Tags

longislandwineries

Showing: 1 - 2 of 2 RESULTS
Long Island

Winery #7: Pugliese Vineyards

If you’re looking for a vineyard that encompasses the meaning of “family owned and operated”, look no further than Pugliese Vineyards in Cutchogue. It is truly a family operation, and the pride that the Pugliese family puts into maintaining a charming atmosphere is evident from the moment one walks onto the property.

Pugliese Vineyards: American classic meets Italian rustic

Upon parking, we were greeted by a bright red, vintage American Gasoline pump, which stands out amongst the rest of the natural grounds. Though it doesn’t seem like it would fit with the vineyard’s atmosphere, it somehow works, and adds to the charm of the location.

The outdoor tasting area, where my mom and I enjoyed a flight, is just beyond the gas pump. This is currently my favorite outdoor area of all the wineries that I’ve been to so far: a pergola wrapped with grape vines allows guests to feel as if they are in a small village in Italy, rather than on the North Fork of Long Island. A lake, complete with fountain and koi fish, is nearby, and guests are welcome to take their drinks and sit by the lake to take in the views.

Koi fish swim lazily in the lake at Pugliese Vineyards

Though the indoor tasting room was closed, I was able to stop inside the gift shop where Pat Pugliese, the owner, was making and personalizing a wine basket for a recently-engaged couple. Mrs. Pugliese personalizes the vineyard’s bottles and glasses herself. She and her husband opened the current winery in 1993, though they had already been in operation for thirteen years prior to that. Today, the vineyard encompasses 45 acres, and all of the vineyard’s wines are grown, produced, and bottled on-site.  

As the Puglieses’ four children grew older, they also became involved in the family business. Their son, Peter, is the current winemaker; son Ralph is the property’s photographer. Son Lawrence is the vineyard manager, and their daughter, Domenica, manages the winery.

The tasting at Pugliese featured a variety of wine samples

This family endeavor shows no signs of slowing down. When I asked one of the members of the family about the wines they are best known for, she paused at first. There is such a large variety available, that she had a difficult time choosing just one. Her recommendations: for sparkling wines, the Brut; for whites, the Chardonnay Gold; for reds, the Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, and for dessert, the Late Harvest Riesling. Those were the same wines that I sampled in my tasting, and as a fan of sparkling wine, I really enjoyed their Brut.

The members of the Pugliese family who were on site the day that I visited were warm and cordial. Though they were busy, their passion for the craft was clear that day- it’s the kind of genuine passion in a business that makes you want to return again someday soon.

‘til next time,

Lau

Travel Rush

Winery #6: Bedell Cellars

History and sustainability are two words that don’t always go hand-in-hand, but a visit to Bedell Cellars in Cutchogue proves that they can function harmoniously. One of Long Island’s oldest wineries, Bedell is entrenched in local history, which is something that I love learning about and have a deep appreciation for. However, I’m also a firm believer in doing what we can to protect our environmental future- happily, Bedell’s methods of winemaking, though locally rooted, ensure an environmentally friendly, sustainable approach. Bedell Winemaker Rich Olsen-Harbich has been making wine for almost forty years, and was kind enough to share some information with me about this beautiful North Fork vineyard.

Bedell Cellars was founded in 1979 by Kip and Susan Bedell, who purchased the fifty-acre farm that currently houses the Tasting Room and surrounding grounds. The Tasting Room itself speaks to its Long Island roots- it was a former potato barn that dates back to 1919, when potato and duck farms reigned supreme on Long Island’s East End.

Bedell’s historical Tasting Room is framed by beautifully manicured gardens

In total, Bedell’s grounds encompass seventy-five acres, with grapes being planted and harvested over a span of three farms. In the year 2000, former New Line Cinema CEO Michael Lynne purchased the winery along with his wife, Ninah. That next year, the Tasting Room was renovated, but the Lynne family made sure to keep its historical architecture as an homage to its Long Island roots. Though the indoor Tasting Room was closed at the time of my visit in August, the expansive outdoor seating area provided a breezy, comfortable spot to sit and enjoy a tasting on an extremely hot summer day.

The tasting room provided a break from the sun, but did not sacrifice on vineyard views

Mr. Lynne’s passion for not only wine, but also contemporary art, is evident while walking around Bedell. Mr. Olsen-Harbich explained that some of Mr. Lynne’s impressive personal art collection is displayed throughout the Tasting Room and grounds. The Lynnes even had original artwork commissioned when creating some of the labels on Bedell’s wine bottles. Though Mr. Lynne passed away last year, Mrs. Lynne has continued the legacy that the couple began two decades ago.

Summer tasting flight: 2019 Rosé, 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, 2017 Cabernet Franc

According to Mr. Olsen-Harbich, all of Bedell’s wines are “grown, made, bottled and stored here.” They do not purchase fruit from any outside vendors to produce their wine, and all of their fruit is certified sustainable through the Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing Organization. Their grapes are all harvested by hand, as well. Mr. Olsen-Harbich makes true Long Island terroir wine: to taste it is to truly taste a North Fork, Long Island wine. Part of this experience involves the yeast used in the winemaking process: Mr. Olsen-Harbich only uses wild, indigenous yeasts in his winemaking. Bedell is the only winery in the area to do this, which provides for an extremely authentic Long Island wine tasting experience.

When I asked Mr. Olsen-Harbich if there was a particular wine that they were best known for, he replied, “probably our best-known wine is our Musée, which is a red blend that reflects the best of the vintage.” American lifestyle magazine Wine Spectator described the Musée as the “grand vin of New York.” Red wine lovers will certainly like it, and even those who tend to go for whites (like yours truly) will find the blend in the Musée enjoyable.

Bedell’s Long Island winemaking roots are also strong in part because of their CEO, Trent Preszler. Mr. Preszler is actively involved in both the development and the marketing of the Long Island Wine District, and he holds a PhD from Cornell University in viticulture- the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. Mr. Preszler is the first person in Long Island winemaking to hold such a distinction, and there is no doubt that this expertise has contributed to the continued success that Bedell has seen.

Bedell continues its long-standing traditions with its cellar crew. It was the first winery in the east to have an all-female cellar crew, and the vineyard continues that practice to this day. Keeping to important traditions, while also being adaptable enough to practice current, sustainable winemaking practices has been a recipe for success at Bedell Cellars. It’s a winery that Long Islanders should be proud to include as a part of their East End heritage.

‘til next time,

Lau