{"id":6395,"date":"2009-08-26T08:38:40","date_gmt":"2009-08-26T12:38:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/?p=6395"},"modified":"2025-08-21T09:25:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T13:25:14","slug":"long-island-vineyards-north-fork","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/6395\/long-island-vineyards-north-fork\/","title":{"rendered":"Take Your Bike to Three Long Island Vineyards in North Fork"},"content":{"rendered":"

When we step off the train in Southold, Long Island, I can\u2019t help but think, \u201cWe\u2019re not in New York City anymore.\u201d Just two and a half hours from Manhattan, the green, wide open spaces of the North Fork of Long Island<\/strong> seem as far from the congested city as can be. The most striking difference is the presence of land, lots of land. That most coveted of commodities in Manhattan is present here\u2014in all its sprawling, lush glory: along its sidewalk-less road, between, behind, and in front of its single family homes and, most importantly, in and among its vineyards.
\n<\/p>\n

The Long Island Wine Country celebrates 40 years this year. In wine speak, where \u201cvintage\u201d and \u201caging\u201d are the highest ranked of buzz words, 40 years doesn\u2019t bear a lot of weight. Napa Valley and even Oregon wine countries date back to the 19th Century, and don\u2019t even try to compete with Tuscany or Bordeaux. But amid these young vineyards one has the opportunity to witness some great history, including Southold, the oldest English settlement in New York. Plus, what it lacks in years, Long Island\u2019s Wine Country makes up for in heart. And beauty. And some darn good wine. And at less than a three hour train ride from Manhattan, the sprawling, verdant setting makes a welcome break\u2014and easy day trip\u2014from the busy, overcrowded city.<\/p>\n

Where to Wine Away the Hours<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Croteaux

The idyllic courtyard of Croteaux Vineyards<\/a> could only be closer to a fairytale if they served pink wines. Oh wait, they do. I\u2019m not a sweet wine fan, so I had my doubts about an all-ros\u00e9 winery, but Croteaux managed to convert me. Instead of using the by-products of red wines as is typically done in the making of ros\u00e9, at Croteaux the fruit is harvested early and for the explicit purpose of making the pink wines. The result is not only a pretty color but a crisp, refreshing wine that can hold its own against the usual whites or reds any day.<\/p>\n

There is a small open-air lounge with cushions and benches, but a shaded table in the courtyard is the place to be. If you\u2019re lucky you\u2019ll get a visit from Sargent, the friendly, honey-colored terrier who belongs to the Croteauxs. The family moved to the area in 1992, and only fell into the business of winemaking when they purchased the neighboring farm to preserve its history. They live in the Victorian-era farmhouse at the back of the property, and are working to make the Dutch Colonial barn\u2014which was built in 1749 and borders the courtyard\u2014into a tasting room. For now though, wine lovers are content to gaze at the historic structure. With its enchanting setting and enriching history (as told, if you wish, by the proprietor himself), Croteaux takes the tasting experience to a whole new level.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Plan to arrive when it\u2019s time for lunch in order to maximize the experience with a fruit, cheese and baguette basket ($10). Tasting here is inexpensive to boot: $7 allows tastes of three wines, plus the pink cuvee and a spiced sangria. And odds are good you\u2019ll want a bottle for the table ($18) to help savor the experience.<\/p>\n

After the intimate Croteaux experience, the spacious, more traditional Corey Creek Tasting Room was a jarring difference, but the friendly mother\/daughter team manning the counter made us feel instantly welcome as they enthusiastically explained the tasting options: $5 (three wines), $8 or $12 (four wines). The wines served here come from Bedell Cellars<\/a>, one of the larger Long Island wineries, and received mixed reactions from the group of tasters. The standout here of the four was, not surprisingly, the chardonnay; this is what Corey Creek is best known for, but it should be noted that the nice, robust Cabernet Franc lingered pleasantly on our lips a while after.<\/p>\n

We spaced out our tastings by commandeering a table on the breezy deck, where we then paired each wine with the vineyard\u2019s savory views. Many tables had chosen to share bottles out on the deck, which is also a way to enjoy the singer\/guitarist perched in the corner.<\/p>\n

As small as Croteaux is, Osprey\u2019s Dominion Vineyard<\/a> is large. And yet here it\u2019s easy to feel like just one of the gang. The tasting room is comfortable and spacious, but when the weather is nice, the place to be is out on the vast lawn, which stretches out to the vineyard with plenty of space to frolic in between. Picnic tables are scattered along the edge of the lawn, which is reminiscent of a Technicolor Gatsby party, sans the 1920s garb. Here you\u2019re sure to become fast friends with folks at the scattered picnic tables, and even faster friends with the group crowded around the \u201cwine bar,\u201d which sells wine both by the tasting and the bottle. If you’re opting for the $5 list rather than the limited releases, you’ll be sampling five different wines, ranging from whites, rose, reds, and dessert wines. (Hold on to the citrusy yet subtly sweet flavors of summer a little longer with a bottle of 2007 Semi-Dry Riesling for $14.)<\/p>\n

The best part, though, is the lawn party itself. On the weekends a band inhabits the small stage set up midway between wine bar and vineyard, with plenty of space to dance in between. If you weren\u2019t friends with the picnic table cronies before the music started, you\u2019re sure to be when the band starts up.<\/p>\n

A votre sant\u00e9!<\/em><\/p>\n

Bottle this list:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Croteaux Vineyards | 1450 South Harbor Road, Southold, NY | 631.765.6099 | Croteaux.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Corey Creek Tasting Room | 45470 Main Road, Southold, NY | 631.765.4168 | Coreycreek.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Osprey’s Dominion Vineyard | 44075 Route 25, Peconic, NY | 631.765.6188 | ospreysdominion.com<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n

How to get there: <\/strong>Ready for your own day of wine and ros\u00e9s in North Fork? Well, get thee on a Long Island Railrood train to Southold<\/a>, and do it quickly. Weekend trains depart Penn station at 9:16 am ($16.75 each way) and take just under three hours, placing your right on track to hit that lunch at Croteaux target. The Southold train station is approximately one mile and a half from Croteaux, and from there the wineries are clustered together on the main road. Make sure to purchase a $5 permit at Grand Central to bring your bike on board (good forever).
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

To get from place to place, you have a few options. There is, of course, the old standby of hiring a tour or limo service to do all the dirty work for you. These average around $100 per person. That said, we don\u2019t recommend the standard tour routes. For one thing, you can personalize your wining experience far more by going on your own, and, more importantly, many wineries (especially the smaller and more interesting ones) do not accept tours.<\/em><\/p>\n

A far better route would be to bring your bike and ride between wineries\u2014it\u2019s an easy trip and a whole lot of fun.\u00a0(Of course we urge you not to drink and bike too heartily.) Walking from Southold is also doable, but there is no sidewalk, so take care walking on the shoulder of the road.<\/em><\/p>\n

If you still feel you must drive, check out our mini-guide to hybrid rentals<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

For more ideas on places to sip and sleep in the North Fork, read Vine Time<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n