Take in Long Island Wine Country This Fall

Nothing says fall like a tour through Long Island Wine Country—spending a day, or a weekend, enjoying the local viticultural offerings and soaking up the beauty of the vineyards and wineries. Raise a glass and check out just some of what’s special to imbibe across this glorious region below.

Anthony Nappa Wines combines new world technology and old world traditions to focus on the full expression of their creations. The winery was established in 2007 by winemaker Anthony Nappa and chef Sarah Evans Nappa with the production of 200 cases of Long Island Pinot Noir. Crafting premium wines and representing New York’s unique climates and soils, they also work with upstate growers to highlight the best of the Finger Lakes region. The wines are currently available for tasting and purchase at the Nappa tasting room at The Winemaker Studio.

2885 Peconic Lane, Peconic, 774-641-7488, anthonynappawines.com

Bedell Cellars is a family-owned estate vineyard that uses entirely indigenous yeasts as part of its holistic winemaking program. This 30-year-old winery produced the first New York wine ever served at the inauguration of a U.S. president (it was poured at Barack Obama’s in 2013) and specializes in aromatic, acidic wines, which are typical of grapes grown in a maritime climate. Bedell focuses on sustainability in its winemaking, avoiding synthetic fertilizers and encouraging natural ecological processes to nurture its grapes. On November 8, Bedell Cellars is offering a barrel tasting, a rare chance to taste wine during its early stages. See website for details.

36225 Main Road, Route 25, Cutchogue 631-734-7537 bedellcellars.com

Channing Daughters Winery isn’t afraid to push boundaries. A small and unique vineyard where distinct lots of grapes are fermented and bottled separately, it bears a Vineyard Designation and Appellation of Origin. Channing Daughters is proud to produce wines bearing all three Long Island American Viticulture Areas (AVAs). The winery’s white grapes include chardonnay, pinot grigio, tocai friulano, sauvignon blanc, muscat ottonel, malvasia, gewürztraminer, ribolla gialla and pinot bianco. Their red varieties include merlot, blaufränkisch, dornfelder, syrah, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, teroldego, refosco and lagrein. All are handpicked. Check out the weekly wine-tasting class.

1927 Scuttlehole Road, Bridgehampton, 631-537-7224, channingdaughters.com

If you’re looking for something unique this year, then you’re looking for Coffee Pot Cellars. Named for the iconic lighthouse at Orient Point, Coffee Pot Cellars has been producing small-batch, ultra-premium wine since 2008. Join them throughout the autumn at their tasting room in Cutchogue, and be sure to contribute your corks to the wine-asaur out front. (It’s a grand beast made of chicken wire and previously enjoyed corks.)

17150 Middle Road, Cutchogue 631-765-8929 coffeepotcellars.com

Sal and Maryann Diliberto, of Diliberto Winery are passionate about their Italian heritage and their wines. Their tasting room in Jamesport is the ultimate expression of these lifelong passions. The tasting room displays a magnificent interior mural that replicates a Tuscan outdoor café. On the weekends, listen to live acoustic rock while you sip award-winning wines and try their homemade pizza.

250 Manor Lane, Jamesport, 631-722-3416, dilibertowinery.com

Lieb Cellars boasts two tasting rooms, each home to a special selection of Lieb Cellars wine. Tucked away on one of the North Fork’s most rural back roads, Lieb Cellars’ Oregon Road tasting room in Cutchogue is a vision of rustic chic nestled within 62 acres of vines. Head there on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons for live music.

13050 Oregon Road, Cutchogue 631-734-1100

Bridge Lane Tasting Room, 35 Cox Neck Road, Mattituck 631-298-1942 liebcellars.com

Martha Clara Vineyards is the brainchild of Robert Entenmann, who created the vineyard on a former potato farm. As it says on the Martha Clara Vineyards website: “In 1995 Robert Entenmann caught the grape bug and planted 18 acres of vines. Over the next four years his vineyard acreage grew to over 100 acres as he anxiously waited for the grapes to come of age.” On October 12, the vineyard is presenting the Vines and Canines Educational Vineyard Walk in support of local animal shelters. They will also be hosting a Back to the ’80s themed costume party on Halloween.

6025 Sound Avenue, Riverhead 631-298-0075 marthaclaravineyards.com

Nothing says celebration like a bottle of bubbly, and Sparkling PointE New York’s only sparkling-exclusive winery, certainly has something to celebrate. Their 2003 Brut Seduction and 2008 Blanc de Noirs became New York’s first sparkling wines to receive 90 points from Wine Spectator. Sparkling Pointe offers tasting flights with tableside service all week in their luxurious tasting room and on their spacious patio. Join them on October 4 for their local oyster showcase. Spend the afternoon sampling oysters prepared by local chefs, try the vineyard’s sparkling wine, and listen to
live jazz.

39750 Middle Road, Southold. 631-765-0200, sparklingpointe.com

Wölffer Estate Vineyard A new rosé made its way to Wölffer Estate this July. Finca Wölffer Rosé 2015 comes from the Wölffer Estate vineyard in Mendoza, Argentina. Similar in style (fresh, crisp and elegant) to the iconic gold-label Wölffer Rosé, this new wine is a blend of classic Argentine grapes, including Malbec and Torrontes. On October 10 the vineyard will be celebrating the season with their annual Harvest Party. The family festivities include live music by Clinton Curtis, Wölffer wine and cider, wine stomping, barrel rolling, petting zoo, and a fall feast. This event sells out every year—so call today.

139 Sagg Road, Sagaponack. 631-537-5106, wolffer.com