Long Island's Wine Country is known as 'the Napa of the East Coast'. Here is a list of wineries to put on your bucket list!
Harmony Vineyards
With its waterfront positioning, sprawling lanes of green vines and its historic, circa-1690 tasting room, Harmony Vineyards isn’t lacking in scenery. You could spend an entire afternoon strolling and taking in the different views. Sip on red blends, rosé, cabernet sauvignon and a chablis-style chardonnay. Small plates, wraps and charcuterie is available to snack on. There is live music every weekend, as well as trivia nights and outdoor movie screenings.
Go: 169 Harbor Road, St. James, NY
631-291-9900; https://harmonyvineyards.com
Palmer Vineyards
Palmer Vineyards is a picturesque place to enjoy a variety of lovingly crafted wines. A wine flight is an efficient way to get to know the portfolio, including an aromatico, a viognier, a pinot blanc, a cabernet franc, a merlot and more. In the summer and early fall, the atmosphere here really comes alive. There are longer hours (open until 9 p.m. weekends), live music and different food trucks and pop-ups.
Go: 5120 Sound Ave., Riverheard, NY
631-722-9463; https://www.palmervineyards.com
Terra Vite North Fork Winery & Vineyard
“It’s like Italy meets the North Fork,”
Go: 250 Manor Lane, Jamesport, NY
631-722-3416; www.terravitevineyard.com
Paumanok Vineyards
Paumanok is a laid-back option, offering a relaxed and welcoming tasting room along with a beautiful outdoor seating area that overlooks the vineyards. Tours are available, or you can simply sit and enjoy flights and pours with cheese and charcuterie, plus oysters on weekends from Memorial Day through October. The wine list includes rieslings, sauvignon blancs, a chenin blanc, rosé, cabernet sauvignons and merlots.
Go: 1074 Main Road (Route 25), Aquebogue, NY
631-722-8800; www.paumanok.com
Jamesport Vineyards
With plenty of room to roam and all of it lovely, Jamesport Vineyards feels like a mini vacation. (Your visit can be made into an actual vacation, thanks to idyllic on-site lodgings.) Try wines from different collections, like the North Fork-inspired East End collection, the flagship Estate collection and the blended and aged Reserve collection. Cheese and crackers are available as accompaniments, and Jamesport now has Little Oak on weekends, a restaurant for wood-fired oven pizza. Keep an eye out for live jazz concerts throughout the summer.
Go: 10216 Main Road (Route 25), Jamesport, NY
631-722-5256; https://jamesportwines.com
Clovis Point Vineyard & Winery
Clovis Point holds its own among the North Shore wineries’ aesthetic splendor. It’s more than just a pretty place, though — get acquainted with the wine through themed flights, like the cold wine flight, the red wine flight, or the master tasting flight. You can order cheese plates, and there are often food trucks on the premises. There is also live music on weekends.
Go: 1935 Main Road (Route 25), Jamesport, NY
631-722-4222; www.clovispointwines.com
Laurel Lake Vineyards
Laurel Lake Vineyards boasts plenty of eye-pleasing greenery where patrons can sit, sip and relax, anchored by a colonial tasting room with an antique bar and a second-story deck for more views. Tours are available by appointment and there is frequently live music. There are a wide range of wines, including a pinot noir reserve, a chardonnay estate reserve, a gewurztraminer, a syrah and a pinot gris. There are often food trucks and you may also bring your own food. Laurel Lake often hosts weddings, so call ahead to make sure they’re open to the public.
Go: 3165 Main Road (Route 25), Laurel, NY
631-298-1420; www.llwines.com
Macari Vineyards
In tasting flights or bottles, enjoy chardonnays, a rosé, a sette, a sparkling cuvee, various blends and more at Macari Vineyards. The feel here is elevated, and also a bit busier than your average winery, so reservations are recommended. The tasting room with its indoor and outdoor seating is still pleasantly inviting and unpretentious. Take advantage of the unique chocolate pairing, snack on cheese and charcuterie, and order pizza from the Avelino food truck.
Go: 150 Bergen Ave., Mattituck, NY
631-298-0100; https://macariwines.com
Pellegrini Vineyards
The jewel in Pellegrini’s crown is its cathedral-style tasting room, transporting visitors to the European countryside. Here, guests can take a sort of self-guided tour and see different components of wine-making. They can also take a seat inside or outside in the courtyard, or go for a stroll on the grounds. There is a large menu of reds, whites and a rosé to try with full pours, flights and as part of pairings with items like chocolate. You may bring your own food.
Go: 23005 Main Road (Route 25), Cutchogue, NY; 631-734-4111ext. 207; www.pellegrinivineyards.com
McCall Wines
The McCall family embraces its winery’s farm roots (its tasting room is an old potato barn once used as a horse stable) by maintaining a rustic ambiance in decor. Visiting is a must for wine connoisseurs as rare and limited wines are available for tasting that can’t be found anywhere else. Opt for a flight or full pour of reds, whites and a rosé. Cheese plates are available, guests can bring their own snacks during the week (not on weekends), and on Fridays in the spring and summer McCall has “burger night” and a food truck.
Go: 22600 Main Road (Route 25), Cutchogue, NY
631-734-5764; www.mccallwines.com
Shinn Estate Vineyards
Shinn Estate’s tasting room and patio have that magazine spread feel to their modern-rustic, farmhouse-chic design. The vibe is cozy yet elevated, perfect for dates and friend reunions alike (reservations always recommended, required for groups of more than 10). Settle in with tasting flights and full pours of whites, reds and rosés. Light fare is available, like cheese, charcuterie and cake. Shinn Estate also features a bed and breakfast, perfect for a relaxed weekend with plenty of porch-sitting and feasting on the breakfast array.
Go: 2000 Oregon Road, Mattituck; NY
631-804-0367; https://shinnestatevineyards.com
Bedell Cellars
A true escape, Bedell Cellars is peaceful and pretty (so pretty, in fact, that it’s a popular choice for weddings). You can choose your own adventure here: Drop in for glasses or bottles of wine to enjoy in the picnic area or on the outdoor pavilion, book a tour of the facilities and see the owner’s art collection, or reserve a tasting. Cheese, charcuterie and other snacks are available in all cases. Bedell has a wine club, which not only offers discounts but also a complimentary tasting of two wines each visit. Among the delicious malbecs, merlots, chardonnays and viogniers, the sparkling rosé is a true warm-weather treat.
Go: 36225 Main Road (Route 25), Cutchogue, NY
631-734-7537; www.bedellcellars.com
Pindar Vineyards
From comedy nights, doughnut pairings and live music to the regularly offered tour and tasting to the special champagne tour in November, there is always something fun going on at Pindar Vineyards. It’s worth keeping an eye on their calendar and making reservations for special experiences, but if you just want to stop in for a tasting flight, glass or bottle, there are lovely indoor and outdoor spaces to enjoy doing so.
You’ll find plenty of options whether you prefer red or white, along with bubbly varieties and dessert wines. Cheese and crackers are available, food trucks often pop up in the summer, and you can bring food if you want to picnic outside.
Go:37645 Main Road (Route 25), Peconic
631-734-6200; www.pindar.net
Osprey’s Dominion
Osprey’s Dominion is a great family and friend destination thanks to its casual feel. Its backyard seems to go on forever, dotted with picnic tables, barbecue stations and outdoor games, so it’s kind of like having a summer party with exceptional wine. There is also an indoor area, and in either place, you can do tasting flights, glasses and bottles from their large selection. There are cheese platters available, frequent food trucks, and you can bring your own food.
Go: 44075 Main Road (Route 25), Peconic
631-765-6188; https://ospreysdominion.com
Duck Walk Vineyards
In addition to traditional varietals from pinot grigio to pinot noir, you’ll have the chance to try some unique offerings at Duck Walk Vineyards, like blueberry port, boysenberry fruit wine and a brut sparkling. Enjoy tastings, glasses and bottles indoors or on the patio, with live music on weekends throughout the warmer months. Cheese and crackers are on hand for purchase, and you can bring light snacks, too.
Go: 44535 Main Road (Route 25), Southold
631-765-3500, Ext. 2; https://duckwalk.com
Sparkling Pointe
Sparkling Pointe is a must-stop for all fans of bubbly. This winery is the North Shore’s master of celebratory-feeling bruts, blanc de blancs, blanc de noirs and sparkling rosés. You can experience them in flights, glasses or bottles in the French country manor-style tasting room — adorned with stunning chandeliers and vibrant Brazilian art — or on the deck overlooking the vineyards. They conduct educational tours and offer different spins on the tastings, like a chocolate pairing. Food options include caviar, charcuterie and cheese. Reservations are required for groups over six.
Go: 39750 Country Road 48, Southold
631-765-0200; www.sparklingpointe.com
The Old Field Vineyards
The Old Field Vineyards stands out in its quiet charm — it’s smaller and cozier than other North Shore wineries. Have a glass of wine in the 1860s barn-style tasting room or as you stroll the grounds, taking in that peaceful country feel. The service is personable, perfect for guiding you through flights of classic red and white styles. There are cheese, crackers and charcuterie snack options. Make a reservation if you plan on attending with a group larger than six people.
Go: 59600 Main Road (Route 25), Southold
631-765-0004; https://theoldfield.com
Ackerly Pond Vineyards/ Bella Vita Vineyard 1375 Peconic Lane in Peconic 631-734-8282
Bedell Cellars/Corey Creek Vineyards 36225 Main Road, RT 25 in Cutchogue 631-734-7537
Clovis Point 1935 Main Road in Jamesport 631-722-4222
Comtesse Therese 739 Main Road in Aquebogue 631-779-2800
Pugliese Vineyards 34515 Main Road, Rte. 25 in Cutchogue 631-734-4057
Roanoke Vineyards 3543 Sound Avenue in Riverhead 631-727-4161
Waters Crest Winery 22355 Rte. 48, Unit 6 in Cutchogue 631-734-5065