We ate, we drank, we grooved! Highlights from the 3rd Annual Northforker Wine & Food Classic

We got the party started right in Cutchogue this past Thursday night for our 3rd Annual Northforker Wine & Food Classic at Borghese Vineyards!

It was a perfect evening to kick off the long Labor Day holiday weekend, with just-right cool breezes rustling the vines and blue skies turning into indigo starry canopy, punctuating the beauty of our region and all the bounty it has to offer.

Over 1,000 Northforker fans joined us and were treated to dozens and dozens of eastern Long Island’s best restaurants, caterers, chefs, shuckers, bakers, winemakers and brewers, right down to the crystal-clear ice (and cool — pun intended — ice sculpture!) from 6th generation family-owned Long Island Ice & Fuel.

Revelers clamored for bites from local faves like Grace & Grit, Little Fish, Meats Meat, Barilla’s Pastaria, Art of Eating, the Catered Fork (those ducks wings!!!), Piesans Pizza and a multitude of others, as well as a finale of sweet treats from the stunning macarons and cakes from Flour4Purpose and the elegant, addictive confections of Disset Chocolate and Swizzled Desserts.

Local winemakers, like Poppy & Rose, Wölffer, Sannino, Bedell, Macari, Coffee Pot, Chronicle and, of course, hosts Borghese popped the cork on their A game with their latest releases of the wondrous wines, and the brew-happy among us got hopped up on the local craft beers from around a dozen tap-happy purveyors.

Meanwhile, spirit seekers were offered an array of Campari Groups portfolio of stellar sips, from Espolon Tequila and Appleton Rum to bottled cocktail servings of Aperol Spritz, while those dancing to the move-your-feet sounds of In the Groove stayed hydrated with Acqua Panna water and San Pellegrino.

Huge thanks to this year’s generous sponsors, who were key in working with us to bring all the delicious fun: presenting sponsor Campari; Platinum sponsor Sheri Winter Parker; Gold sponsors Point 32 Investment Partners, Intelli Tec Security Services, California Closets; Silver sponsors Engel & Völkers, Manhattan Beer, Peconic Landing, JM Designs, The Agency Cheryl & Regan, Ocean Electric, Long Island Ice & Fuel; Bronze sponsores Nestle, Riverhead Ford GMC, Empire Volvo Cars Smithtown, Modern Yachts.

And finally, a big Northforker pile of gratitude to Gio Borghese and his Borghese Vineyards team for being just about the most gracious hosts we could hope to partner with. Thanks, Gio!

We already can’t wait for next year…