Long Island’s Wine Country; A Heaven-On-Earth for the Budding Connoisseur
Many people think of California before anywhere else when it comes to good wine, but the West Coast has a serious rival in Long Island’s rich and diverse wine country. A quick search for Long Island vineyards reveals hundreds of wine-related results. According to local sources, the first Long Island winery was established in 1975; the Hargrave Vineyard in Cutchogue, owned by Alex and Louisa Hargrave. Today there are around sixty vineyards, ranging from small two-acre operations to five hundred acre vineyards. Thirty Long Island wineries are open to the public, producing over a million gallons of wine a year. A “wine novice” in Long Island may not know it right away, but LI is the perfect place to become acquainted with the fruits of the vine.
Many wineries offer tastings which are open to the public--you don't need to be a member of the wine club to attend. Palmer Vineyards, at 108 Sound Avenue on Route 48 in Riverhead, has an excellent schedule that runs year round. They feature tastings from 11AM to 6PM daily from June until October, and from 11AM-5PM daily from November to May. The great thing about these events is the ability to sample a variety of different types of wine without committing to a whole bottle of any one type. Tastings are a good, economical way to find out what you like. It's not always necessary to travel all the way to the winery to sample their wares. Broadfields Winery has tasting rooms located in Peconic and Jamesport. They also feature a wine club with direct delivery of limited-production wines on a quarterly basis. Long Island wine country is an exciting place for both connoisseurs and those with a newfound love for wine. Some of Long Island's mature vineyards are being given a lot of attention, especially in the wake of replanting in California due to a wine pest known as the Phylloxera louse. If you're interested in knowing more about LI wine country, or would like to take a tour, try exploring www.liwinetours.com. This Long Island tour group specializes in tours of wineries for small groups--you don't need to organize a big outing with a lot of people, two to four couples is an ideal group. You can also explore individual wineries with the help of www.liwines.com. Good luck and happy hunting! Joe
Wallace
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Newcomers to the joys of wine sometimes feel intimidated by the vast amount of choices and the impression of wine-lovers as snobby experts. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In reality, those who love wine are eager to share their passion with others, and it is fun to watch people make new discoveries. 
One excellent way to get started is to get in touch with a local winery and just plunge right in. A good number of