport Vineyard, one of the North Fork’s oldest wineries, is expanding their tastings to, Shelter Island. Buying a bottle of wine has never been more convenient thanks to the three generations of the Goerler family. The Goerlers founded the winery in 1981 after years of making his own wines for the family back in Oyster Bay. Now Shelter Islanders and Island visitors can taste some of the best of the of the North Fork without taking a ferry ride. This marks the first tasting room on the small island.

The Wine Dock Tasting Room, a collaboration with neighboing restaurant Salt, is Shelter Island’s new waterfront spot, located right at the Island Boat Yard and Marina. This is the first tasting room on the East End that can be accessed directly by boat! That’s right, pull up, dock and have yourself a glass of wine. The room offers wine tastings, glasses, bottles and cases to take with you.

The Wine Dock & Tasting Room will be open Thursday through Monday, 3 p.m. – 9 p.m.

The Jamesport Vineyard takes pride in producing premium estate-grown wines from 60 acres of vines. The vineyard has won a substantial number of awards over the years but they are most proud of their Cabernet Franc, which was judged the best in New York State two of the last three years.

Jamesport Vineyard produces two different series of wines. There is the Estate Series which is the vineyard’s flagship wine collection – including both white and red wine that fully reflects their core dedication to growing the very best fruit and then there’s the East End series – which according to their website, is a crowd-pleasing wine that embodies the spirit of the North Fork. The wine is a partnership with the SPAT (Southold Project in Aquaculture Training) program, which is a Cornell cooperative community-based partnership that encompasses an initiative to teach residents how to raise their own shellfish in the bay of the East End. Each bottle of the East End series is designed with a large scallop shell which pays homage to the bounty of the Fork’s bay and Creeks. This wine promotes the idea of “Agriculture joining aquaculture,” and will be sure to please the taste buds of any wine lover.

But why is wine tasting so important? Not only does it provide a valid excuse to get buzzed at any time in the afternoon, it is an important cultural and educational foundation that takes you above and beyond merely just “enjoying a glass of wine.” It teaches you how to experience the hidden flavors and aspects of wine by embracing three important senses – sight, smell and taste. It will give you a deeper appreciation for any glass of wine.

The original vineyard located on the main route of 25 is open Thursday through Monday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and even keeps its doors open to the public in the winter. The vineyard offers a variety of cheese, crackers, cured meats and non-alcoholic beverages in the tasting room. They also provide their guests with a raw bar every weekend serving the freshest local oysters and clams. Live entertainment starts every Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. in their spacious backyard through October 31.

The vineyard accommodates its guests with wine tastings every Saturday at noon and 2 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. The cost is $20 per person and reservations must be made in advance. Group tastings are also available. For reservations call 631-722-5256.