Wine bottles

Although it may lack the high end wines of California’s Napa Valley or Sonoma and it definitely lacks the popularity of the same, Long Island vineyards offer a nice escape to those in the Northeast.  There are about thirty wineries on Long Island and many are in close proximity to one another making a day of vineyard hopping rather enjoyable.  As each person’s taste’s are different and each vineyard has it bad and good years I will reserve judgment on any specific wine or vineyard.  Instead, judge for yourself.  Gather a few friends, rent a limo for the day from one of the many limo companies in the area and have yourself a ball.  Many of the limo companies offer vineyard tastings arranged by them but simply renting the limo and doing the tasting on your own yields a more relaxed day.  This frees you up to move at your own pace.  Bring lunch and many of the wineries have tables you can sit and eat at.

Long Island vineyards

The best time to head to eastern Long Island is in April.  Not only do you not run into the huge crowds that gather during the summer, but you will have to opportunity to do some barrel tastings.  Offered at many wineries on Saturdays during the month you can head to the barrel room and taste the wines as they age in the barrels, before bottling takes place.  Many of these tastings are done with the owner or senior wine maker and allow you not only to see and taste the wine in it’s most naked form but to ask questions about the wine and the

In wine, truth

wine making process of those most knowledgeable.  So, for less expensive trips with considerably smaller crowds head to the east end of Long Island for some spring wine tasting.