In 2021, owner Jacqui Goodale told Northforker that Terra Vite Winery and Vineyard (250 Manor Lane, Jamesport) was “Italy meets the North Fork.” It’s certainly true of the Italian name, which translates to “earth” and “vine,” and the Italian influence is now even more pronounced with the addition of a retail store on the premises, the Enoteca.
The Enoteca was part of Goodale’s vision for Terra Vite from the start. The shop includes wine bottles for purchase, but there are also fine Italian foods, gifts and even clothing.
“We have all our wines in here and I started adding food components. We started with pasta packs, most of which are imported from Italy,” says Goodale. “Everything gets stuck in customs! But we’re pretty well stocked now.”
There are also supplies to make charcuterie platters, including items found on the tasting room’s boards, like taralli, a traditional southern Italian crunchy snack that resembles a mini breadstick bent into a circle shape, and pistachio butter. Guests can also purchase “build your own charcuterie” packages or ask Goodale and the staff to help them curate their own.
Other products on offer include fedora hats, candles, soaps, body oils and diffusers. The linen clothes are made by Beachwood Baby, which sources all their materials from Italy.
“I wanted this to feel like a real Italian boutique,” says Goodale. “We wanted you to feel like you’re in a real ‘enoteca.’ In Italian it means wine store, but if you go in there are always little tchotchkes you can buy.”
Goodale, who has made multiple visits to Italy, has done a lot of research to stock the Enoteca. The soaps, for example, come from Positano, as do a selection of cute soap dishes that Goodale says have been a big hit with customers.
“People come in and say, ‘Oh my god, I’ve been to Positano or Ischia and I want to bring this home!’ It’s so nice to hear.”
And not to editorialize, but the jewelry is absolutely adorable — especially the pasta-themed charm necklaces, which come from Delicacies Jewelry, a brand that donates partial proceeds from each sale to food pantries and homeless shelters.
“Their inspiration is that pasta and meals bring everybody together, which I love,” says Goodale.
The Enoteca maintains the rustic design of Terra Vite and was designed by the folks at Lumber and Salt, who also designed the tasting room.
“They wanted it to feel rustic but refined,” Goodale says. “They brought in some mushroom wood, the [overhead] lights are from a convent…they always have a story behind everything!”
There’s also an armoire from Goodale’s dad, architect Carl Fusco, that he’s thrilled to have on display at Terra Vite.
For Goodale, the Enoteca is a dream realized.
“It’s so much fun. I love it,” she says. “It adds another experience onto the tasting room and brings everybody full circle in here. [Guests] will come in with their glass of wine and shop.”
The Enoteca is open whenever Terra Vite is open. Click here for more on the winery’s hours and offerings..
