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The Wineries

It's Also a Place for All Seasons

FOR CENTURIES, vineyards have represented the sweeter side of life fertile soil, sun-kissed vines, tender care and, ultimately, fragrant grapes and the nectar within. Until a couple of decades ago, that was an Old World image for most Long Islanders. But the growth of Long Islands East End vineyards since then has moved beyond a promoters spiel. More than 40 vineyards cultivate the grape in that sun-drenched region, with 20 major wineries, most on the North Fork, turning out dozens of varietals.

Autumn is prime time for the vineyards. Harvesting generally starts in late September and continues into October. The tours and tastings offered by most vineyards take on added dimension then with special events, festivals, wine and cheese parties, hayrides, concerts and more.

Bedell Cellars, Main Road, Route 25, Cutchogue, 734-7537; www.bedellcellars.com. A renovated barn, with 30 planted acres. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. year-round; retail sales and tastings; picknicking. Fee: None. Specialties: Chardonnay, merlot, Bordeaux style blend, Main Road red, Cygnet, raspberry. Special events: Fall barrel-tasting weekends (new-barrel samples).

Bidwell Winery, Route 48, Cutchogue, 734-5200; 35 acres. Retail sales and tastings, daily tours. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. through Sept. 3, then 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Fee: None. Specialties: Chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, sauvignon blanc, white riesling, merlot, cabernet franc, Country Gardens Blush Bouquet. Special events: Music on weekends, call for dates and times.

Channing Daughters, 1927 Scuttle Hole Rd., Bridgehampton, 537-7224; www.channingdaughters.com; 125 acres. Retail sales and tastings; tours and picnic facilities. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily year round. Fee: None. Specialties: Chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, riesling, merlot. Special events: Shakespearian festival, art shows.

Corey Creek Vineyards, Main Road, Southold, 765-4168. Retail sales and tastings. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Fee: None. Specialties: Chardonnay, cabernet franc, merlot, rose. Special events: Concerts, call for dates and times.

Duck Walk Vineyards, 162 Montauk Hwy., Water Mill, 726-7555; 70 acres. In a Normandy-style chateau. Retail sales, tours and tastings. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily year-round. Fee: None (except large groups, by appointment). Specialties: Chardonnay, merlot, pinot meunier, cabernet sauvignon, Aphrodite (late-harvest gewurztraminer), Reserved chardonnay, and Windmill white, blush and red. Special events: Beginning Memorial Day weekend, live music on patio Saturday and some Sundays.

Gristina Vineyards, Main Road, Cutchogue, 734-7089; 30 acres. Tours, retail sales and tastings. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily year-round. Fee: None. Specialties: Chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and pinot noir. Special events: Call for dates and times.

Hargrave Vineyard, Route 48, Cutchogue, 734-5111; 70 acres. Oldest Long Island winery, begun in 1973. Tastings, retail sales, tours by appointment. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, April throughDecember, then weekends only, call for hours. Fee: None. Specialties: Chardonnay, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, blanc fume, pinot blanc, pinot noir, cabernet franc and proprietary blends (petite chateau cabernet, chardonette). Special events: Aug. 15, LI wine tasting, call for information.

Jamesport Vineyards, Route 25, Jamesport, 722-5256; 40 acres. Retail sales, tastings, self-guided tours, picnicking. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, closed Tuesdays and Wednesday, February and March; also by appointment. Specialties: Chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, merlot, cabernet franc, 2 champagnes, riesling, meritage. Special events: Jazz festivals, call for dates.

Laurel Lake Vineyards, 3165 Main Rd., Laurel, 298-1420. Hours: 10 a.m-6 p.m.; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Specialties: Chardonnay and red. Special events: Live jazz, call for details.

Lenz Winery, Route 25, Peconic, 734-6010 or 800-974-9899; 60 acres. Second-oldest winery on the East End, started in 1979. Retail sales, tours (weekends only) and tastings. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. June through October, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. November through May. Fee: None. Specialties: Champagne, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot, blanc de noir, gewurztraminer. Special events: International tastings for chardonnay in July, merlot in September; call for dates, times and fees.

Macari Vineyards and Winery, 150 Bergen Ave., Mattituck; 298-0100; www.macariwines.com. Retail sales and tastings. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Fee: None. Specialties: Sauvignon blanc, viognier, chardonnay, cabernet franc, merlot, bordeaux blend.

Ospreys Dominion Vineyards, Route 25, Peconic, 765-6188; 100 acres. Retail sales, tours and tastings. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Fee: None. Specialties: Cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot, strawberry wine. Special events on weekends through summer; call for dates and times.

Palmer Vineyards, 108 Sound Ave., Aquebogue, 722-9463 (722-WINE); 50 acres. Retail sales, tastings and self-guided tours. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. June through October, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. November through May. Fee: None for tours and some complimentary tastings; 50 cents for one-ounce tastings. Specialties: Chardonnay, riesling, gewurztraminer, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, pinot blanc. Special events: Summer festivals May 29-31, July 3-4 and Sept. 4-6. Fall weekend harvest festivals, Sept. 18-Oct. 31; featuring live bluegrass music and hayrides to vineyards.

Paumanok Vineyards, 1074 Rte. 25, Aquebogue, 722-8800; 50 acres. In a renovated, turn-of-century barn. Retail sales and tastings. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday, April 1-Oct. 15; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16-Mar. 31. Fee: None. Specialties: Chardonnay, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, riesling, late-harvest riesling, semidry riesling, chenin blanc, late-harvest sauvignon blanc. Special events: Rites of Spring, new releases of chardonnay and chenin blanc, guided vineyard tours, North Shore Arts Guild Art Show, Sunset at the Vineyard Jazz and Classical Concert Series and Harvest Celebration; call for dates and times.

Peconic Bay Winery, Route 25, Cutchogue, 734-7361; 57 acres. Hours: Formerly Peconic Bay Vineyards. Currently under renovation and scheduled to reopen this summer; call for opening date and schedule.

Pellegrini Vineyards, Route 25, Cutchogue, 734-4111, www.pelligrinivineyards.com; 50 acres. Retail sales and tastings, self-guided tours available. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, year-round. Fee: None for tours, varying fees for some tastings. Specialties: Chardonnay, Commonage, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, Finale, Encore, East End Select red, East End chardonnay.

Pindar Vineyards, Route 25, Peconic, 734-6200; 300 acres. Long Islands largest vineyard. Retail sales and tours. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily year-round. Fee: None, except for large groups (by appointment). Specialties: Bordeaux blend, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, chardonnay, champagnes. Special events: Open-air pavilion for events through October and Summer weekends, live music and tastings and Fall Harvest Festival Barbecue; call for schedules.

Pugliese Vineyards, Route 25, Cutchogue, 734-4057; 37 acres. Retail sales and tastings. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, year-round. No formal tours but will show visitors around on request. Fee: None. Specialties: Champagne, merlot, sparkling merlot, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, blush, chardonnay gold, red and white port and a red table wine.

Sagpond Vineyards, 139 Sagg Rd., just north of Montauk Highway, Sagaponack, 537-5106; 45 planted acres. Retail sales and tastings. Tours by appointment. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, year-round. Specialties: Chardonnay, Domaine Wolffer (chardonnay reserve), dry rose, Wolffer estate selection chardonnay, brut sparkling wine, merlot, Wolffer merlot, pinot noir, verjus. Fee: None.

Ternhaven Cellars, Alvas Lane, Cutchogue; 477-8737. Retail store at 322 Front St., Greenport. 5 acres. Retail sales and tastings. Tours on request. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday through Sunday with extended summer hours. Specialties: Bordeaux style reds. Fee: None.

It's Also a Place for All Seasons

SUMMER GETS MOST of the attention, but but the East End is home to film festivals, the Hampton Classic Horse show and a host of other events, large and small, all year long.Annual events include:

MAY

The Long Island Film Festival, Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, 76 Main St., Westhampton Beach. Showcase for independent feature, short and animation films. Call 288-1500.

Southampton Antiques Show, Southampton Elks Club, Sunrise Hwy., Southampton. The show, which features 100 dealers, country and formal furniture, quilts, art deco and more, also runs in July and August. Information, 696-0278.

JUNE

Mattituck Lions Club and North Form Bank Strawberry Festival, Country Road 48, north of Cox Neck Rd., Mattituck. Music, rides, and strawberry shortcake, of course.

JULY

Hamptons Greek Festival, Greek Orthodox Church, 111 St. Andrews Rd., Southampton. Music, dancing, chidren's activities, crafts. Call 283-6169.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER

The eight-day Hampton Classic, the largest hunter-jumper show in the United States. Call 537-3177.

SEPTEMBER

Shinnecock Powwow: Shinnecock Reservation, Southampton. Traditional American-Indian tribal dances, ceremonies, crafts, storytelling, foods. Dance and drum competition/exhibitions. Information, 283-6143.

OCTOBER

Hamptons International Film Festival, various sites in and around the East Hampton area. Features from international and American independent filmmakers. Information, 324-4600.

Mattituck Lioness Club Harvest Fair, Village Green, Rte. 25, Cutchogue. Food, fruits, flowers and crafts. Information, 734-4269.

Montauk Fall Festival, Main Street, Montauk. Clam chowder/chucking contests, bike races, pumpkin decorating and pony rides. Information, 668-2428.