The heart of Long Island wine country: Merlot and Bordeaux blends along the Route 25 trail, two hours from NYC. Updated for 2026.
The North Fork of Long Island is the heart of New York's maritime wine country, a narrow, rural peninsula of farmland, vineyards, and fishing villages reaching east into the Atlantic between Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay. This is where Long Island wine began, when the Hargraves planted the island's first vinifera vines in Cutchogue in 1973, and where the vast majority of the region's wineries sit today. Granted its own AVA, the North Fork of Long Island, in 1986, it enjoys a long, temperate growing season that ripens Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and crisp whites beautifully, in a style often likened to Bordeaux. Compact and scenic, strung along Route 25 and the back roads through Cutchogue, Peconic, Southold, Aquebogue, Mattituck, and Jamesport, it is one of the most rewarding and easygoing wine-touring areas within reach of New York City.
Below are the North Fork wineries we recommend most, from the benchmark Bedell and the founding Castello di Borghese to the region's largest estate and its age-worthy classics. Current as of October 2026.
The North Fork's benchmark
The North Fork's most celebrated estate, Bedell in Cutchogue set the standard for the region's Merlot and Bordeaux-style reds and is known for its artist-designed labels and polished, estate-grown wines. A refined, essential anchor of any North Fork visit.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Cutchogue.
Our tip: Taste the Merlot and estate reds; the North Fork's benchmark producer.
The North Fork's founding vineyard
Planted in 1973 as Hargrave Vineyard, this Cutchogue estate was the first commercial vinifera vineyard on Long Island and the birthplace of the entire North Fork wine region, run by the Borghese family since 1999. The historic first stop for understanding the North Fork.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Cutchogue.
Our tip: Taste where the North Fork began; the island's founding 1973 vineyard.
A large sustainable estate
A sprawling, family-run Cutchogue estate farmed sustainably and biodynamically on bluffs above Long Island Sound, Macari makes a broad, well-regarded range and is one of the North Fork's most respected and scenic producers, a rewarding stop for serious and casual drinkers alike.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Cutchogue.
Our tip: Taste across the range on a sustainable Sound-side estate; respected and scenic.
Family estate, rare Chenin Blanc
The Massoud family's quality-first Aquebogue estate is one of the North Fork's most respected, making strong Bordeaux reds and one of America's few dry Chenin Blancs, a serious, welcoming destination with a loyal following.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Aquebogue.
Our tip: Taste the dry Chenin Blanc and Bordeaux reds; a North Fork rarity and a respected name.
A North Fork pioneer
Founded in 1983, Palmer is among the North Fork's oldest and most established wineries, an Aquebogue estate with an approachable, consistent range that helped build the region's early reputation, a friendly, classic stop.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Aquebogue.
Our tip: Taste the range at a North Fork pioneer; friendly, consistent, and classic.
Age-worthy Peconic classics
Founded in 1978, Lenz is one of the North Fork's oldest estates, long admired for its age-worthy Merlot and Cabernet and its traditional-method sparkling, a quietly serious Peconic producer that rewards patient collectors and curious visitors.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Peconic.
Our tip: Taste the age-worthy Merlot and sparkling; a quietly serious North Fork classic.
The North Fork's largest
Long Island's largest winery, the Damianos family's Pindar in Peconic offers a broad, something-for-everyone range in a lively, popular setting, a long-running, crowd-friendly cornerstone of the North Fork wine trail.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Peconic.
Our tip: Come for the broad range and lively scene; the North Fork's largest and most popular.
A welcoming estate in a historic barn
A longtime family estate on the western North Fork, Jamesport Vineyards pours a solid, well-rounded range (strong on Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc) in a restored 19th-century barn, a relaxed, welcoming stop as you enter wine country.
Good to know: Tastings; historic barn. Jamesport.
Our tip: Taste the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in the historic barn; relaxed and welcoming.
The North Fork is compact and made for easy touring: most wineries line Route 25 (Main Road) and the parallel back roads through Cutchogue, Peconic, Southold, Aquebogue, Mattituck, and Jamesport, so you can visit three or four in a relaxed day without much driving. Base yourself in Greenport or Southold for the night, or come out from New York City (about two hours by car, or the Long Island Rail Road plus a local shuttle, taxi, or tour). Mix a benchmark estate (Bedell) with a history stop (Castello di Borghese), a scenic sustainable estate (Macari), and a serious tasting (Lenz or Paumanok). Visit late spring through fall; September and October harvest is especially lovely, and summer weekends draw crowds, so arrive early or favor weekdays.
Do not try to cram in too many stops; the pleasure of the North Fork is a relaxed loop of three or four wineries with a farm-stand or seafood lunch in between. Do not confuse it with the Hamptons across the bay or the Finger Lakes upstate; the North Fork is its own distinct, maritime region. And do not skip the pioneers, Castello di Borghese and Lenz carry the region's history.
What is the North Fork of Long Island known for?
Being the heart of Long Island wine country. It is where the region began (the first vines were planted in Cutchogue in 1973), home to most of its wineries, and its own AVA since 1986. The North Fork is known for Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Bordeaux-style blends, and sparkling, grown in a maritime climate often compared to Bordeaux, plus a compact, scenic, easygoing wine trail.
Which North Fork wineries should I visit?
Standouts include the benchmark Bedell Cellars, the founding Castello di Borghese (planted 1973), the sustainable Macari, the family-run Paumanok (with its rare dry Chenin Blanc), the pioneering Palmer, the age-worthy Lenz, the large and lively Pindar, and the welcoming Jamesport Vineyards, all along the Route 25 wine trail.
Where is the North Fork and how do I get there?
It is the northern of Long Island's two eastern forks, in New York, about two hours east of New York City. By car, take the Long Island Expressway east and follow Route 25 through the wine towns (Cutchogue, Peconic, Southold, Aquebogue, Mattituck, Jamesport). You can also take the Long Island Rail Road to the East End and use a local taxi, shuttle, or wine-tour service.
What grapes grow on the North Fork?
Merlot is the signature red, with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Bordeaux-style blends alongside it, plus Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and other crisp whites, and a strong traditional-method sparkling scene. The long, temperate maritime growing season, moderated by Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay, suits these Bordeaux grapes and gives elegant, food-friendly wines.
Is the North Fork better than the Hamptons for wine?
For wine touring, yes, the North Fork has far more wineries and a dedicated, compact wine trail, so it is the better choice for a wine-focused day or weekend. The Hamptons (South Fork) has only a handful of wineries (Channing Daughters is the standout) but pairs them with beaches and glamour. Many visitors choose the North Fork for wine and the Hamptons for a beach-and-wine getaway.
Independent reviews, verified listings, and no pay-to-play.