The North Fork AVA on Long Island has a sophisticated wine culture and is now home to numerous excellent wineries where you can go to learn more about winemaking, see vineyards, and taste wine.

Despite not being one of the top wine regions in the United States, the North Fork has some breathtakingly gorgeous vineyards and makes some of the best wine in the world. It’s worth a day trip out there if you’re in New York City for a visit.

If that appeals to you, continue reading because we’ve compiled a list of the top ten wineries in the North Fork. The North Fork AVA of Long Island must be included in your schedule if you’re already touring some of the other stunning locations in New York.

If you enjoy wine, look through our other excellent wine articles to plan your next wine getaway.

In North Fork, how many wineries are there?

Even though the first vines were planted in the 1970s, North Fork has a very short history of wine production.

Long Island is home to three American Viticultural Areas, which help to paint a more complete image of the region (AVAs). These are The Hamptons, North Fork, and Long Island, respectively.

The North Fork of Long Island AVA, which spans 158 square miles and includes from Riverhead to Orient Point, Robins and Shelter Islands, has about 60 wineries. Lyle Greenfield and Richard Olsen-Harbich founded the AVA in 1985, and it is still expanding and thriving today.

How to Taste Wine in the North Fork

In North Fork, there are two possible ways for wine tasting. The two principal thoroughfares on the North Fork are Sound Avenue and Route 25. Many of the wineries along the route enable you to simply stop in for a tasting if you happen to be driving by. There are wineries located all along the route.

Nevertheless, a few vineyards do demand reservations. Additionally, you should have a strategy in place because not all wineries are open all year. If there is a particular one you want to go to, it would be wise to check whether they are open beforehand by calling or checking their website.

You should be picky about what you’re looking for because you certainly can’t visit more than 3-5 in a day. Several wineries provide breathtaking views of the ocean, picnic areas, and live music on the weekends.

10 Wineries to Visit in the North Fork

Jamesport Vineyards

A father and his son established the sustainable Jamesport Vineyard in 1986.

Because it continues to draw an increasing number of tourists thanks to its reputation as a superb winery, it offers food and wine options every Saturday and Sunday when you visit, and its grounds and wine-tasting area are very vast.

On a lovely summer day, you can sit outside on the expansive grounds at the charming picnic tables. Here, you may savour a traditional thin-crust pizza baked in an Italian wood-fired oven while drinking a mouthwatering glass of their wine.

Even better than beer and pizza or cheese and cold cuts, this is a divine pairing!

Other event venues near the winery can be rented out for private parties, weddings, or small gatherings. The grounds also offer the ideal environment for enjoying the jazz performance that is held there on certain weekends.

Macari Vineyards

In 1995, a family from Italy founded the Macari vineyards.

They immigrated from Italy to New York and bought a property that was formerly a sizable potato field. They then converted it into a winery because winemaking naturally plays a significant role in their culture given their Italian ancestry.

They make many different types of wine, including all the classics like Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Grüner, and Veltliner.

You may visit the vineyard to taste all of their wines, including their famous sparkling HORSES wine, made from the Petit Verdot grape variety. This wine is incredibly delicious and will fill your tongue with a delightful fruitiness.

You can sample their offerings at their wine bar and tasting room, which are both on the premises.

Additionally, you can decide to have a seat in their barrel cellar where you can savour gourmet cheese, sourdough, and charcuterie while happily sipping on a number of their wines.

You must make reservations in advance for this, though!

RGNY

RGNY is relatively young, having only been founded in 2018 when Mexican-American winemaker Maria Rivero and her family acquired the Martha Clara winery. Maria Rivero was previously the CEO of a winery in Mexico named Rivero Gonzalez.

The vineyard was later transformed into RGNY by the family through the implementation of sustainable practices.

This winery, which seeks to increase people’s understanding of the beverage, is possibly the greatest spot to visit in North Fork if you want to sample a wide array of wines.

It achieves this by creating less well-known wines, which are often red wine varietals as opposed to white wines. Examples of these wines are white merlot and white cabernet franc.

They also experiment with flavours and textures; for instance, their pinot noir and cabernet franc are unfiltered, producing a fantastic wine with a mind-blowing appearance, aroma, and flavour!

Their tasting rooms are open whenever you’d like to go, with or without a reservation.

When you visit, you’ll be given the chance to sample some of their fantastic wines along with artisanal charcuterie and cheese dishes.

Additionally, throughout the warm months, live music is performed outside!

Bedell Cellars

The family-run, 40-year-old Bedell Cellars winery is dedicated to sustainability by hand-crafting its wine in modest quantities.

They started as just one of the two vineyards in North Fork, but after spending so much time developing their wines through ongoing experimentation and improvement, they now have a well-deserved reputation as one of the top vintners in the region.

If you have a sophisticated palate, you should try their mature reds, whites, and rosés!

There is no need to make reservations because the winery is open every day from 11 am to 5 pm, so you may visit whenever you choose.

You may easily spend the entire day there because they will set together a tasting flight of wines for you to enjoy while you lounge in the sun on their lovely lawn overlooking the vineyard or on the patio, including sparkling rosé, merlot, and pinot gris.

You can go there and sit on its expansive deck during the cooler months to enjoy superb wine and food!

Paumanok Vineyards

The wines from Paumanok Vineyards are so well-liked that they have even been offered at The White House! The Massoud family has been in charge of the winery, which is another family-owned property, since 1983.

The winery is essentially a converted barn with a lab and room for fermenting tanks inside.

Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc are the only quality vinifera fruits they use.

The vineyards are densely planted at 1,100 to 1,400 vines per acre by the old-style traditions of winemaking, which results in more concentrated grapes and higher-quality, more flavorful wine.

You can walk in or make a reservation to visit their vineyard any day of the week from 11 am to 5 pm.

You can sip some of their delectable wines in their roomy tasting room or outside on a lovely deck that overlooks 80 acres of vineyards!

Rose Hill Vineyards

In the spring of 2021, Rose Hill Vineyards, formerly known as Shinn Estate Vineyards, changed its name.

They are a tiny winery that is housed in a 125-year-old barn with plenty of natural light and was constructed in a way that allows them to manage fruit using gravity.

They employ eco-friendly, sustainable practices, making sure the vineyard is entirely powered by renewable energy sources, among other things.

Even though the winery was once a farm, it now boasts lovely vineyards that you can visit and gaze out over any day between 11 am and 6 pm. They also offer wine tasting and light fare on the patio, weather permitting, so you can take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy yourself to the fullest!

The vineyard also has a bed and breakfast called the Farmhouse Inn where you can unwind and spoil yourself with delectable wine, food, and peace if you so desire.

Palmer Vineyards

Robert Palmer founded Palmer Vineyards, which gives the company its name, in 1983.

However, the Massoud family currently controls it and upholds Palmer’s original goal of producing wines of the highest calibre.

They have acquired a solid reputation and are one of the most well-known wineries in North Fork, having won numerous awards over the years.

The vineyard is open every day and welcomes both walk-ins and reservations.

They offer outstanding customer service, and throughout your visit, you’ll be able to have a wine-tasting session using all of your senses. You may taste, smell, and view the wine they have to offer, allowing you to truly develop your wine knowledge while you’re there.

To take advantage of everything the vineyard has to offer in terms of wine and events, you can even join the wine club, which you must join.

Beautiful scenery is also present, making it ideal for celebratory occasions like weddings or birthdays.

Pindar Vineyards

Barbara and Pindar Damianos, a mother and son team who own and operate Pindar Vineyards, uphold the standards that Barbara’s husband established 40 years ago.

They produce more than 70,000 cases of wine annually, making them one of the most well-known wine producers on Long Island.

One of the largest open places on Long Island, they have more than 500 acres of vineyards, a tasting room, and a sizable outdoor area.

You can enjoy wine by bottle or glass, cheese plates, and other small nibbles during their daily wine-tasting events.

You can even browse their wine selection before deciding which ones you wish to try.

They produce 17 different grape kinds as well as over 23 different varietals and blends, so the selection is excellent.

Dr Dan’s Gewürztraminer, one of their famous wines, has won honours for its excellence!

It’s nice that this winery is family-friendly and also caters to children, offering soft drinks and snacks for them. You can even bring your kids along with you to a wine-tasting session if you want to.

Every weekend in the summer, they also host live music events.

Clovis Point Vineyard And Winery

Nasrallah Misk, Marilyn Misk, Mark Misk, Dina Misk, and Richard Frey are the primary owners of Clovis Point.

They are exceptionally skilled and well-informed about international wines, and their expertise is evident in the wine made at their vineyard, where they have produced both red and white wines that have won awards.

If you decide to go for a wine-tasting session, you will be in a lovely setting surrounded by cornfields and vines and will be given wine to taste along with a variety of charcuterie and other cold appetisers to combine with each wine.

They are open every day of the year, but if you want to come for a wine tasting, you must make an appointment. Additionally, groups larger than six individuals are not permitted.

This makes it perfect if you want to spend a few romantic days away with your significant other!

One Woman Winery

Family-run and female-led, One Woman Winery has a fascinating history. It is managed by Claudia Purita, who was raised on her family’s farm in Italy where she produced vegetables and wine grapes.

She later relocated to Long Island and, after spending a few years working in restaurants, she decided to go back to her roots by purchasing a vineyard on North Fork.

Their wine is of the finest calibre since the vineyard is sustainably managed and fully estate grown and produced on the North Fork.

Along with other great wine grapes like Grüner Veltliner, they cultivate classic Italian grape varietals.

They also take part in ground-breaking research projects in collaboration with Cornell University, like when they grew more than a dozen different kinds of clover as a cover crop for vineyards.

They have an outdoor tasting room where you can try their wine by the glass or by the bottle from Thursday through Monday from 11:30 am to 5 pm. If the weather is a little chilly, make sure to dress appropriately because they don’t have an enclosed space.

They work on a first-come, first served basis and don’t accept bookings.

Final Thoughts

There is a fantastic assortment of world-class wineries on the North Fork.

So, why not visit one of our top 10 wineries in the North Fork if you’re looking for a lovely, quiet weekend away while tasting some of the best wines you can find?