Peconic Bay Winery, which shut down production of its wine brand and closed its Cutchogue tasting room in 2013, is now selling its remaining inventory at the Main Road winery.
Peconic Bay quietly reopened the tasting room’s doors in April and is selling wine by the case and bottle — as well as other wines and spirits that were sold at the now-closed Empire State Cellars in Riverhead — at a steep discount.
But don’t ask for a taste of their steel-fermented chardonnay during your visit. The patio and tasting room chairs have been cleared out and flights and glasses will not be offered.
“We’re open to sell our inventory of fine wines,” said longtime Peconic Bay employee Cynthia Caprise. “It’s for friends, fans and wine club members. That’s really why we’re here.”
The wines were previously sold at ESC, which was owned by Peconic Bay and located at Tanger Outlets. The store, which only sold wines and spirits produced in New York State, closed in December.
On sale for $10 is Peconic’s Bay 2010 riesling, 2011 riesling, 2012 riesling, 2012 semi-dry riesling, 2012 gewurtztraminer, 2012 rosé of merlot and 2011 steel-fermented chardonnay. Those wines, as wells as wines from other New York State wineries, are also sold for $100 per case.
“A screw-cap sauvignon blanc from the liquor store is even more expensive than our whites,” Caprise said.
Bottles of Peconic Bay’s 2010 Lowerre Family Estate red blend, which Caprise called the winery’s “best red ever,” and magnums of ESC New York blanc are being sold for $20 per bottle.
Peconic Bay, which was purchased by Paul and Ursula Lowerre in 1999, is also selling 375 milliliter bottles of the Lowerre Family Estate Red Blend for $10. Magnums are $40.
That red, which is made of 30 percent malbec, 60 percent merlot and 10 percent cabernet franc, features aromas of “earth, cherries, tobacco and toast,” according to its tasting notes.
They are also offering bottles of verjus for just $4.
Peconic Bay Winery is located at 31320 Main Road in Cutchogue.