Suffolk County Wine

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Suffolk County, better known as the North Fork of Long Island, New York is a relatively young wine region. However the land has a rich agricultural history. Most of the vineyards are located on farms that once grew potatoes and other crops, with tasting rooms in converted barns. Louisa and Alex Hargrave established the first commercial winery, Hargrave Vineyard, in the town of Cutchogue in 1973. Other wineries soon followed throughout the landscape. In 1986, the North Fork was awarded AVA status. Eventually the Hargraves sold their winery to Italian wine-making nobles Marie and Marco Borghese, who converted it to Castello di Borghese in 1999. By then, the North Fork was well on its way to becoming a region known for diverse and quality wines, with dozens of producers.

The North Fork is a peninsula that juts out into Long Island Sound and the Peconic Bay. The climate is maritime, with cooling effects from the water that afford a long growing season. However, it can also be subject to unpredictable weather patterns, with wet and cool summers and early autumns, and sudden, punishing storms that may cut short harvest season. But in most vintages, grapes can grow to excellent ripening potential. French varietals have been the most popular, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and especially Chardonnay. Recently, wineries are recognizing the similarities with the German climate, planting grapes such as Müller-Thurgau, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Blaufrankisch, and Dornfelder. The wines are produced in a vast array of styles from dry to pink to sparkling to sweet. Often vintners produce field blends with several grapes, building flavors with different varietal aspects.

The wineries here are mostly boutique, family-owned operations. It’s definitely worth a visit to the picturesque area to sample the wide variety of wines the region has to offer.

– Description from Amanda Schuster (hide)

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Varietals Produced in Suffolk County View all

Merlot

The Occitanian word “merlot” translates to “young blackbird.” An accurate description for this popular, early-budding...
Chardonnay

British wine writer and critic, Jancis Robinson, once noted that throughout the 80’s and 90’s in the United States, C...

Subregions of Suffolk County

Long Island

Long Island, New York is a relatively new wine region. It encompasses both Suffolk and Nas...

Popular Wineries in Suffolk County View all

Waters Crest Winery

Welcome to Waters Crest Winery, one of the North Fork of Long Island’s finest family-owned and op...
Pellegrini Family Vineyards

The Pellegrini Family traces its heritage in winemaking to the early 1900s when brothers Nello an...
Bedell Cellars

Bedell Cellars is among the oldest and most prestigious wineries on the North Fork of Long Island...
Lieb Family Cellars

Lieb Family Cellars operates its tasting room and produces its wines at The Premium Wine Group (P...
Martha Clara Vineyards

In 1978, the Entenmann family agreed to sell their family company and move on to greener pastures...
Wolffer Estate

Wölffer Estate an American Winery in the Classic European Tradition. Sagaponack, New York: Her...

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Suffolk County on Snooth

March 2013

Pellegrini Vineyards Chardonnay 2011

Snoothrank:

i'm not a white wine person, but this is lovely. light and refreshing. Read More

Wine review by misskittyxoxo17
March 2013

Bedell Red Blend North Fork First Crush Red 2009

Snoothrank:

great, affordable table red. Read More

Wine review by misskittyxoxo17
February 2013

Duck Walk Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Long Island Reserve 2007

Snoothrank:

I first tasted the 2007 Duck Walk Reserve Cab at a North Fork wine tour in the Spring of 2012. Impressed by its big and bold yet soft and smooth flavor profile, I bought two bottles to save for a special occasion. Sometimes my judgment becomes clouded after sampling a dozen or so wines, but not this time. Right out of the bottle, this wine deliv... Read More

Wine review by Cheap Wine Critic
January 2013

Sherwood House Sherwood Manor 2007

Snoothrank:

Low on the nose and slightly weedy with lots of nutty oak undertones. Smooth and very well behaved, this is a wine built on elegance not power, though it's firmly medium-bodied. Flavors are soft and subtle, showing earthy red fruit flavors along the lines of wild raspberries and red currants with a hint of sweet red plum. The wood shows up more... Read More

Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz
December 2012

Sherwood House Unoaked Chardonnay 2011

Snoothrank:

A bit coconutty with classic apple, butter, vanilla and baking spice aromas. Bright and juicy in the mouth with a hint of creamy vanilla flavors framing a simple but fresh core of peach, apple and lemon fruit. There's a hint of something slightly vegetal on the back end that adds some apple core complexity to the fairly long and nicely succulent... Read More

Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz
December 2012

Anthony Nappa "Anomaly" White Pinot Noir

Snoothrank:

Big fan of this wine. I most recently enjoyed the 2011 vintage. Let it breathe a bit and the strawberry and cherry flavors shine through ... a balanced wine that has been very versatile and was just as good with roast chicken or turkey as well as heartier dishes like stews. Read More

Wine review by ftezen
November 2012

Pindar Vineyards White Blend North Fork Winter White 2010

Snoothrank:

Very sweet. Read More

Wine review by Clare Goggin Sivits
November 2012

Macari Chardonnay Early Wine 2012

Snoothrank:

The nose was lively with a bouquet of green apple, melon, stony minerals and a spritz of citrus. On the palate, a wave of semi-sweet citrus fruits turned to green apple acidity with a slight fizz that spread across the senses. The finish was pure, clean yet showed citrusy green melon and left the mouth watering. (89 points) Read More

Wine review by Eric Guido
November 2012

Lieb Family Cellars Pinot Blanc North Fork Reserve 2011

Snoothrank:

Great acidity and a touch of sweetness make this Long Island wine a nice choice with a variety of foods. Read More

Wine review by Mike Madaio
September 2012

Macari Sauv/Blanc 2011

Snoothrank:

The nose showed citrus, green apple, smoky almond and grassy notes. It coated the palate in pineapple and lemony citrus notes with green apple acidity, which lasted through the refreshing, crisp finish. This is easily one of my favorite Sauvignon Blancs from the North Fork. Read More

Wine review by Eric Guido

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