Digital City

While Napa Valley is the most famous wine region in the United States, the wineries on Long Island also pack quite a punch. On a recent wine tour, I had an opportunity to visit three of Long Island's best in the North Fork region and discovered that creativity in wine production exists on the East Coast as well as the West.

Tours through Long Island wine country are easily organized through various companies, like LI Vineyard Tours which provides a ride in a limo, if you so choose. It was a company like this that actually picked us up in a small bus (which included a bathroom -- big plus) around 9 AM out through Long Island.

Bedell Cellars
We arrived at this first stop a little before 11 AM. Located on the North Fork of Long Island, the tasting room has been set up inside a renovated potato farm. From the outside, the area is beautiful, surrounded by vines stretching for miles around. A host met us at the outdoor tasting area and poured us several wines.

The wine that stood out for me the most was Taste Red, a special blend produced at the winery combining Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah. The flavor was unique and complex and stood out among the other wines we tried, which included their Taste White (a combination of several whites) and their Merlot.

Laurel Lake Vineyards
Our second stop, we were treated to lunch on Laurel Lake's deck (price of the food was included in the price of the tour) and live music from a guitarist. The deck wraps around the tasting room and offers views of the expansive vineyard. It's a fantastic place to have some wine and a sandwich.

But before we tasted the wine, the hosts took us on a tour of the behind the scenes areas of the winery. We were taken step by step through the process and the chance to see the wines after they'd been barreled. Only then did we sit down to try their Chardonnay, Syrah and a Riesling among others. The Syrah made the biggest impression on me with its full-bodied taste and a bit of spice. The North Fork vineyards of Long Island are known for their quality Syrahs.

Vineyard 48
Our final stop, Vineyard 48 offered possibly the most interesting set. Inside the tasting room, you'll find unique chess sets displayed inside of cases. Guests are also welcome to play (less ornate) sets, if they so choose. Outside, visitors gather around several picnic tables where hosts greet and share their wines.

Our hostess was kind enough to bring us a variety of wine. We tried their table white and red and their Riesling. While I'm not much of a Riesling fan myself, I would have to say that it was still a quality flavor. But I was taken with the table red and even chose to take a bottle of it home with me.

If you yourself choose to take a wine tour in Long Island or anywhere in the country, I highly recommend it. It's a great opportunity to find out what America has to offer -- even in the wine department. But do remember that it is polite to buy a bottle or two along the way.