Long Island AVA
by Tim Powers
Long Island AVA
Although it is often thought that one needs to travel halfway across the globe to experience fantastic wines at the source, the Long Island AVA pairs traditional, delicious wines with the modernity of sustainable growing practices and a down-to-earth attitude. Originally consisting of two smaller AVAs (American Viticultural Areas), the Long Island AVA was established in 2001 to better reflect the growing wine region. Spanning across both the North and South Forks, this stellar AVA stands out because of its soil, its climate, and the unceasing drive of the individuals who have devoted their lives to working the land and creating distinctive and impressive wines.
The soil of eastern Long Island was deposited thousands of years ago, when glaciers from the last ice age pushed forward to the edge of the island, depositing a layer of gravel, sand, and silt at its terminus. However, the two forks do have some slight geological differences. The North Fork has more sandy loam soil, and the South Fork consists of silty loam. However, both are moderately fertile which permits the grapevines to grow yet not become overabundant, diluting the resultant wine. In addition, the fine nature of the soil gives excellent water drainage, mitigating any threat the seasonal summer squalls might pose. These features combine to create an ideal foundation on which high-quality grapes can be grown.
The climate of the Long Island AVA is also beneficial to growing grapes. It is classified as a moderate maritime climate with cold winters and long warm summers. The summers offer ample time for the grapes to ripen on the vine, often extending until October and November; contrasting icy winters allow the vines to enter their dormancy period. The vineyard is therefore able to store energy in preparation for the upcoming spring. These seasons are tempered by the Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean, to the North and South respectively, which allows for cooling breezes during the Summer and a stabilizing warmth during the worst of the winer.
Although both of these factors are exceptionally beneficial, the success of the Long Island AVA is ultimately due to the winegrowing community who have worked for decades to perfect the wines that this unique region has the ability to produce. We would like to take this opportunity to highlight some top examples:
Established in 1978, Lenz Winery has focused on peak varietal characteristics and varietal ripeness. This means that they are striving for each of their wines to stand out as a “clear and outstanding representative of that particular variety”. Peter & Deborah Carroll and their team hand pick their grapes during harvest, and then strive to be as low-intervention as possible in the winery, creating their wines with a philosophy of “less is more”.
Sparkling Pointe recently unveiled their state-of-the-art facility in 2010, where they aim to compete with the top sparkling wines of the world. Cynthia & Tom Rosicki and their team grow only Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay on their 40 acres of vines, and specialize in creating top-of-the-line traditional-method bubbly. They believe that the cooler climate of Long Island’s North Fork mimics that of the Champagne region of France, and they are Certified Sustainable by the Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing Inc.
Taking their name from the original Native American name for Long Island, Paumanok was founded in 1983 by Ursula and Charles Massoud and their three sons, and stretches across 127 acres of the Long Island AVA. They are a 100% estate winery, meaning that they grow all of their grapes on site, and focus on quality over quantity, producing fewer than 12,000 cases per year. In addition they are 100% solar powered, and focus on Old World specialities such as Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, perfectly exemplifying the balance of tradition and modernity that is the Long Island AVA.
The Rivero González family first began planting grape vines in Mexico in 1998. After experiencing great success, they expanded their operations in 2018 to the North Fork of the Long Island AVA, and have been revolutionizing the wine industry ever since. Their slogan is “Modern Tradition” and they seek to have a low ecological impact while at the same time having a large impact on their community and the Long Island AVA. In addition they host a number of seasonal events such as blending demonstrations, harvest celebrations, and even ‘stomp parties’ to help educate their community on the process of wine production.
In all, these factors combine to create a one-of-a-kind wine region that seeks to combine the best of traditional practices with contemporary ecological techniques. This balance has resulted in unique and delicious wines that push the limits of New World wines and establish the Long Island AVA as a top tier wine making region. It is a must-see destination for wine lovers from around the world.
Want to see this region for yourself? Join us for Long Island Wine Camp July 26-27, 2022!