My appreciation for nature began in college. As a student at Binghamton University in upstate New York, my dorm community, Mountainview, backed up to the nature preserve on campus.
I think it was looking out of our common room window, which faced the preserve, that I first really saw fall foliage colors for how beautiful they are. I mean, I’d noticedthe changing colors of leaves growing up, but for some reason never quite registered how wonderful this truly was until I was presented with that dormitory mountain view.
The mountain view from the Mountainview dormitory common room, September, 2006. Gotta love that digital camera in the window’s reflection!
It was also that Binghamton nature preserve that helped me learn that I enjoyed hiking trails and spending time surrounded by nature. Prior to this, I’d never really considered myself to be a “nature girl”. I had never gone camping (full disclosure: still haven’t), I didn’t enjoy being in close proximity to bugs (still generally don’t), and the thought of walking around in the wilderness just didn’t seem like a fun hobby.
However, during junior year when I first begrudgingly explored some of the nature preserve’s trails with my college boyfriend, I realized what I’d been missing out on. Being surrounded by trees, flora, and fauna brought this overwhelming sense of peace, and completing a trail created this wonderful feeling of accomplishment. Like YES, I just spent time in nature and I freaking LOVED it!
One of my earliest captures of nature in the Binghamton Nature Preserve, May 2010. I sincerely hope my photography skills have improved since then.
It wasn’t just woods and trails that captivated my attention as I got older. If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know that I adore going to the beach. As a kid growing up on Long Island, it was common to pile into a car with family or friends on any summer day with towels, beach bags and coolers in tow, and head to Field 5 at Robert Moses beach. There, we would begin the process of locating any square foot of sandy real estate to plop our towels down on, and proceed to spend hours sunbathing and frolicking in the Atlantic until we either got too burnt or too tired.
In my twenties, I began to think more about this summer ritual that was so normal to me. So many people in the United States alone do not live remotely close to a body of water, let alone an ocean. Yet I have the ability to drive 20 minutes north or south and end up at the Long Island Sound, the Great South Bay, or the Atlantic Ocean. That’s pretty damn fortunate, and something that I have become increasingly cognizant of and grateful for as an adult.
The Fire Island Lighthouse, just east of the Robert Moses beaches
There’s still plenty of nature exploring left to do, and I’m here for all of it.
Now, here’s my challenge to you for this upcoming weekend:
Take at least 15 minutes to appreciate nature in some way. I’m planning to check out some of the trails around the Bear Mountain Bridge in Garrison, NY. Let me know either in the comments below or on Insta what you end up doing, and most importantly…enjoy!
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.
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.
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.
