Local Wines For Toasting The Happy Day

On your special day, you should have a drink to toast your life as newlyweds. Living on the East End has its benefits, not only the scenery and beaches, but also  the wine. Finding the perfect dress or the right bouquet is not easy, but choosing from one of Long Island’s world-class wines can be just as difficult.

If you are planning a wedding now or in the near future, here’s what some local vintners recommend:

Lieb Cellars in Mattituck is ecologically run, producing wines using herbicide-free sustainable viticulture. They suggest their Blanc de Blanc for the big day because “It’s sparkling and it has a crisp and fresh taste” says a Logan Kingston of Lieb. The wine is made from 100% Pinot Blanc grapes and is aged three years before it’s emptied into small lots, which guarantee the crisp, fresh taste. If you are looking for a wine that is great with a dinner course, they also suggested the Reserve Pinot Blanc, which consists of white peach, slight tangerine and lemon citrus notes. The finish of the wine is dry with good acidity making this a great food wine.

Bedell Cellars located in Cutchogue is a 30-year-old farm and family owned estate vineyard winery. Bedell Cellars was recently lauded for having their Bedell Cellars 2009 Merlot served at the 2013 presidential inaugural luncheon. If you are a bride or groom who likes to be unique, Bedell Cellars likes to personalize wine flights that will best fit the dinner menu. Bedell Cellars also suggested a rosé for the cocktail hour to welcome the guests. As for the dinner course, they recommended a red or white blended wine because it will complement the food.

Sparkling Pointe located in Southold is a 20-year-old vineyard that was born from the love of Champagne of owners Tom and Cynthia Rosicki. After toasting their first date with a bottle of Champagne, they traveled and collected many vintages and many types of Champagne and sparkling wines. Sparkling Pointe suggests their Topaz Imperial for a wedding. It’s a very light salmon- colored wine that is “light and has a crisp taste with fresh red cherry and a strawberry finish, says Wine Club Manager Cassandra Santoro. “Also the color is great because it stands out.” The Topaz Imperial is award-winning wine, receiving the gold medal 2012 Critics Challenge International Wine Competition.

As one of the North Fork’s oldest and most diverse wineries, The Lenz Winery in Peconic grows nearly 70 acres of grapes. Included in their repertoire are chardonnay, gewürztraminer, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, malbec, petit verdot, pinot gris and pinot noir. And for the special day, tasting room manager Jerol Bailey suggests a “recognizable, food-friendly wine” like a chardonnay or a merlot to accompany the meal at the reception. “You should have something easy, approachable and friendly on the palate.”

Martha Clara Vineyards in Riverhead was founded by the Entenmann family in 1978. Event Manager Molly O’Connor recommends that choosing a wine depends upon three things: the season, the menu and the couple. “Wine selection can be unique and special to the couple. If they enjoyed a bottle of Syrah on their first date, they may decide to share that special experience with their family and friends. It tells a story of them…which is the whole reason they are all together that day,” says O’Connor. “I typically recommend two whites and two reds for couples when selecting, and perhaps a nice dry rosé, which is becoming very popular among brides, and even one of our sparkling wines for a toast.”

Go local for your big day—the possibilities for finding something that fits your tastes are endless!