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.
Clovis Point:
Sunday, April 11 – 2008 Merlot Barrel Tasting
Sunday, April 25 – 2008 Cabernet Franc Barrel Tasting
Jamesport Vineyards:
Weekends, April 10-11, 17-18, 24-25: Barrel tastings of 2008 Petit Verdot along with tapas pairings to accompany the wine.
Macari Vineyards & Winery:
Sundays in April: Experience the 2009 Reserve Chardonnay from Macari that has been evolving in our French oak barrels and taste for yourself the difference between two styles of Chardonnay, barrel fermented and stainless steel.
Martha Clara Vineyard:
Every Saturday and Sunday in April: Special tasting flight of 2009 Reds will be available at a cost of $8 for general public and $5 for wine club members.
Palmer Vineyards:
Saturdays and Sundays in April: Free guided tours of the winemaking facilities at 2 PM Barrel /Tank Preview Sample Flight
Peconic Bay Winery:
Sundays, April 11, 18, 25 and May 2, 11am to 12pm in the tasting room: Barrel Tasting Series. Reservations required: 631 734 7361. Price per person is $10; Wine Club Members $8pp. Includes tastings of our newly released Nautique, Esprit de Rosé!
Pellegrini Vineyards:
April 10, 17 and 24, 1-5 pm: Free barrel tasting of 2008 red wines with every paid regular tasting.
Pindar:
Saturdays, April 3, 10 & 17, 2 – 4pm. Barrel Tasting & Tour at Pindar Vineyards. Join winemaker Les Howard for a behind the scenes tour of the Pindar winemaking facility. Event includes tour, barrel samples, and full tasting. $20pp. Reservations at 631.734.6200 x104 or events@Pindar.net
Raphael:
April 11: Raphael will offer very unique barrel tasting events conducted by winemaker Richard Olsen-Harbich. Barrel tastings will include a walk through the vineyard and an education on the process of harvesting the grapes. You’ll tour our production facility then join Richard in the cellar to taste the future wines of Raphael direct from the barrel. You must see this cellar!
There will be two sessions: At 1:00 p.m., an introductory tour geared for the first time visitor who has never experienced a barrel tasting. At 3:00 pm, the second session will offer those that have attended a previous event a chance to learn something new about our upcoming vintages. $35/per person. Reservations Required. 631 765 1100 ext 101
Shinn Estate
Sundays, April 11 and 25, 1:30 pm: Barrel Tasting and vineyard walk. The Cost is $15 per person and reservations are recommended: 631 804 0367. Come taste naturally fermented wine from barrel and walk the vineyard while learning about natural wine growing. The walk concentrates on sustainable, organic and biodynamic farming.
Waters Crest Winery:
Saturdays, April 3, 11, 17, 25, 1 – 4 pm: Barrel tastings and winery tours.
Wolffer Estate Vineyards:
Saturday, April 17, 1 – 4 pm: Celebrate Rosé Launch Party. Free Tasting of Wolffer Estate Rosé 2009 + barrel sample Wolffer Estate “Grandioso” Rosé 2009. Live Music
Saturday, April 24, 1 – 4 pm: Barrel Tasting: Free tasting of Wolffer Estate “Lambardo” Merlot barrel sample 2008.