New York is an amazing place to visit but after an exhilarating Broadway day, a taping of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a Billy Joel concert and the chaos of Times Square, my wife and I were craving a brief respite.
The Long Island Railroad took us from mid-town Manhattan to a tranquil beach on the North Fork in under two hours. Unlike the South Fork, famous for the Hamptons where celebrities and the New York elite go to play, the North Fork is more subdued. There are amazing restaurants, beautiful, clean beaches and, you guessed it—at least fifty vineyards. Our hotel, Aqua by American Beech, backed on to the Peconic Sound and had the feel of a tropical resort. Who knew the North Atlantic could be this warm?
Selective about our winery visits as there was so much ground to cover, we made our first stop Jamesport Vineyards. I was impressed with their Reserve Sauvignon Blanc. It was done in a French style with a subtle herbaceous nose and a hint of oak. Our gracious host Ron provided a thorough understanding of the winery operation in addition to the history of the region. Their Jazz in the Vines concert series runs all summer long to enhance the wine experience.
Further east, approaching the town of Mattituck we met Gabriella Macari, a current Masters of Wine candidate (the most respected title in the world of wine with only 382 members) at Macari Vineyards. On July 4th, the winery was hopping but Gabreilla and Gibson made us feel as though we were the only guests. Their Life Force Cabernet Franc done in ceramic eggs provided a genuine sense of the North Fork terroir. We sipped it at outdoor tasting tables right among the vines.
We ended our day on our lanai watching fireworks erupt from several Hamptons locations across the water while enjoying local wines.
