This post was originally published on July 7, 2020.
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Strada del vino
Route des vins
Weinstraße
Wine route
Whichever language you choose, there’s magic to a trail following the wine vines.
Going on many years ago now, a small group of us decided to take a couple of days out of our regular summer schedule to explore the wine trail of Long Island. Most of this post was written at that time but never published. Actually, I wrote this before singlenesting was even an idea. I thought it was finally time to put it out into the world. So, you’re welcome!
Confession: I don’t remember the names of the wineries we visited. I don’t know if they still operate. My apologies for not taking better notes.
Observations of the LI wine country:
The fields are vast. The farmhouses many. The barns are diverse: new and modern; old and dilapidated; rustic and homely; pompous and prosperous.
There’s a certain serenity in the fields, in the rows upon rows of vines and other crops. Of the farm animals. The way of life; the mindsets of sustainability, physical labor mixed with knowledge, a deep understanding, of the land, the climate, and the local area. It’s beautiful, calming, captivating, inviting.
About *ahem* years ago, three friends convinced me to go on a short, two day excursion to visit the Long Island wine trail. I was hesitant because, being unemployed at the time, I believed that you weren’t supposed to go on vacation while looking for a job, no matter how frugal, right? And certainly, fun isn’t allowed when you’re supposed to be stressing out about the job hunt. Well, I’m so glad I didn’t listen to the no-fun voice in my head.
It was worth throwing caution to the wind. The scenery beckoned us in ever further, the wines were surprisingly really good, and winery people were welcoming. The traveling company was, of course, the best. It was the kind of mini-vacation that makes you wish everyday life could be a low-key, wine tasting adventure, you know?
We started off with an early morning ferry crossing of Long Island Sound. The weather was the kind of perfectly beautiful summertime weather that makes you feel the most alive. Sunny, blue skies, a scattering of cirrus clouds. It was southern New England maritime at its most glorious. Those types of days make all those cold, short, harsh winter days worth it.
Once we arrived in Port Jeff, we wasted zero time to our first destination. The possibilities stretched out before us along roadways hedged in by expanses of farm land. With the windows wide open, our anticipation grew as the fresh air whipped away the cares of a typical Monday.
The first vineyard we came upon had a lovely surprise of also being a refuge for abandoned horses. The wine itself was quite fine and the wine stewards very informative and friendly.
Side note: One of the things I’ve grown to genuinely enjoy about visiting different wineries is learning about the grape and the wine-making process. I mean, the staff’s knowledge about their wine is so vast and impressive. I have a pretty good suspension of disbelief, so I’m totally taken in when the sommelier’s begin their grape tales. Don’t you find it fascinating learning about the different kinds of grapes and how they’re grown? Isn’t it mind-blowing understanding how the condition of the soil and amount of sunlight or rain can impact the quality of that liquid you’re sipping in that glass?
Next up was a vineyard specializing in the French method of fermenting grapes into champagne. I suppose champagne has a reputation of being a bit posh and so the decor played to that characteristic. The tasting room had a very chic, sleek, and city kind of vibe. But the proof is in the hospitality and they didn’t disappoint because some very expensive bottles were included in the tasting flight. Mmm, oh la la!
We then discovered a tiny place run by a man who immigrated from France. His accent was charming and the fromage made on the premises paired perfectly with the sampling he offered us. With that accent, he taught us more about wine, where in France he was from, which regions are good for wine tours in his native land, as well as offered local insights to the Long Island trail.
After our introduction to French wine, we then visited a few of the bigger, more corporate feeling vineyards. All of these had an air of being impersonal and fostering a quick turn around. We quickly concluded that we preferred the smaller, more intimate places that were off the beaten path. While the winery staff were generally friendly and knowledgeable and we didn’t really feel rushed, I found the experience to be more pleasant and leisurely when we met and spoke with the owner as they poured our tastings.
The second day of our mini-vaca, we filled up our remaining hours with these boutique-y and provincial vineyards. The first stop totally hit the jackpot. It was a quaint, pleasingly appointed place that also boasted a sustainability philosophy. The proud owner poured the flight and his wine was very good. He taught us how the environmental differences from year to year can have a vastly different impact on the final product. Not enough rain, for example, and the grapes are incapable of yielding a robust quality to the wine they produce.
And so, while the weather, the location, and the itinerary were all ideal, really, it was about the group of friends who chose to go out and experience it all and make memories together. We were all together recently and mentioned it, years later. A good reminiscing, I think, is a hallmark of a quality gathering.
One of the highlighted memories for me was a short stop after our tasting with the French man. We found this super cute, quaint and tiny general store along a shaded road with some al fresco cafe tables where we decided to rehydrate. One friend suggested we all go around and take turns sharing qualities we appreciated about each other. It was so uplifting and such a simple way to show love to the friends who are near and dear to your heart. I’m convinced that one sincere exercise deepened and enriched our friendships. You should try it!
In the words of Dave Matthews, Turns out not where but who you’re with that really matters.
