Croteaux Vineyard
On Saturday three friends and I took the LIRR almost three hours east on Long Island, to Southold in the North Fork. Our destination was the Croteaux Vineyard, but it was the perfect day-trip that included bagel sandwiches, a colonial cemetery, a walk down the adorable Main Road and—eventually—the vineyard.
The North Fork is like a mini Napa Valley, and you could easily spend a weekend there hopping from vineyard to vineyard. On the train ride there, I knew we were getting close when I started to see grapevines, and you might be surprised at how fast a nearly three-hour train ride can go if you're properly caffeinated and bring the right friends.
Croteaux only produces Rosé, and despite the fact that pink wine seems to be everywhere these days, they're the only, Rosé-only winery in the country. I'm by no means a wine connoisseur but I am a huge fan of eating salty snacks and laughing with friends, both of which pair very well with a chilled, bubbly drink. They have a "tasting barn," which is really just a garden with tables, but it's the perfect setting to sample their variety of "dry, crisp, fun-to-drink wines."
The tasting menu includes the option of either six still or three sparkling wines, and I chose the sparkling. Again, I know nothing about wine but I definitely think they're succeeding in their quest to produce wines that are extremely drinkable—all three of mine were delicious, and I bought a bottle of their Chloe Sauvignon Blanc Sparkling Rosé to take home with me.
This wasn't my first time in Long Island (I've been to East Hampton, Long Beach, Kings Park, Riverhead, Wantagh and Flanders) but it was my first time at a vineyard. As a woman in my early 30s, it seems as if my Instagram feed is full of groups of women hanging out in vineyards every weekend. I always thought it seemed sort of silly until I realized just how nice it could be to plan an outing where the only thing on the agenda is to day-drink with three of your favorite people.
Croteaux Vineyard
1450 South Harbor Road, Southold, NY 11971
Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 12-6pm
