East End Wineries: Much More Than Tastings!

Scroll to the end to view contact information for Long Island vineyards.

To the surprise of many, the wineries of the East End offer so much more than wine-tastings. Happening now, continuing through the fall months, and many open year-round, events offered are as varied as the wines themselves.

An important fundraiser coming up is the Harvest Wine Auction & Celebration presented by Food & Wine. The auction benefits East End Hospice, Group for the East End, and Peconic Land Trust. Event Chair (and NextStop columnist) Roman Roth will preside over the Harvest Moon Gala and Live Auction. Visit harvesteastend.com for information about this great event.

On the South Fork, Wölffer Estate Vineyard has Twilight Thursdays and Sunset Fridays. Dance to live music in this beautiful European-look vineyard, watch the sun as it sets, and enjoy a glass of wine (or two) along with special cheeses from their varied menu. Check their online calendar for more events taking place throughout the year. In the Sag Harbor area, Channing Daughters’ Winery has winemaker-led tasting classes and some events in Brooklyn at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Duck Walk has music at their vineyards on both the South and North Forks every Saturday, 1-5pm, through Labor Day.

There are many wineries on the North Fork. Martha Clara Vineyards always has something going on, from the Long Island Comedy Festival to Winemakers’ Carriage Tours. One of our favorites is their popular Vines and Canines Vineyard Walk, where dog owners bring their pets and take an educational stroll through the vineyards. There is also a concert series on the schedule, plus the Butterflies & Bees Seminar, with a safe and family friendly live glass-walled observation hive. (The seminar includes a wine and honey tasting!) Palmer Vineyards has Mutts and Mimosas days, live music, and art shows. Check their website for details.

Roanoke Vineyards has wine release parties, book signings and receptions, winemakers’ roundtables, and more. At Pellegrini Vineyards, Private Vintner’s Tastings are available overlooking the estate’s vineyard, while Moonlight Mondays and Twilight Tuesdays are happenings at Bedell Cellars’ Corey Creek Vineyards. This event offers live music from 5-9pm, with late-night tastings, wine specials, plus fresh wood-fired pizza on Tuesdays.

Castello di Borghese, the founding vineyard on Long Island, has a Midweek Wine and Romance package, which includes an overnight stay at a B&B, complete with gourmet breakfast, a bottle of wine, chocolates, flowers, and a private tasting at the vineyard. For additional information call Harvest Inn at 631.765.9412 or Ellis House at 631.765.6106.

Jamesport Vineyards has a monthly Wine, Beer, and Oyster Festival through September. Clovis Point offers live cooking demonstrations, plus live music into the fall.

Osprey’s Dominion, Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard, and Pugliese Vineyards have an extensive listing of music events so check their websites for details. Raphael Vineyards offers tours of the vineyards, facility, and barrel cellar tours every Saturday at noon and on Sundays at 1pm. Tastings include four wines and last approximately 40 minutes.

The winery at Lenz has a “Winemaker’s Dinner” that will take place in Stony Brook on August 4, and later in August, “Dinner in the Vines.” There are also two dates set aside for the Farmer’s & Artisan’s Market, which will have live music and a long list of participants, including organic farms, teas, and my personal favorite: Fat Ass Fudge! September brings the 22nd Annual Merlot World Classic with over 60 different merlots from around the world.

Hampton Jitney offers “jaunts” to the North Fork. From the Jitney stop, grab a cab and head to the Peconic Bay Winery, where the popular NOFO Rock & Folk Fest will take place on July 30 at 11am and July 31 at 8pm. For information, visit www.jitneyjaunts.com.

There are enough events at the local wineries to stay busy all season long, whether it’s a dinner in the vineyards with friends, a romantic overnight with your better half, an educational bee adventure with the kids, or simply a walk through the fields with your favorite pooch. Whatever you choose, toast the change of pace, the fresh air, and each other!

Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard

Bedell Cellars

Castello di Borghese Vineyard & Winery

Channing Daughters’ Winery

Clovis Point Wines

Bedell Cellars’ Corey Creek Vineyards

Duck Walk

Jamesport Vineyards

Lenz Winery

Macari Vineyards

Martha Clara Vineyards

Osprey’s Dominion

Palmer Vineyards

Paumanok Vineyards

Peconic Bay Winery

Pellegrini

Pindar Vineyards

Pugliese Vineyards

Raphael Vineyards

Roanoke Vineyards

Wölffer Estate Vineyard