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Winter is a picturesque season on the North Fork.
There is a quiet calm in the air that can be truly appreciated from the comfort of the tasting rooms at Shinn Estates Vineyards in Mattituck. Enjoy a glass of their red blend while looking out onto a snow-blanketed vineyard to experience a personal slice of North Fork paradise.
“There is no other view like it on the North Fork,” said tasting room manager Jamie Altamore. “It is rustic and off-the-beaten path. We embrace that here.”
The authentic rustic charm you sense is rooted in the rich history of the land, which was farmed in the late 19th century. The tasting room is a former farm shed that was recently redesigned by John Mazur of Lumber + Salt.
Down-home style wooden walls and a lofty ceiling with exposed beams original to the building enhance its warmth. The seats at the bar boast vineyard views and tucked aside tables with built-in benches are topped with soft throw pillows that invite guests to settle in.
Mazur also redesigned the winery’s neighboring library room, which is used for tastings and private events. The library room — aptly lined with aging Shinn vintages — was a former potato barn that also houses the barrel room. The redesign, completed last spring, create a beautifully designed, highly functional space influenced by the winemaking process at Shinn — the barrel ceiling is quite literally inspired by a Shinn wine barrel.
“Guests can look out and see the vines from the barrel room while their sipping their wine,” Altamore said. “We want people get an appreciation for what is in the glass and how it starts in the vineyard, goes into the barrels and is then poured.”
Reflect on the beauty of what’s in the bottle as you sink into the worn leather couches or in the comfy armchairs. There are several seating areas for chatting with friends and plenty of conversation pieces woven into the décor to spark discussion. A coffee table crafted by a wine club member from an old Shinn barrel; a plush green sofa perfect for cozying up on a cold winter day and a shining copper bartop are among the eye-catching elements that make the library room feel akin to the living room of a sophisticated friend.
“People love to gather in the library room,” Altamore said. “Once they know this room exists it is where they want to be.”
Shinn Estate Vineyards is located at 2000 Oregon Road, Mattituck.
