There aren’t many wineries that go unseen on the North Fork. But Peconic Bay Winery, after being closed for eight years, had blended into the background of its surroundings. The vines were tended by other wineries when the tasting room closed to the public in 2013, but there’s something that gets lost when no one is there to enjoy the wine.
In May, that changed. The winery, now called Peconic Bay Vineyards, opened up its tasting room to the public for the first time under new ownership.
“There were a lot of wide eyes walking in here and just seeing the space again,” said tasting room manager Evan Ducz. “People were really happy to see it open and I mean, it looks beautiful.”
The property was purchased in 2019 by the Soloviev family, which also owns Santa’s Christmas Tree Farm and the Chequit on Shelter Island, among other agricultural and commercial properties. You would never know how long the tasting room had been closed. Sleek and modern, the interior has been revived — a fresh coat of paint, new floors and a new bar top.
“Stacy [Soloviev] was really, really focused on keeping everything the way it was to pay homage to the previous owners,” said Ken Cereola, general manager. “But to still get everything alive again and vibrant, and ready to open.”
And this winter the winery announced plans, still in the early stages, to expand its processing facilities and add a boutique hotel.
