As an early ripener, Merlot has achieved a consistency that has eluded the later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon, said Bedell. It s much more Bordelais than Californian in style. The Schneiders predict that Cabernet Franc will emerge as the region s top grape. It has great structure and wonderful flavors, Christiane Schneider said, recalling a taste of the Hargrave 1988 the couple enjoyed on their first visit to the region in 1992. Skeptics might point to the island s shape and argue for Chardonnay, which stands alone as Long Island s top white grape.
New growers can also draw on local experience.
Farther east, the bulk of the vineyards are now 15 to 25 years old, so we know which sites to avoid and the importance of preparing the soil before planting, Wise explained. And a lot of wineries saw the early success of Bedell and really stepped up their vineyard management practices. Three years ago there were 1,800 acres planted to grapes in Long Island, Hearn said. Now there are about 2,500, and I wouldn t be surprised if in another five years it reaches 3,000. That growth much of it in acreage owned by small, artisanal wineries without their own facilities led Hearn and two partners to open Premium Wine Group in Mattituck, the East Coast s first custom-crush facility.