If you are thinking of exploring the top Long Island wine tours you have many choices. Depending on whom you ask, there are anything from 60 to 100 vineyards and wineries on Long Island. The exact number is unimportant – what matters is that in the space of fewer than 50 years, the peninsular has become a wine region with an international reputation. After all the difficulties of the past year or so, Long Island wine tours are back on the agenda, and when you use a luxury limo service to get there, it’s not just a matter of arriving in style – there’s also no need to worry about who will be the dedicated driver!
With so many vineyards offering Long Island wine tours, it is hard to know where to start. That’s where a little local knowledge comes in useful. Let’s take a look at the Long Island wine tours that get the top ratings, from both locals and visiting wine connoisseurs from all over the world.
Lenz Winery
As we mentioned, Long Island’s wine industry is relatively new, certainly when you compare it with places like Napa Valley in California. But Lenz Winery on North Fork has been around from the very beginning. Peter and Patricia Lenz established their vineyard at the former Kruspi farm in 1977 and set up a tasting room in one of the old farm buildings.
That setup has remained largely unchanged to this day, and what the barn lacks in-home comforts, it more than makes up for in atmosphere. Long Island is famous for merlots, and Lenz produces three varieties, as well as some award-winning sparkling wines. It’s where wine production started on the North Fork, and is the perfect place to start your Long Island wine tour.
Channing Daughters
Lenz might be long-established, but Channing Daughters is probably the most famous winery on Long Island. The vineyard’s many varieties have established a presence on wine lists across the world. In part, that is because they manage to keep their products affordable without compromising on exclusivity.
There’s genuinely something to appeal to everyone at Channing Daughters. Owner Walter Channing is also a renowned sculptor, and his artwork can be seen all across the estate.
Paumanok Vineyards
The famous merlots of Long Island lead some people to assume the vineyards here are all about red wine and nothing else. Paumanok Vineyard proves otherwise, and produces some wonderful sauvignon blancs, rieslings and Long Island’s only chenin blanc.
There’s a comfortable tasting room with a traditional bar, or you can sit outside on a deck that overlooks the vineyards. Some say there is no better view on all of Long Island!
Wölffer Estate
Like Channing Daughters, Wölffer Estate is not just an essential stop on the best Long Island wine tours. It is also a label that has an international reputation, despite the winery having been established in Sagaponack less than 30 years ago.
Wölffer Estate is particularly famous for its rosé, which is flying off the shelves in New York and beyond right now. The vineyard produces tens of thousands of cases each year, but the popularity is such that it invariably sells out by Thanksgiving. If your taste preferences lie elsewhere, Wölffer Estate also creates some wonderful classic crowd-pleasers like merlot and chardonnay.
Sparkling Pointe
We started with a highly traditional winery with an old-fashioned tasting room. Let’s end today’s tour at the other end of the spectrum. Sparkling Pointe is the only winery on Long Island that exclusively dedicates itself to sparkling wine, using traditional methods from France’s champagne region.
The tasting room shows that there are yet more cultural influences in play, however. The vibe is modern, and the décor is decidedly Brazilian in nature, representing the passion of owners Tom and Cynthia Rosicki’s.
Travel in comfort, safety, and style
Our Long Island Wine tours are popular with locals and visitors alike. There’s no better way to explore the region’s vineyards and wineries than from the comfort of a luxury limousine. We have a choice of vehicles depending on your party size, and you can rest assured that you are in safe hands. All our drivers are licensed, fully trained, and highly experienced professionals. They will also take all the necessary COVID safety precautions as stipulated by federal, state, and local public health officials in these continued challenging times.
To book a Long Island wine tour, please get in touch with us either via our online contact page, our mobile app, or by giving us a call on 516-883-1900.
