North Fork Long Island

Sonoma is my favorite place on the planet … so far. I know what you are thinking. Yes, the wine definitely helps, but it is the overall experience I love. The sights, the sounds, the smells, and of course, the tastes conspire to simply make me happy. While Long Island is not California, you can get a small taste of wine country closer to home. I’ve been there for everything from bachelorette parties on a bus, to a romantic night away, to pumpkin picking with the kids. It is about a 2 hour ride from NYC.

If you’ve never been, you’ll be surprised by the sheer number of vineyards to visit, the culinary choices and even the quality of some of the wines. This website is a great place to start. Whether with a big group or just a few people, you can enjoy a great day, overnight or weekend.

I can recommend Shinn Estate for an overnight, Wolffer for a wine tour, and North Fork Table for dining. However, the most fun is just getting out there, and discovering some of the less known places.