New York's maritime wine region: Merlot, Bordeaux blends, and sparkling across the North Fork and Hamptons, two hours from NYC. Updated for 2026.
Long Island is New York's maritime wine region and one of the most distinctive wine destinations on the American East Coast, a world away from the Finger Lakes upstate. Its story began in 1973, when Alex and Louisa Hargrave planted the island's first commercial vinifera vineyard in Cutchogue, judging the climate, surrounded by the Atlantic, Long Island Sound, and Peconic Bay, to be similar to Bordeaux. They were right: the long, temperate maritime growing season suits Bordeaux grapes, and Merlot emerged as the region's signature red, with Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and crisp whites close behind. Today Long Island wine country splits between the rural North Fork, home to most of its wineries, and the glamorous Hamptons on the South Fork, all within a scenic two-hour drive of New York City.
Below are the Long Island wineries we recommend most, from the benchmark Bedell and the founding Castello di Borghese to the sparkling specialist Sparkling Pointe and the Hamptons' experimental Channing Daughters. Current as of October 2026.
Long Island's benchmark estate
One of Long Island's most acclaimed producers, Bedell helped establish Merlot as the region's signature red and is known for its polished Bordeaux-style wines and distinctive artist-designed labels. Its 2009 Merlot was poured at President Obama's second inaugural luncheon in 2013, a first for a New York wine. The essential North Fork stop.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Cutchogue / North Fork.
Our tip: Taste the Merlot and estate reds; Long Island's benchmark and a national-stage name.
A family estate with a rare Chenin Blanc
A respected family estate in Aquebogue run by the Massoud family since the early 1980s, Paumanok makes a well-rounded, quality-first range and is notably one of the few American producers of dry Chenin Blanc, alongside strong Bordeaux reds. A serious, welcoming North Fork destination.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Aquebogue / North Fork.
Our tip: Taste the dry Chenin Blanc, a Long Island rarity, plus the Bordeaux reds.
Sustainable farming on a large estate
A large, family-run North Fork estate in Cutchogue farmed sustainably and biodynamically, Macari makes a well-regarded range from Sauvignon Blanc to Bordeaux reds across its sweeping vineyards above the Sound, one of the region's most respected and scenic producers.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Cutchogue / North Fork.
Our tip: Taste across the range on a sustainable estate with Sound views; respected and scenic.
One of the pioneers
Founded in 1983, Palmer is one of Long Island's oldest and most established wineries, an Aquebogue estate making an approachable, consistent, well-liked range that helped build the region's reputation, a friendly, classic North Fork stop.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Aquebogue / North Fork.
Our tip: Taste the estate range at one of Long Island's pioneering wineries; friendly and classic.
The South Fork's experimental standout
The Hamptons' most distinctive winery, in Bridgehampton on the South Fork, Channing Daughters is celebrated for its adventurous, small-lot bottlings, skin-contact whites, Italian-inspired varieties, and a long, ever-changing lineup, a creative, compelling counterpoint to the North Fork estates.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Bridgehampton / The Hamptons.
Our tip: Taste the skin-contact and Italian-style wines; the Hamptons' most creative winery.
Long Island's sparkling specialist
A Southold estate devoted entirely to traditional-method sparkling wine, Sparkling Pointe makes elegant Champagne-style cuvees that have earned a strong following, a polished, festive North Fork destination and the region's go-to for bubbles.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Southold / North Fork.
Our tip: Come for the traditional-method sparkling; Long Island's dedicated bubbles house.
Age-worthy North Fork classics
One of the North Fork's oldest estates (founded 1978), Lenz in Peconic has a long reputation for age-worthy Merlot, Cabernet, and traditional-method sparkling, a quietly serious, quality-first producer beloved by Long Island wine veterans.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Peconic / North Fork.
Our tip: Taste the age-worthy Merlot and sparkling; a serious North Fork classic.
Where Long Island wine began
Long Island's oldest vineyard: this Cutchogue estate was planted in 1973 as Hargrave Vineyard, the first commercial vinifera planting on the island, and has been run by the Borghese family since 1999. A history-rich, essential stop for understanding where the region started.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Cutchogue / North Fork.
Our tip: Taste where Long Island wine began; the island's founding vineyard, planted 1973.
Long Island wine country is an easy escape from New York City, about two hours east by car (or the Long Island Rail Road plus a local shuttle or taxi). The North Fork is the heart, a compact rural stretch of farmland and vineyards strung along Route 25 and the back roads through Cutchogue, Peconic, Southold, Aquebogue, Mattituck, and Jamesport, where you can easily visit three or four wineries in a day. The Hamptons (South Fork) has fewer wineries but pairs them with beaches and glamour; Channing Daughters in Bridgehampton is the standout. Decide which fork fits your trip (the North Fork for a wine-focused day, the Hamptons for a beach-and-wine weekend), plan a loop of three or four stops, and visit late spring through fall, harvest season in September and October is especially lovely.
Do not confuse Long Island with the Finger Lakes; they are different New York regions, hours apart, with Long Island's maritime Merlot a world away from the cool-climate Riesling upstate. Do not try to combine the North Fork and the Hamptons in a single day, they are across a bay from each other, so pick one fork. And on summer weekends, do not underestimate the crowds and traffic; arrive early and consider weekdays.
Which are the best wineries on Long Island?
A well-rounded list includes the benchmark Bedell Cellars, the founding Castello di Borghese (planted 1973), the family-run Paumanok (with its rare dry Chenin Blanc), the sustainable Macari, the pioneering Palmer, the sparkling specialist Sparkling Pointe, the age-worthy Lenz, and the Hamptons' experimental Channing Daughters, spanning the North Fork and South Fork.
What wine is Long Island known for?
Merlot is Long Island's signature red grape, suited to the long, temperate maritime growing season, with Cabernet Franc, Bordeaux-style blends, Chardonnay, and crisp whites also prominent, plus a strong traditional-method sparkling scene. The climate, moderated by the Atlantic, Long Island Sound, and Peconic Bay, is often compared to Bordeaux's, giving elegant, food-friendly, European-leaning wines.
Where is Long Island wine country?
At the eastern end of Long Island, New York, about two hours east of New York City. It splits into two forks: the rural North Fork (Cutchogue, Peconic, Southold, Aquebogue, Mattituck, Jamesport), home to most of the wineries, and the glamorous Hamptons on the South Fork. The two forks are separated by Peconic Bay.
How do I get to Long Island wineries from NYC?
By car it is about a two-hour drive east on the Long Island Expressway to the North Fork. You can also take the Long Island Rail Road to the East End and use a local taxi, shuttle, or wine-tour service, since the wineries are spread along country roads. Many visitors make it a day trip or an overnight, and designated-driver or tour options are popular given the tastings.
Is Long Island wine good?
Yes. Over five decades Long Island has built a genuine reputation, especially for Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Bordeaux-style blends, and traditional-method sparkling. Estates like Bedell, Paumanok, Macari, and Lenz have earned critical respect, and Bedell's Merlot was poured at a presidential inauguration luncheon, a sign of how far the maritime region has come since 1973.
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