Long Island wineries stepping up food options
The gnocchi pesto and shrimp scampi pizza at Del Vino Vineyards in Northport. Credit: Linda Rosier
It's that time of year; the season when annual pilgrimages for a day at a Long Island winery are a summer rite of passage. But after the first glass goes down smoothly, the ominous question looms: Do they have food here?
Sure, there's passing collaborations like Fizz & Fry at Sparkling Pointe on Mondays — a new series through Labor Day weekend in collaboration with Braun Seafood that serves a menu of fried chicken and seafood — or pop-up pizza trucks at Palmer Vineyards on weekends. But a handful of wineries have dedicated food programs — even a couple of on-site restaurants. From the family friendly farms in Mattituck to the rolling hills of Northport, here are some standout wineries at which to drink and eat.
Diners at Northport's Del Vino Vineyards, which feels like a Tuscan oasis on the North Shore. Credit: Linda Rosier
Del Vino Vineyards
29 Norwood Rd., Northport
If you’re under the impression that Long Island’s wineries only exist on the East End, think again. The lush acreage of vines that spring up in the middle of Northport feels more like a Tuscan oasis on the North Shore that the Giachetti family — Lisa and Fred — have cultivated into a destination dining spot. Dating their winemaking technique back to the 1800s, originating in the small, southern Italian town of San Leucio, Del Vino began when the Giachettis expanded production of the wines they made in their Northport home to enjoy with guests. Fast forward 20 years: Del Vino offers a compelling sampling of grapes, but also boasts one of the best menus to accompany them.
THE WINE Del Vino makes not only Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, but Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Cabernet and red blends, Super Tuscans, and rosé, the latter of which gets a seasonal, summer treatment as a frosé, or rosé slushie ($18) that’s as delicious as it is Instagrammable. Glasses start at $12, bottles at $39.
ON THE MENU On a special pairing menu, vibrant magenta beet salad ($24) piled with feta, red onion, cranberry and candied walnuts goes with Pinot Grigio, while sweet and spicy shrimp ($28) is matched with Sauvignon Blanc. A decadent, earthy, handmade trofie pesto ($25) with stracciatella cheese goes beautifully with the reserve Amore red. There are also pizzas and charcuterie boards, sausage and meatball platters, a host of salads from Caesar ($21) to Caprese ($21), sandwiches including one with pork belly, spinach and mozzarella on semolina bread ($29) that shouldn’t be missed. Most interesting dish? "The shrimp scampi cauliflower-crust pizza ($25)," according to Fred Giachetti.
Del Vino Vineyards offers, clockwise from top left, shrimp scampi cauliflower-crust pizza, truffle burrata, sandwiches, beet salad piled with feta, red onion, cranberry and candied walnuts and more. Credit: Linda Rosier
More info: 844-335-8466, delvinovineyards.com
Rose Hill Vineyards
2000 Oregon Rd., Mattituck
Enjoy a glass of wine with the bites menu on one of the outdoor patios at Rose Hill Vineyards in Mattituck. Credit: Randee Daddona
Like its sister properties Main and Mill in Jamesport and Croteaux in Peconic, Rose Hill (formerly Shinn Estate) is as much of a design wonderland as its contemporaries. With a landscape of rolling vines, spacious patios shaded by oversize umbrellas, and trendy black and white striped accents outside, clubby lounges full of leather and suede couches and swank drinking nooks await inside.
THE WINE A summer seasonal flight ($30) encompasses all of their whites and rosés. There's also a concentrated red flight. A bottle of the 2024 Coalescence ($28), a blend of all of the winery’s white varietals, pairs with finger food. Glasses start at $12, bottles at $28.
ON THE MENU A bites menu encompasses charcuterie and cheese boards ($32), as well as a Mediterranean board ($32) with pita and dips including hummus and tzatziki. More playful options include giant Bavarian pretzels ($24) with beer cheese and mustard on the side, even a warm cookie plate ($12). There’s crudités and olives, and whipped ricotta and crostini ($14), but the only way to really up your pairing is with Braun’s lobster roll sliders (two for $36), served cold with North Fork chips.
More info: 631-804-0367, rosehill-vineyards.com
Terra Vite Winery & Vineyard
250 Manor Lane, Jamesport
Julia, Max, Elliot, and Eliana Berger, of Port Jefferson, enjoy a chacuterie board at Terra Vite Winery & Vineyard in Jamesport. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
Discovering Terra Vite on a recent spring afternoon felt like a revelation. This family-owned winery, by Jacqui and Greg Goodale, may just win the charcuterie award for its fresh, colorful, overstuffed boards. Sit on the patio, overlooking the winery’s three acres of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc vines, while a fire pit roars nearby, flickering flames of amber, as you sip and savor Terra Vite’s view.
THE WINE The two-acre property in Aquebogue grows red varietals cabernet franc, Syrah and merlot for crimson juice lovers. But — and we really mean this — do not skip over the food offerings here. The staff is warm and friendly, akin to visiting an Italian relative’s country home, as they set down massive boards ($45) brimming with breadsticks, prosciutto, pepperoni, salami, cornichons, olives, a variety of North Fork and Italian cheeses, red peppers, nuts and dried fruits. Meatless versions are also available ($35) and just as voluminous. Glasses start at $13, bottles at $35.
The food at Terra Vite is meant to be shared. Consider a charcuterie board, a dip bowl served with crostini or an Italian panini such as the Napoli, loaded with provolone, soppressata, and Genoa salami on toasted ciabatta, finished with aged balsamic vinegar and Calabrian olive oil. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
ON THE MENU Deep dip bowls include ricotta and honey, topped with sea salt, pistachios and served with crostini ($22). Variations include an eggplant caponata bowl ($22), and a seasonal strawberry and marscapone from Schmitt’s Farm in Riverhead. There are also fat, Italian paninis — consider the Napoli loaded with provolone, soppressata, and Genoa salami on toasted ciabatta, finished with aged balsamic vinegar and Calabrian olive oil. Make no mistake; all food items are meant to be shared.
More info: 631-722-3416; terravitevineyard.com
Harbes Family Farm & Vineyard
715 Sound Ave., Mattituck
Parents rejoice! Harbes Family Farm, the sprawling interactive, animal farm and surrounding grounds, is the way to wine country with the littles.
THE WINE One of the North Fork’s first certified sustainable vineyards, a powerful environmental statement, Harbes cultivates many varietals including merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, skin-fermented Chenin Blanc, a clean, crisp, steel-fermented Chardonnay, and cabernet franc. Most importantly, it’s the perfect place to bring the family to climb, run, do spontaneous cartwheels, drive kiddie cars, feed the goats, and hit the monkey bars, while the adults set up shop on one of the many picnic tables throughout the property. Inside the clubby winery, you can do wine tastings for $20 (for three tastings) or $30 (for five tastings). Glasses start at $8, bottles at $22.
ON THE MENU Snack on charcuterie ($39) and cheese plates ($32). But wait; there’s actually food for the kids here, too. The farm stand offers kiddie classics like grilled cheese ($9.95), hot dogs ($5.98), corn on the cob ($5.52), apple cider doughnuts (six for $10.95), even lemonade. And yep, there’s ice cream. Suggested: the apple cider doughnut vanilla, obviously.
More info: 631-482-7641; harbesfamilyfarm.com
Jamesport Vineyards
1216 Main Rd., Jamesport
Order a pie cooked in the wood-fired oven at Jamesport Vineyards in Jamesport. Credit: Gordon M. Grant
A father-son collaboration that began in 1986, Ron Goerler Sr. and Jr. are the team behind Jamesport Vineyards, one of the older wineries in the region that lives in a 165-year old barn.
THE WINE With a bevy of options from the Spanish derivative Albariño to Chardonnay there are also rosés, and reds including Syrah and cabernet franc. The added beauty of Jamesport’s wines? The Little Oak Wood Fired Kitchen, the property’s restaurant, may be the only other official winery restaurant on the North Fork. Glasses start at $15, bottles at $29.
ON THE MENU With its wood-burning oven, Little Oak trades in pizza. From Margherita ($23) to Goat (goat cheese, spinach and mozzarella, $24), white pies ($27) to the Corrado ($27) made with hot Italian sausage, onions and roasted red peppers, there’s also accompanying salads from Caesar ($14) to raspberry grilled chicken ($21) to burrata ($18), pork, beef and veal meatballs ($20), as well as larger plates like shrimp scampi ($26), charred octopus ($26). Pro tip: There's a great Sunday, Monday, and Thursday special: $45 for a pizza margarita and a local bottle of wine.
More info: 631-722-5256, jamesportwines.com
A global freelancer who has checked her suitcase to raise her young daughter on her native Long Island, Marie Elena will always make time for good mezcal, even better tacos and killer conversation. Preferably, in a corner bar seat. She can be found on Instagram at @mariesworldeats.
