Kontokosta Winery on the North Fork Is a Gem

Is there anything more idyllic than sipping a local pour on the water? The new Kontokosta Winery is the North Fork’s first tasting room and winery with a waterfront location, providing the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Slated for an early June opening, Kontokosta Winery is perched atop sweeping bluffs on 62 acres. The Long Island Sound provides a dramatic backdrop to the 23 acres of vinifera vines, which include cabernet franc, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, viognier, sauvignon blanc and riesling. The property also includes an organic community garden that supports local nonprofits, food programs and soup kitchens.

Visitors may enjoy the deep blue of the Sound, but the Kontokosta family is also all about the green, as they’re dedicated to employing sustainable agricultural practices in the management of the winery and vineyard. Reflecting that mindset, the newly constructed tasting room is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council under the LEED New Construction 2009 rating system, making it the first gold-certified winery on the North Fork.

The winery is owned by brothers Michael and Constantine Kontokosta and under the direction of General Manager Polly Brown. Consulting winemaker Gilles Martin, who has had his hand in numerous North Fork wineries, will be lending his expertise to the development of the Kontokosta wine program.

Though this is the first season the winery will be open to the public, the first vines at Kontokosta Winery were planted in 2002. The vineyard has served as a prime source for several Long Island wineries and winemakers since its first harvest in 2006.

Kontokosta Winery, located at 825 North Road in Greenport, will be open daily from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. The tasting room will offer wine sales and wine tastings.

For further information on the winery, visit kontokostawinery.com.