Spring in Long Island North Fork Wine Country happens to be the perfect time of year for a romantic getaway. After a long winter of being inside, those first few glorious weeks of spring are just perfect for getting out and enjoying nature and the countryside. The excitement mounts as the daffodils and tulips bloom and the gardens stir after a winter’s rest. The grass is now green and the leaves are ready to pop open on the trees. This is truly a refreshing time of the year and is Mother Nature’s rebirth of nature.
Birds that migrated for the winter are back and their excitement can be heard in the early mornings. It sounds as if they are as happy as the rest of us that spring on Long Island has returned and summer is just around the corner. The once vacant beaches are now awaking with activity as couples stroll hand in hand enjoying the feel of sunshine on their faces and the mesmerizing sound of the ocean as waves break at their feet.
Elaborate plans are not needed to enjoy spring on Long Island. It just happens!
When you get tired of working in New York City and not happy what do you do? You move to Southold on Long Island and open the North Fork Table & Inn. That is exactly what Gerry Hayden, from Aureole and Claudia Fleming, of Gramercy Tavern did and there has been no looking back! The North Fork Table & Inn focuses on Long Island’s local harvest and offers a progressive American menu which varies seasonally. The restaurant’s menu includes organic produce, the freshest seafood from Peconic Bay and award winning North Fork artesian cheese. Of course, let’s not forget the wine list which highlights local as well as national and international varieties.
What are people saying about their dinners? 
“Delicious, imaginative food with creative combinations of flavors!”
“An absolutely wonderful dining experience – delicious, fresh, creative foods paired with perfect wine selections.”
This year the North Fork Table & Inn in Southold, NY will be offer a prix fix menu for $68.00 and will consist of a first course, main entrée, and dessert. Additionally, they will continue to offer the Chef’s tasting menu. During lunch service, they will be offering both an Ala Carte and Chef’s tasting menu. Call for reservations at 631-765-0177 or reserve on-line.
Are you ready to taste Long Island wines straight from the barrel? During the month of April Long Island wineries offer guests the opportunity to taste vintages of wines directly from the barrel prior to their being made available to the public. During April, barrel wines will be tasted, tours will be provided, flight tasting will be offered, and good cheer will be shared by all. This year there will be fourteen wineries participating in the Barrel Tasting and the schedule of events is as follows:
Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard:
Every weekend in April: A Free Barrel Tasting of our 2008 Cabernet Franc!
Castello di Borghese:
Every Saturday in April – 3,10,17,24 at 1 pm: Join Castello di Borghese for the weekly Winemaker’s Walk and enjoy the added value of a Barrel Tasting. A guided tour of the vineyard, winery and production facilities will include some wines from the Borghese Classic Tasting, a Barrel Tasting of our 2006 Merlot and a comparison of other bottled vintages. $20 per person. Reservations online at BorgheseVineyard.com or by phone 631-734-5111.
Spring is in the air and it is time to enjoy golfing on Long Island! The Arbor View House Bed and Breakfast has put together a special package to satisfy the needs for those that golf and those that would rather enjoy a spa! Join the Arbor View House for a two night Long Island getaway through June and take advantage of their Spa and Golf Package. 
What is included in the Spa and Golf Package? The golfer in the family gets a half day of golfing at the Island End Golf and Country Club. The Island End Golf and Country Club is a 6,700 yard course in Greenport a short distance from the B&B. Their signature par 3 16th hole is on a bluff overlooking Long Island Sound and the view is beautiful. The four-start rated course has it all and the greens are among the finest on Long Island.
For the non-golfer in the family, do not worry as the Arbor View House Bed and Breakfast has it covered. Relax in the comforts of a half day spa service and settle in to a welcoming massage, followed by a body scrub, and wax. Just feel the stress of daily life melt away!
Don’t miss the last weekend of the 2010 Winterfest Jazz on the Vine. Enjoy a Long Island Romantic Getaway and throw in a little jazz for good flavor. Some of the best Steinway concerts will be happening the on Saturday and Sunday, March 20 and 21 and we do not want you to miss out! Here are some of the highlights:
EEAC Masters Quintet will be performing at Castello di Borghese Vineyards on Saturday, March 20 at 3 P.M. Teddy Charles is an American jazz pianist, drummer and vibraphone musician and has worked with some of the best including Miles Davis and Aretha Franklin. This is sure to get your feet tapping!
Trevor Davison Swing Jazz Quartet will be at Raphael, Saturday, March 20 at 4 P.M. This lively quartet has a variety of music from big bank swing, jazz, and classical to 50’s do-wop and mo-town. A regular on the North Fork of Long Island, it will be hard to sit in your seat.
Nilson Matta Brazilian Voyage Trio will be performing on Sunday, March 21 at 3 P.M. Matt is knows as a powerhouse bass-player and has been considered one of the best in the world. Combine this with Brazilian music and it is sure to be a winner.
Here is the complete schedule:
SATURDAY, MARCH 20th
1 pm: Martha Clara Vineyards (Riverhead) – Mitch Frohman Latin Jazz Quartet
1 pm: The Old Field Vineyards (Southold) – Mark Gatz Duo
1 pm: Peconic Bay Winery (Cutchogue) – Mambo Loco
2 pm: Pindar Vineyards (Peconic) – Napolean Revels-Bey Quartet
2 pm: Vineyard 48 (Cutchogue) – Jarrett Cherner Trio
3 pm: Castello di Borghese Vineyards (Cutchogue) – Steinway Series: EEAC Masters Quintet
3 pm: Clovis Point (Jamesport) – Ahmad Ali Duo
4 pm: Raphael (Peconic) – Steinway Series: Trevor Davison Swing Jazz Quartet
and
SUNDAY MARCH 21 st
12 Noon: Holiday Inn Express (Riverhead) – Isaac Jaffe Quintet
1 pm: Palmer Vineyards (Riverhead) – James Carney Quartet
1 pm: Corey Creek Vineyards (Southold) – Henning Stumm Trio
2 pm: NEW LOCATION: DILIBERTO WINERY (Jamesport) – Dennis Raffelock Duo
2 pm: Jamesport Vineyard (Jamesport) – Dave Allen Trio
2 pm: Martha Clara Vineyards (Riverhead) – Mundo Clave
3 pm: Sparkling Pointe (Southold) – Steinway Series: Nilson Matta Brazilian Voyage Trio
3 pm: Osprey’s Dominion (Peconic) – Mambo Loco
When thinking about the wine of North Fork of Long Island, also remember to think about cheese. One of the favorite cheese shops on the North Fork of Long Island is the Village Cheese Shop in Mattituck. The choices are amazing and with over 100 cheeses to choose from, it may take a little time to make your decision and they will be sure to assist you along the way.
The Village Cheese Shop was opened in 2001 and they feature cheese categories including French, Italian, American, Spanish, Dutch, English, and Swiss. Then, there are multiple cheese options under each category. Take it a step further and you can order sampler plates or cheese fondue which is served in a crock pot with chunks of crusty bread for dipping. Yum! I think that I have died and gone to cheese heaven!
One of the most popular cheese plates, the Twin Forks, includes Atlantic Mist, soft ripened cows’ milk cheese, and honey lavender goat cheese from Catapano’s Farm. The plate includes fruit, chutney, and bread toasts. Everything you need for a romantic picnic or sit down and enjoy it at the shop.
Here’s to the wine country’s cheese shop!
The Winterfest Jazz on the Vine is underway and the line-up for March at Castello di Borghese Winery is fabulous! All concerts are complimentary and Borghese wine will be available for purchase by the glass. Combine that with a weekend stay at the Arborview Bed and Breakfast and you have a winning combination!
Two Steinway Series concerts were scheduled for Castello di Borghese Winery with the remaining Steinway Series concert scheduled for Saturday, March 13th at 4 P.M. Ciemi Nakai is a native of Japan and is sure to dazzle. She began classic training early and moved in the direction of Jazz, Afro-Cuban music and Salsa. Next on the agenda is Linda Baker’s concert on Sunday, March 14th at 2 P.M. and this will be an afternoon of wonderful music. Linda is a pianist who is no stranger to entertainment after working many of the New York City clubs. She is known for show tunes, old standards, and sing-a-longs. Eeac Masters Trio with Teddy Charles will be the last concert on Saturday, March 20th at 3 P.M. Teddy Charles is an American jazz pianist, drummer, and vibraphone musician. His versatility is demonstrated by the broad spectrum of musicians with whom he has worked with including Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, and Gunther Schuller. He has also worked with rhythm and blues stars including Aretha Franklin, Chuck Willis, and Earl Bostic.
What more can we say about the March concerts at Castello di Borghese, except join them!
Are you an artist or just enjoy art? The East End Arts Council of Long Island celebrates the arts and works with well-known and yet-to-be discovered arts. The East End Arts Council presents art, music, dance, and theatre throughout the East End of Long Island. They feature ten gallery exhibits per year and a new exhibit opens every four to six weeks. Their gift shop also features original work of local craftspeople, as well as hand-pulled prints, original etchings, and fine art posters.
The gallery is located in the historic Davis-Corwin House and admission is free and open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 10 A.M. – 4 P.M. Black and White is a member’s show focusing exclusively on black and white art. It opened on January 15th and will continue to run through February 26th. The Body in Motion will depict bodies in the process of moving and will be an eclectic combination of man, beasts, and other displays of bodies in motion. It will open on March 5th and continue through April 9th. Also, be sure not to miss the reception on March 5th, from 5-7 P.M. The entire exhibition schedule for 2010 has been published and can be viewed on their website.
In additional to their gallery, additional exhibit spaces can be found at Riverhead Town Hall and the Rosalie Dimon Gallery within the Jamesport Manor Inn. Currently, Allan Bull & Carol C. Young art is exhibited at the Jamesport Manor Inn. This exhibit started on February 5th and continues through May 5th. An upcoming reception is scheduled for February 21st, from 3-5 P.M. Riverhead Town is exhibiting Dolores Castrucci Earth Paintings through March 1st.
Enjoy the arts and your stay with the Arbor View Bed and Breakfast!
Greenport’s Winterfest Gallery Walk is scheduled for Saturday, February 27th. Visit Greenport for an afternoon and evening of gallery hopping, gallery talks, music, and refreshments. Normally the gallery walks are held throughout the summer and fall, but Winterfest is a special occasion and so is this gallery walk. Artists will be on-hand to speak about their art and personally answer any questions you may have regarding their art and techniques.
The line-up of galleries is impressive and includes deCordova Studio & Gallery, Gallery M, The South Street Gallery & Framers, Winter Harbor Gallery, Terrace Joyce Gallery, Greenport Art and Design, and Studio E Gallery. Each gallery will host a featured artist and demonstrations and presentations will be done according to the artists’ specialty. Gallery visitors will enjoy a variety of sculpture, computer graphics, painting, watercolors, crafts, and demonstrations.
Greenport’s Winterfest Gallery Walk will be held from 2-9 P.M. The complete 2010 schedule is now available and will be held the third Saturday of the month during their normal season June through November.
Winterfest on Long Island. What is it all about? It is about having over 80 performances from February 13th to March 21st. A special Steinway kickoff event has been scheduled for Friday, February 12th at 7 P.M. at Wolffer Estate Vineyards. The event will feature Grammy award nominee and East End’s own Judy Carmichael, a world reknown stride pianist. Judy is just one of over 80 musicians and performers that will be participating in this year’s, Jazz on the Vine on Long Island.
Well it is said that a story says 100 words, and then a video tells even more! We have two videos to share with you from the 2009 Jazz on the Vine. Matt Marshall is a smooth guitar player and here he is playing “Wind Chill Factor”. If you prefer Latin Jazz, then take a look at this performance from Mundo Clave-Chucho . Remember that all performances are free at Jazz on the Vine.
So, what would you like to hear? Pop? Jazz? R&B? Contemporary? Blues? Latin? The schedule for Jazz on the Vine has just about everything that you can imagine. Once you participate in Winterfest, we know that you will come back year after year. This year, the Arbor View Bed and Breakfast will be featuring a free daily reception from February 15 until March 21 from 3-5 P.M. during Jazz on the Vine!
Join us for Jazz!