This is my fist blog post, although definitely not my first winery. I'm setting up a new tradition after wine tasting; I'm going to write about it so I remember my time there. Glass of wine...check! Sandwich from Grateful Deli...check! Pictures from latest vineyard...check! Time to start blogging.
I went to One Woman winery this weekend on a suggestion from our server at Sherwood Winery. As you will quickly learn on the North Fork, the vineyards are not in competition, but work together to create a strong community. They want the community to succeed and will recommend you try out as many places as possible.
Atmosphere:
One Woman vineyard is named for the one woman that owns and runs the vineyard. Claudia Purita, the one woman, works in the fields every day, and as her daughter told me, sometimes only sleeps about 2-3 hours a night. Claudia's daughter runs the wine tasting room, which really is, just a room. Some vineyards are not zoned to have large structures on the property, and only allow a one room tasting area. One Woman has compensated by putting picnic benches with umbrellas outside to enjoy the beautiful farm scenery. This vineyard encompasses the fundamentals of the North Fork: it is simple, unpretentious, and is all about the farm.
Food:
There are freshly picked fruits available in the tasting room. We enjoyed fresh blackberries, which were amazing. (You can also purchase fruits to bring home, which I had to do so my family could enjoy.) They serve cheese & crackers as well as other assorted accompaniments to a wine tasting. You can also BYO picnic and enjoy your own food and a pairing and their wine.
The wine:
For a newer vineyard, I was impressed by the selection of wines. My friend and I did the wine tasting in the small room and then bought a glass and sat out side to enjoy the day. The tasting had a very good rose and a light and enjoyable sauvignon blanc. They are most known for their reserve chardonnay, which has won many awards and is sold in BLT Restaurants in NYC as well as the Frisky Oyster in Greenport. The nice, diverse wine selection makes this a good pick for a variety of palates.
Overall Assessment:
- Group Wine Tasting - tough for a group unless everyone is comfortable with a relaxed environment. Bathrooms are not easily accessible; in fact, I think they might be a porta potty.
- Wonderful place to really experience a North Fork vineyard and hear a real woman's story about her struggle to keep the vineyard going
- Good wines, variety of wines, priced on the higher end $26 - 40 a bottle
- Recommended for a relaxed, quite tasting. Great for a picnic lunch. Keep in mind there is no main structure, so if it rains, you'll have to change locations.
