Pretty Neat

Nearly 40 years ago the Hargraves said nuts to potato farming and planted a vineyard.  This was a time when land was cheap and the North Fork of Long Island was just waking up to the realization that it had something to offer other than potato chips (think of Long Island as an alligator with its mouth open and the top of his mouth is what is called the north forth - the lower half of his jaw is the "fab" Hamptons).  One got good land and the other got Lady Gaga. So life isn't fair in most instances.

Not wanting to sound like a tour guide but the North Fork now abounds in farms that survived and, well a 'bunch(es)' of Wineries (I'm out of grape analogies - you are safe for the time being).  Not the giant enterprises we imagine but more of a Napa feel without the "other coast" affectionado-enthusiasts we in the east associate with that scene.  This is "day trip" country where families go to corn mazes, pick pumpkins, parents drop into one or two wineries for a sample or a memento of the day bottle to bring home and search for an affordable restaurant that serves kids.  It is what it is. Pretty neat.

The two east-west roads on this top half of the alligator's jaw are soon to be jammed from now until the last brussel sprout is sold around Thanksgiving and although a few of the tasting rooms stay open year round and do pretty well visitor-wise.  The quality varies of course from pretty good wow that's great and inroads have been made into trendy NY City restaurants but mostly we are talking moderately priced wine that is a good bargain and we all have our favorites.

Just saying that spring is on the way, the season will be upon us soon, and our shop is all ready for you.