Do you find yourself reflecting on the positive at the end of the day? Or do you instead dwell on the struggles and stresses?
I’ve been feeling overwhelmed and unsettled for some time now. It’s a combination of factors, but more often than not it leads to me getting into bed focusing on the troubles over the triumphs. When I try to think of a plan to make things better, I end up overwhelming myself more and just feeling…stuck.
Anyone else relate?
Today, I’m trying to change that narrative. I got home earlier than usual from work, and used that time to be productive instead of doing my usual zone-out-and-dwell-on-my-exhaustion. I created a Link Tree and made an Amazon Storefront as part of my plan to create a more streamlined and organized teach.explore.repeat brand.
But one thing I realized when I created the Link Tree…if I was going to put this site up on it, I’d better get an updated post on here! Before today, the last post that I had was in November, as part of a failed attempt to write every day during the annual Gratitude Challenge that I participate in. When that didn’t work out, I got frustrated and turned away from the blog, using the excuse that I wouldn’t have the time to write in it daily. As more time passed, thoughts of it lingered in the back of my mind, but I just didn’t know how to begin again.
Today, I’m glad I finally showed back up. This website was the first thing that I set up after creating @teach.explore.repeat, but I have not been a faithful writer. That needs to change. While I think setting the goal of writing daily is unrealistic at the moment, there’s no reason why I can’t write at least weekly, if not bi-weekly.
So, in short, this entry was the best thing to happen to me today! Here’s hoping it kick-starts some writing consistency. Drop a comment below or DM me on Instagram to let me know what you want me to write about in the future!
The party bus I was sitting on was filled with an air of excitement and the smell of orange juice, which was being used to make champagne-heavy mimosas. Every seat was filled with kids in their early 20s, drinking and talking about the summer that lay ahead. I shifted on the cloth seat to look at the organizer of this day, who had just begun to quiet everyone down to make an announcement.
“Hey guys, just a reminder that when we get there, you’ll be able to get a flight with the money you paid.”
“A flight?” I whispered to my friend Candice, who was sitting next to me. “I thought that we were going to a winery. Why do we need to fly anywhere?” Maybe the winery wasn’t on Long Island, but on neighboring Shelter Island or Block Island. But if that was the case, why wouldn’t we just take a ferry?
Candice shrugged her shoulders and looked just as confused as I felt. Five minutes later, the bus pulled into Martha Clara Vineyards in Riverhead, NY. It was summer 2011. I was fresh out of year one of grad school and was about to go to my first winery.
Summer 2011: Very first winery visit + first time trying Sauvignon Blanc
We had a blast at Martha Clara that day. The sun was shining, a nice breeze was blowing, and I felt happy and carefree. I tried Sauvignon Blanc there for the first time- still my favorite- and I learned what a flight actually means in the wine world. To this day, a flight is still my favorite order at wineries!
Without a doubt, my favorite part of the day was the animals. Martha Clara not only offered fantastic wine, but they also had an array of farm animals- goats, sheep, even llamas and longhorn cattle- some of which we were allowed to feed. I have a vivid memory of buying some animal food, and feeding their goats in a happy, tipsy state.
My favorite part of visiting Martha Clara Vineyards
Fast forward seven years, to August 2018. One of my friends was getting married, and for her bachelorette party, we went to the North Fork wineries. I was really excited that one of our stops would be Martha Clara. Though it remained my favorite winery since that very first experience in 2011, I hadn’t been in some time. I couldn’t wait to get my Sauvignon Blanc and feed the animals again!
However, after we got our wine and went outside, it became clear that something was off. When I looked at the grassy areas in the distance where the animal pens were, I couldn’t see anything moving. I walked closer to take a look. Nothing. After asking multiple members of the Martha Clara staff, I learned that the owners had sold the animals. I was devastated, and completely soured on the winery itself.
Summer 2018: Disappointment is palpable after learning that William Entenmann’s children sold all of the animals
Two years later, and I’m currently in the midst of Drink.Explore.Repeat winery visits. I knew that Martha Clara- now under new ownership and named RGNY- would need to be one of my stops, but I was conflicted over it, knowing that my animal friends would not be there. But the reservation was made, and I kept an open mind as I set out for Riverhead, New York, to the place that used to be my favorite North Fork stop.
Summer 2020: These canopies provided the best breeze on an extremely hot day
Though it was a weekday, the sun was shining brightly overhead, so it promised to be a busy day in wine country. Knowing their volume of visitors, RGNY had taken many precautions to keep safe: the tasting room was closed, the number of people allowed inside at one time to make their purchases was limited, and all orders were handed out on the patio, which opened up into the winery itself. Employees used walkie talkies to communicate orders, and the system seemed to work effectively. Plus, social distancing was easy on the vineyard’s massive grounds- tables with large overhead coverings were able to space visitors out while providing shade from the day’s blazing sun.
Flight done right
I was excited to learn that RGNY was offering flights, and opted for the 2018 RGNY Selection, which included their Viognier, their Sparkling White, their White Merlot, and their Pinot Noir. The Viognier is the wine that RGNY is best known for. It is made from a grape that originates in France and produces a fruit forward, bold white wine. Carolyn, the manager on premises that day, explained a little bit about the history of Viognier as it relates to RGNY. Besides being one of the more difficult wines to pronounce (perhaps surpassed only by Gewürztraminer, ahhh!), it is not a grape that grows easily on Long Island. However, the Entenmann family (yes, THOSE Entenmanns of yummy bakery fame), who owned Martha Clara Vineyards, were able to successfully grow it on their property. It was the first vine they planted on their land, and it was the favorite of owner William Entenmann’s mother, Martha Clara Entenmann.
In 2018, the children of William Entenmann, who passed away in 2011, sold Martha Clara Vineyards to the Rivero-González family. No stranger to wine- the family owns a vineyard in Mexico! – Maria Rivero-González had been looking to expand and open a winery in New York for some time. She went to Columbia University, and fell in love with Long Island’s North Fork. So, when the opportunity to purchase Martha Clara arose, she took it and renamed it RGNY, after her surname.
Carolyn explained to me that both the owner and the winemaker at RGNY are women, and she enjoys being part of a female-forward, mixed-heritage vineyard. The Rivero-González family has done a fantastic job preserving the legacy of William Entenmann, while also making a name for themselves in Long Island Wine Country. Tasting the Viognier, it is easy to see why Martha Clara Entenmann loved it so much, and why the Rivero-González family continued this tradition. It’s a vineyard worth returning to- even if there are no longer animals on premises.
‘til next time,
Lau
Yes, I will happily return to RGNY after this successful visit!
Today, much of Long Island paints a perfect picture of modern-day suburbia: well-manicured lawns, white picket fences, and inviting sidewalks are hallmarks of many communities. It’s certainly fitting, as Long Island is the birthplace of the modern American suburb, thanks to William Levitt’s mid-20th century Levittown housing developments, which revolutionized the suburban housing model.
However, there are still many residents on the island who recall a time before suburbia sprawled all the way to the eastern forks. The farther east one travels, the more likely they are to encounter people who remember the Long Island of yesteryear: well-tended farms and one-store towns with only the basic necessities. Though farms still dominate much of the eastern end of Long Island, there is no doubt that suburbia, along with larger shopping centers, has made its permanent mark.
The second stop on my DrinkExploreRepeat adventure took me to the south fork of Long Island, to a winery that recalls the East End’s pre-suburban culture. On a day trip out to Montauk, we stopped at Duck Walk Vineyards, which is one of three wineries in the area. When naming it, the owners of Duck Walk wanted to pay homage to Long Island’s agricultural past. Knowing that eastern Long Island had once been synonymous with potato farms and duck farms, they chose the latter as the inspiration for the vineyard’s name (personally, I’m glad they went for the ducks and not the potatoes).
The Duck Walk sign is open and inviting to guests. Hank’s Farmstand (and in the fall, Hank’s Pumpkintown) provides a beautiful backdrop, and is a great stop to make to complement a visit to Duck Walk
Today, Duck Walk has two locations on the East End: Duck Walk Hampton in Water Mill, on the south fork and Duck Walk North in Southold, on the north fork (yes, I too get confused as to why Southold is not on the south fork). We visited Duck Walk Hampton, and were happy to find that they were offering tasting flights- with Covid restrictions still placed on businesses, flights at wineries are few and far between, but Duck Walk provided them in a clean, safe manner.
Duck Walk’s stunning tasting room
We started out in the tasting room, where our sommeliers could not have been kinder when providing information about Duck Walk. Opened in 1994, it was always intended to be a winery, but their Water Mill location has often been mistaken for a church. Standing in their tasting room, it’s easy to see why: the steepled, wooden roof and colorful, stained-glass windows give it a churchly feel, while light filtering in bathes the room in a golden glow, providing a calming atmosphere. Wooden statues of the owner and his children in the midst of winemaking also serve as reminders of the family-oriented nature of Duck Walk- besides the two Duck Walk vineyards, the family also owns Pindar and Jason, two other wineries on the north fork.
Statues remind visitors of the emphasis on family at Duck Walk
Once our tasting was poured, we brought it outside to a patio bordered by a beautiful pond with an array of flowers and bushes and, of course, rows of grapes growing in the distance. We sat down, removed our masks, and enjoyed some of Duck Walk’s most popular wines. Our tasting included their Sauvignon Blanc, their Rosé, their Gatsby Red, and their Blueberry Port. When speaking with the sommeliers, I was intrigued by the Blueberry Port- although most Port wines are typically made from grapes, Duck Walk’s is comprised of 100% wild blueberries. To my surprise (remember- white wine lover here), the Port was my favorite taste of the day. It was sweet and refreshing. Plus, they served it with a piece of dark chocolate wrapped in a little grape foil, which perfectly complemented the blueberry taste.
First flight of the summer! Clockwise from bottom: Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Gatsby Red, Blueberry Port (with dark chocolate to accompany!)
Another favorite of the day was the Gatsby Red, which also happens to be one of Duck Walk’s more popular summer wines, along with their Southampton White, Rosé, and Sauvignon Blanc. The Gatsby Red is a semi-sweet blend of Merlot and Cabernet and is meant to be served, much to my delight, like a white wine: thoroughly chilled.
A fun note about Duck Walk’s wine: the labels on their bottles are fantastic. From the F. Scott Fitzgerald-esque label on the Gatsby Red, to the classic duck motif on some of their staple bottles, take a minute and peruse their designs here.
The original tank and fermentation room
When in Duck Walk Hampton’s tasting room, you’ll notice a tank and fermentation room off to the side. Though this was the original location for the production of Duck Walk’s wines, all wines are now made at their North location, since it has larger acreage on which their grapes are produced. Those grapes grown on the Hampton premises are transported to Duck Walk North for processing. However, even though they are made in one location, due to differences in soils on the north and south fork, the grapes actually taste different. Our sommelier compared the Hampton grapes to those grown in Bordeaux, France, due to the cooler air and closer proximity to the water. Though it makes sense, I didn’t realize how different soils could affect the taste of crops, which I find really fascinating.
As a family-run vineyard that incorporates Long Island’s farm history in its name, it’s no surprise that attention to agricultural details would be brought up in a conversation with the sommeliers. It’s just another reminder that Duck Walk continues to preserve the heritage of their surroundings while providing guests with a beautiful atmosphere to gather and enjoy.
Welcome to the first Drink.Explore.Repeat post! When my travel plans to Europe were cancelled this summer, I began to think about what I wanted to do instead, because – let’s be real, here- I can’t go an entire summer without exploring. One idea that came to mind was visiting Long Island’s wineries.
Long Island has an extensive collection of beautiful wineries. Most are located on the North Fork, which I’ve spent the majority of quarantine exploring and getting to know better. I’ve been going to the wineries for years, but while there, I’m usually just content to hang out with friends (and, once upon a time, some goats- but more on that in a later post) and sip wine for fun. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I know very little about wine. I love drinking it, but I can’t tell the difference between a $15 bottle and a $75 bottle. Plus- unpopular opinion- I really don’t understand the red wine hype, particularly if it’s dry and room temp. Give me a crisp, sweet glass of chilled Sauv Blanc any day.
So, with all of this in mind, I did some research and made a list of every vineyard on Long Island. I decided that my summer project would be to visit each location on the list, with the hopes of learning more about wine- and, possibly, developing a like (not ready to commit to the L word) for Cabernet along the way.
The first stop on my winery tour, and today’s featured vineyard, is Del Vino Vineyards in Northport.
Located on the north shore of central Long Island, Northport is the quintessential coastal town. It was originally purchased from Chief Asharoken of the Matinecock tribe in 1656 by English settlers looking for a new location for cattle grazing. Settlers named the area Great Cow Harbor, both after the cattle and the large harbor to the north of the land. Over time, Cow Harbor grew into a shipbuilding and whaling community, and was renamed Northport in 1837.
These historical markers are all over NY state, much to the delight of the history nerd pictured above!
Today, a trip down Main Street in Northport (complete with trolley tracks from an early 20th-century line) presents visitors with both mom-and-pop-type restaurants and shops, as well as trendy boutiques, eateries and breweries. It’s one of my favorite places to go when I’m craving a dose of historic Main Street, U.S.A. (and the harbor is awesome for spotting a gorgeous sunset).
Five minutes from Main Street, tucked away on Norwood Avenue, is Del Vino Vineyards. The stone-adorned tasting room, complete with balconies and dormer windows, gives off a subtle nautical vibe that lends itself beautifully to Northport’s culture. The grounds themselves are stunning: beautifully gardened and manicured. Walking through the grounds made me feel as if I was walking through a serene countryside rather than on suburban Long Island. Outdoor seating is located on a patio that offers seats in both the shade and the sun.
Reservations are currently required to visit Del Vino (book yours here). I was impressed with how smoothly they ran their system. Driving up the path, I gave the reservation name and time, and was seamlessly directed around the grounds by parking assistants. Upon walking to the outdoor reception stand, my temperature was taken. I’m super appreciative that they were being careful in the midst of New York cautiously reopening, but this ended up being slightly nerve-racking: before getting my temperature taken, I was waiting in the sun, so at first, it read that I had a fever. I was also pretty badly sunburnt on my forehead (which is now peeling oh-so-beautifully), so I began to panic that either a) my sunburn was going to stop me from getting in, or b) I really was sick. The receptionists had me wait in the shade for a couple of terrifying minutes, and then tried again (this wasn’t their first sun-fever rodeo). Thankfully, the fever was gone, and I was shown to my table!
Del Vino’s Sauvignon Blanc is refreshing for sweltering summer days
Just as local history runs deep in Northport, so too is it important to understanding the love that Del Vino puts into its winemaking. Even though the winery is only a year and a half old (it opened in November 2018), its story starts much earlier. Our sommelier, Jen, explained that Del Vino is a family-owned vineyard, with its origins dating back one hundred years, to the owners’ ancestors in Italy. All of their wines are made from family recipes and produced right on premises. Their white and rosé wines are made from the grapes grown on their grounds, and their reds are made from grapes imported from California and processed within the winery itself.
Currently, the most popular bottles at Del Vino are their Moscato and Riesling for whites, and their Super Tuscan Grande red blend, which is mainly a combination of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese, with hints of Merlot and Tempranillo. I was super intrigued when Jen told us that their red blends are virtually sulfite-free. Sulfites are additives that are often put into wine to prevent it from spoiling quickly. A lack of sulfites means that Del Vino’s red blends need to be stored and served just below room temperature, so the wine will not spoil. I’m excited to return with my mom, who is allergic to sulfites and therefore cannot drink most wines. I’m crossing my fingers in the hopes that she’ll be able to safely enjoy a glass of a (mostly) sulfite-free red blend, and will be reporting back afterward!
I heard the food was good at Del Vino, and the margherita pizza proved that rumor correct
While at Del Vino, I shared a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc with some of my friends. I was disappointed that they were not yet offering tasting flights (my favorite way to really get a sense of a vineyard’s offerings), but as restrictions continue to loosen in New York, that will hopefully be back soon. While we were enjoying our wine, I also ordered a margherita personal pizza, which tasted fantastic. I would have liked it to have been slightly bigger, as I could have had a few more of the thin-crust slices after I devoured what was in front of me! I finished my visit off with a glass of their signature frosé, or frozen rosé-they also offer a Cab Crush variety, which is a red and rosé blend. It was the perfect ending to the visit.
Frosé all day! (I’m allowed one cringe-worthy caption on here, no?)
At the top of Del Vino’s menu is the following motto: “Our passion is the customer. Our craft is the wine.” A trip to the vineyard shows evidence of this strong sense of devotion to both the craft itself, as well as to the experiences of visitors. Jen explained to us that the owners, who also live in Northport, are always looking for new ways to ensure that guests are satisfied. Their most recent project, completed a couple of months ago, is an upper level patio with sweeping views of the grounds, that is meant for reserved parties. Since Del Vino is one of only a few wineries in central Long Island, this devotion to their clientele makes the experience that much more special.
Signature vineyard pose coming at ya!
The family’s commitment to keeping guests happy at Del Vino is a reflection of the greater Northport community, which is always doing the same for visitors. Northport is currently being branded as a “new Montauk,” complete with a hotel proposal to enable visitors from New York City (and beyond!) to come out and stay for the weekend. Naturally, a trip to Del Vino would be recommend during those stays. I’m interested to see what the future will bring, tourism-wise, for both Del Vino, and Northport itself- hopefully it will continue to see success without disturbing the small town charm that makes Northport a place to return to over again.
This year, the familiar adage “April showers bring May flowers” has seemed to ring true. April brought warmer temperatures (yay!), but with that came a number of those rainy days so characteristic of early spring.
I don’t mind a good rainy day here and there. I tend to use them as an excuse to be a little less active than I typically am- those who know me well know that sitting still isn’t my forte, so I welcome rainy days as much-needed lazy time. Plus, on one recent rainy day, I got the bonus of getting to see this gorgeous rainbow come out over Sunken Meadow State Park:
Honestly, this was incredible to witness. Plus, it didn’t fade quickly- it lingered, which made the whole showing even more impressive
So no, the rain hasn’t been bad. On the contrary, it’s resulted in some pretty powerful messages of hope (and it’s allowed for more Gilmore Girls binging. Nope, still not done yet. Not even through Season 3 yet…I’m a slow TV binger.).
But, now that we’re only a month and a half away from summer, I’m getting more and more antsy for consistently warmer and sunnier days- and that’s especially true today, when the Northeast has been experiencing record lows. It’s snowing on Long Island. SNOWING.
Today is clearly an anomaly (at least I really hope so), and there actually have been a few of those warm and sunny days over the last couple weeks. I’ve been doing my best to take advantage of them by going on scenic drives- my own mini social distance road trips.
Many of these drives have taken me east, to Long Island’s North Fork. Exploration right now is limited, but the North Fork offers seemingly endless opportunities for following social distance guidelines while still enjoying the beauty that makes up the east end of Long Island.
At first, I wasn’t sure how to approach these trips. By driving all the way out along the North Fork, I would reach Orient Point- the northeastern end of Long Island. Though Orient was the end goal (no pun intended), I didn’t just want to drive straight there and back. I wanted to take advantage of the lack of crowds and find places along the way that I wouldn’t normally have stopped at.
To try to reach those “off the beaten path” spots, I ended up doing a combination of planning ahead and winging it. Before driving, I researched lesser-known spots on the North Fork and kept a list of the places that seemed most intriguing. While on the drives, I went to those bookmarked places, but I also used my phone’s map to find other parks, overlooks, and beaches that seemed intriguing. Then, I’d just head in their direction, and hope for the best.
And guess what? It worked! I came across many spots that I never knew existed, and relished the opportunities to spend time outside, surrounded by the natural beauty of these places.
Take Peconic Bay Park in Laurel/Mattituck:
Between the beach grass and the perfect bay-side house, Peconic Bay Park presented beautiful scenery
This park offers serene views of Peconic Bay and the Peconic River, framed by fringes of beach grass. Plus, just across the street is the Husing Pond Preserve, which offers a nature trail and views of an osprey nest built into the surrounding pond:
A playground, gazebo, and a shoreline dotted with houses that I would move into in a heartbeat (when I win the lottery) are some of the defining features of South Jamesport Beach. This spot in Jamesport quickly became a favorite stop of mine. Though there were only a few people scattered around when I visited, it was easy to see how this could be a great location for families to spend a lazy summer afternoon. There are also tennis and basketball courts in the nearby park for those who’d rather work up a sweat than work on their tans.
Another spot worth mentioning is Truman’s Beach, just west of Orient Point. Though not off the beaten path- it’s located right off of Main Rd./Route 25 and is popular with local fishermen- it stood out to me because of the history attached to it. At this spot, Commodore Stephen Decatur, an American war hero from the War of 1812, dropped anchor while on his way to New York City. Earlier that year, Decatur and his ship, the USS United States, had encountered the British ship HMS Macedonian while en route to Madeira, Portugal. There, in the Atlantic Ocean, the two ships battled, with Decatur and the United States ultimately claiming victory. Decatur returned home with the United States, as well as the Macedonian– his prize for defeating it. These ships, along with others that had helped to defeat the Macedonian, took part in a victory tour, which took them along the Long Island coast and Truman’s Beach as they made their way to NYC.
Coastal history at Truman’s Beach. Anyone else a sucker for a historical marker, like me?
When taking a social distancing road trip, keep in mind the businesses along the way (if you’re comfortable with it, and able to do so). There were many local places open along my North Fork drives that offered safe ways to provide support. I can’t write about these trips out east and not shout out to Main Road Biscuit Co. in Jamesport. I hope some of you hear me when I say that biscuits are a lifestyle. There’s something about that buttery, flaky lump of grain that just makes me happy. So, when I first had biscuits from Main Road last summer, I was ecstatic to find that they deliver on their biscuit game in every way. Currently, they are open for pick-up orders on the weekends, which gave me an opportunity to support a local business AND to satisfy my biscuit indulgence. $10 gets you four generously sized biscuits, plus an assortment of butters and fruit preserves on the side (their honey butter is incredible). If you’re not craving biscuits, chances are that you’ll still find something crave-worthy on their menu. On one of my trips, I tried the House Made Granola Bowl, which is made with a delicious maple-coconut granola. Like the biscuits, it did not disappoint.
Take out from Main Road Biscuit Co. seems to taste even better when enjoyed in Greenport Village
In my last post, I wrote about pushing back when you started feeling overwhelmed during quarantine. If you’re looking for ways to push back while also supporting local, one goal you can set is to try to improve your green thumb. Lavender-by-the-Bay in East Marion offers that chance- show up with your mask on, socially distance yourself from any other customers who may be there, and take home your own lavender baby. They offer lavender plants in a variety of sizes, for both indoors and outdoors. They also have an array of other lavender-based products available, from sachets to essential oils. You can view a complete list of their products for sale here, and even order online if you’re not able to get out to the farm. I took an outdoor plant home and am already seeing little purple buds sprouting on it!
Lavender-by-the-Bay has set up shop outdoors to be able to still sell during quarantine
More important than anything else, planning and taking these mini road trips is FUN. With a whole list of things that we aren’t able to do right now, it’s easy to feel like having fun has also been cancelled. I don’t know if it’s just me, but there are times that I have to remind myself that fun can- and should– still continue, even if that means finding new ways to do so. It’s really just another way to push back the negative during these uncertain times.
Have you taken any social distancing road trips? If so, what did you like or dislike? Let me know in the comments below!
