Grape growing and limited wine production on Long Island dates back to the late 1600’s, but the first commercial vineyards on Long Island were planted in the early 1970s under the stewardship of Alex and Louisa Hargrave. Their work lured investors, grape growers, and accomplished and promising winemakers to the region. Today, the region is home to more than 60 wineries and a number of satellite wineries/stores and is considered by Wine Enthusiast as a region with incredible potential for the world-class wine that “appears in some of the country’s best restaurants and has a presence on the international stage.”

The climate and soil of Long Island plays a major role in the terroir of the wines produced in the region. According to Harvey Steiman of Wine Spectator, terroir “comprises all the physical elements of a place that can affect the character of wine made from it.” The primary viticulture areas of Long Island are divided into two peninsula-like “forks,” known as the North and South Forks. The South Fork, which encompasses the Hamptons AVA, has fewer wineries and vineyards but does have a soil type that separates it from the North Fork, known as Bridge Hampton Loam, which has a higher clay content and water holding capacity. The North Fork is made up of Haven Loam, which has a higher sand content and drainage capacity. Both sit atop subsoils of glacial sand and gravel deposits. The South Fork is cooler and has a slightly truncated growing season (about 2 weeks shorter) because of the coastal influence of the Atlantic.

Stylistically, similar enough wines are produced, and vineyards from each fork are sometimes even blended. The climate is significantly warmer and garners riper Bordeaux style blends than the upstate AVAs which have less protection from winter temperatures for ripening grapes like Merlot. Excellent white wines are produced on Long Island as well, including textured, almost California sun-kissed, Chardonnays, Gewürztraminer, and Sauvignon Blancs, and a handful of less well-known grapes that different wineries have had major success with, like Albariño, Chenin Blanc, Malbec, and Shiraz. Specific examples can be found below: