The East End Seaport Maritime Museum is located in Greenport, Long Island. The Maritime Museum is located in a former railroad station, adjacent to the Shelter Island North Ferry Dock. The museum features an array of exhibits on the maritime heritage of the area, including displays on the Greenport menhaden fishing industry, lighthouse lenses, the oyster industry, a model ship of the USS Ohio, and more. One of our favorite exhibits is the Fresnel lenses and the quality of the lenses on display is extremely uncommon.
Children are always welcomed at the Museum and during the month of August, there are two scheduled readings. On Wednesday, August 11th, list to stories about lighthouses, view photos of lighthouses, and children can make a replica to take. Wednesday, August 18th gather around to hear tales of pirates and participate in making your very own treasure map to take home. This is a great way to learn about history and have fun along the way. Of course, add a special visit to the Village Blacksmith Shop on the weekends and see a real blacksmith at work.
The Annual Maritime Festival will be held on September 24th thru 26th. This is a special opportunity for locals and visitors to the Greenport area to learn about the East End’s Maritime heritage and contribute towards its preservation. The Festival is organized by volunteers and the East End Seaport Museum & Marine Foundation. The Village of Greenport will be packed with a variety of craft and food vendors, local merchants will have exciting displays, and guests can enjoy the array of galleries, antique stores, and restaurants.
Looking to try some Long Island wines? Long Island wine country has numerous amounts of wineries and all of them have fabulous wines. However, there are some that just seem to have received a little more attention than others! The following wines have been noted as some of the “must try” Long Island Wines selected by the Long Island Wine Guide. Sit back, sip, and enjoy! Cheers!!
| Osprey’s Dominion 2000 Flight Meritage: This full-bodied blend of Merlot (60%) and Cabernet (40%) boasts a blackberry aroma with layers of new smoky oak and fleeting herbal notes and features a velvet texture with ripe tannins and a long finish. A winner of the “Best in Class” at the 2004 New York State Fair, the “Double Gold Medal” at the 2004 Tasters Guild International and the “Gold Medal” at the 2004 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition. Average price per bottle: $35. Castello di Borghese 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 Reserve: This Cabernet, with its deep ruby garnet appearance, features a rich start that tapers to a textured, rounded and well balanced finish. Look for hints of licorice, black plum, vanilla and black cherry. Average price per bottle: $35. 2002 Sherwood House Merlot: A bright deep ruby red wine, the spicy and peppery scents of the 2002 Merlot come together with a delicate fruity nose, developing a charming aromatic bouquet of raspberry and floral. Vanilla and oak flavors add to the complexity of this wine, melting with its delicate structure. Average price per bottle: $24 Laurel Lake 2002 Syrah: This full-bodied wine, barrel aged in French Oak for 18 months, is a fine example of the intense flavor for which the North Fork is well known. The 2002 Syrah is soft and silky with hints of pepper. The palate gives generous berry flavors with fine toasty oak finish. The Laurel Lake 2002 Syrah was a winner of the Florida State Fair International Wine Competition 2002. Average price per bottle: $20. Lieb Cellars 2003 Chardonnay Reserve: On the heels of its award winning 2002 vintage, Lieb’s 2003 Chardonnay Reserve may even beat its predecessor. Whole cluster pressed, using only first-run juice, it was stainless fermented with finishing for six months in neutral French oak. Elegant and well balanced with aromas of spiced apple and pear, hints of marzipan and toastiness, this Chardonnay flows beautifully on the palate. Average price per bottle: $18. Martha Clara 2004 Five-O White: A blend of six white varietals including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Viognier and Gewürztraminer, bringing together the best of each varietal. This medium-bodied white reveals deep exotic perfumes and more subtle flavors of white fruits. Try this 2006 Jerry D. Mead New World International Wine Competition “Silver Medal” award winner with seafood. Average price per bottle: $25. Macari Vineyards 2003 Reserve Barrel Fermented Chardonnay: This elegant chardonnay was crafted in small quantity, using only hand-selected grapes. It features an enticing nose of caramel, apple and spicy Asian pear that leads to a creamy, almost frothy sensation on the palate. This chardonnay offers the perfect balance of fruit and oak, with hints of tropical fruits and stone fruit. Average price per bottle: $25. Castello di Borghese 2001 Merlot: Aged in French oak barrels for 13 months, this Merlot is well balanced with aromas of rose petal and cinnamon, a soft fruit flavor with a hint of black pepper and a beautiful garnet color. Average price per bottle: $20. Palmer 2003 Merlot: This merlot features ripe plum and berry flavors balanced with soft tannins and smoky oak. Its rich color and supple structure are a fine compliment to red meats, pork, poultry and medium flavored cheeses. The 2003 Palmer Merlot was a “Silver Medal” winner in the 2005 Taster’s Guild International competition. Average price per bottle: $19. Osprey’s Dominion 2001 Reserve Chardonnay: A “Silver Medal” winner at the 2005 New York Wine & Food Classic, this delicious chardonnay features a ripe tropical fruit aroma of pineapple and grapefruit with hints of green apple, toasted oak and vanilla. Aromas of apricot, peach, pineapple and toasted yeast round out this unique delight. Average price per bottle: $20. |
|
If you plan to visit Long Island vineyards, make sure to add Martha Clara’s Vineyard to your list. Martha Clara’s Vineyard on the North Fork of Long Island was purchased by the Entenmann’s family in 1978 and was originally a potato farm. In 1995, they caught the “grape bug” and planted 18 acres of vitis vinifera grapes and they haven’t looked back since. Over the next four years, they expanded to over 100 acres of growing grapes and the vineyard is just lovely.
In addition to growing grapes, Martha Clara’s Vineyard has a variety of activities that are just perfect for a romantic getaway to the wine country of Long Island. Horse drawn carriage tours and wine tastings are available on an ongoing basis. The August and September calendar of events are chock full and are as follows: