Harvesting Fun
In fall, thoughts on the East End turn to harvest time and wine. As of this writing there were a few tickets left for the Wolffer Estate Vineyard's annual harvest party from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday in Sagaponack. A $221.86 ticket (with fees and tax included) provides live music and international beverage and food stations. Activities include barrel rolling, grape stomping, a wine-making relay race, pony rides, and hayrides -- enough entertainment for the whole family. There is a slight discount for wine club members and priority access.
If Wolffer is sold out, a different harvest celebration is happening on Saturday at Haven Vineyard in Cutchogue from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The vineyard's New Roots Wine Club will offer attendees a chance to harvest and prepare a portion of the fruit in the vineyard for winemaking. The vineyard promises to reveal the secrets to "bottled magic." Paired tastings of petit verdot and an experimental wild-fermentation saperavi will follow. Attendees will also receive four bottles of the 2022 petit verdot to take home. Tickets for those who are not wine club members are being sold on Eventbrite in pairs for $250. Admission is free to members.
Wine Wednesdays Return
Nick and Toni's is bringing back its Wine Wednesday Workshops beginning Oct. 18. Chimene Visser Macnaughton, the Honest Man Hospitality beverage director and a certified sommelier, will once again partner with Wainscott Main Wine and Spirits to present certification-level seminars designed around themed tasting flights at the East Hampton restaurant.
The subjects for this fall's sessions that are open for booking online are: What We're Drinking (Oct. 18), led by Ms. Macnaughton and Luis Marin, the general manager and partner at Wainscott Main; Wine Discoveries at Weekday Prices (Oct. 25), led by Christian Troy, a partner at Indie Wineries, and An Importer's Oeuvre (Nov. 1) with Peter Weygandt and Brendan Root of Peter Weygandt Selections. The complete syllabus of seven classes will be announced soon.
All levels of students are welcome. Classes are held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The ticket price of $35 includes tasting sheets, crystal tasting stems, and small plates from the Nick and Toni's kitchen. Participants will receive discounts on wines purchased at Wainscott Main. Those who register for the entire series of seven classes will be automatically entered in a drawing for a seat at a Feast of the Seven Fishes wine pairing event on Dec. 7. Tickets are on the Nick and Toni's page on Resy.
Park Place Classes
Park Place Wines and Liquors in East Hampton will continue its series of wine classes on Oct. 19 with If You Like That, You'll Love This: Different Grapes With Similar Styles at 6 p.m.
The class is designed for discovery and experimentation within an area of comfort. The class promises that "No matter what your 'go to' wine is, we're here to help you broaden your wine horizons and explore new styles based on your favorite varietals and regions." The class will feature alternatives to classic cabernets and pinot noirs. The shop will also share good examples of albarino, gruner veltliner, and pecorino to try instead of sauvignon blanc.
The cost is $35, which will include treats from the Cookery in East Hampton.
Marilee's Fall C.S.A.
Marilee's Farmstand in Sagaponack is now offering sign-ups for its fall and winter community supported agriculture program. It will begin Oct. 20 and run for 11 weeks, ending Dec. 29.
Those who prepay for the whole season ($500) will receive a basket and only be charged for 10 weeks. There is also a weekly program ($50) with Friday delivery (a $20 surcharge) and Saturday pickup options. The farmstand also offers discounts for senior citizens, healthcare workers, teachers, emergency medical technicians, and firefighters.
Bedell Gets High Marks
James Suckling, a popular wine critic, has bestowed 90-plus ratings on several of Bedell's vintages. The Cutchogue winery's 2019 Gallery received 92 points, the 2014 Musee received 92 points, the 2015 Musee received 91 points, the albarino received 91 points, the 2019 malbec received 91 points, the 2021 rose received 90 points and the verdejo received 90 points. The winery offers all of the wines, but from different vintages, on its website.
