North Fork Hamptons Vacation part 3

The Tasting Room

This is another one of our favorite North Fork stops! Located at 2885 Peconic Lane in Peconic, NY The Tasting Room is the region's  "only multi-winery showcase for fine, limited production, hand-crafted, boutique wines from the North Fork." The Tasting room was first established in 2003 and is owned and operated by Theresa Dilworth, who is the owner and chief wine maker at Comtesse Therese Vineyards. We had a wonderful tasting, led by the knowledgeable and informative Charles Lazarou, who manages The Tasting Room. For only $6, The Tasting Room offers a flight of 6 different wines from the lesser-known local winemakers. The flight changes weekly, but on this visit we sampled:

Christiano Family 2007 Chardonnay - A medium-bodied chardonnay with notes of pineapple and pear.

Brooklyn Oenology 2009 Riesling Finger Lakes - Crisp with lemon, pear, nectarine, and a touch of honey.

Cometesse Therese Chateau Merlot 2004 - Very fruit-forward. Cherry, raspberry, and blueberry notes. One of my favorite merlots!

Medolla Vineyards 2003 Merlot - Medolla only makes merlot; this one was delicate and full of ripe, jammy fruits. Mr. Lazarou said that 2010 was not the best vintage year for merlot because the vineyards had seen too much rain.

Schneider Vineyards Cabernet Franc - Petit Verdot 2005 - This Cabernet is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Wonderful flavors of plums, blackberries, and dark chocolate with a long finish. Try it with a grilled meat or even a piece of dark chocolate.

Comtesse Therese Cabernet Sauvignon Serve 2003 - Delicious, full bodied with the flavors of ripe raspberries, spices, plum, and mint. 

A Taste of the North Fork.

Located right next door to The Tasting Room, this unique specialty foods shop features its own "taste of the North Fork." Here you can find conventional as well as unusual flavors of home made condiments - jams, jellies, chutneys, sauces, mustards, and spreads just to name a few. I picked up a couple of my favorites: Rugosa Rose Jelly and Lemon Verbena Jelly. Try them on toast, scones, or crackers with a mild, creamy brie or a soft goat cheese. If you can't make it up to the North Fork yourself, you can order their products online. 

Also on Peconic Lane is Ackerly Pond Vineyards, where I've done several tastings in the past. I particularly enjoy their rosés! 

If you cross Highway 48 at Mill Road (near Peconic Lane) there is a beautiful spot to relax on the beach. Here, the ocean meets an inlet and an interesting current condition occurs that lends itself to body-surfing and boogie-boarding. A beautiful spot, especially to watch the sunset.