Long Island Wine Country is continuing the celebration of sauvignon blanc and cabernet franc, this time with brunch pairings.
North Fork restaurants like The Watershed Kitchen & Bar, Grace & Grit, Tuckers Taproom & Smokehouse plus others around the Island will be partnered with winemakers from Bridge Lane Wine, Ev&Em Vineyards, Paumanok Vineyards, Chronicle Wines, One Woman Wines, Lenz Winery, Suhru & Lieb Vineyards and McCall Wines for the Blanc & Franc Brunch Series running from April to June.
“We had a really successful event in the fall with our [Blanc & Franc] Summit where it was really focused on wine production and being able to do the grand tasting allowing people to taste the members’ wines,” says Beth Santosuosso, executive director at Long Island Wine Country. “We wanted to do something in the spring that would kind of solidify that local wine and local food go together.”
The Watershed’s (46 Front St., South Jamesport) April 12 menu will be a $75 prix-fixe with a starter, entrée and dessert. Some stand out pairings include a goat cheese crostini with Paumanok sauvignon blanc, the firecracker crab cake with Bridge Lane rosé, and steak frites with Ev&Em’s classic cabernet franc.
“I’m always really excited by Long Island reds,” says Patricia Mangiacapre, owner of The Watershed Kitchen & Bar. “I’m a sauvignon blanc girl, but I’m excited to see that franc and see how it blends with our food. And obviously a rosé can never go wrong and it feels like spring — and we need that.”
At Grace & Grit (55750 Main Road, Southold) on April 19, Adam Kaufer is cooking up an exciting menu.
“I get a chance to take my crazy brain and wrap it around brunch,” says Kaufer.
The a la carte menu will include specialty toasts, sandwiches, a veggie Benedict, chicken and waffles and a “hash and smash” burger paired with One Woman cabernet franc and Chronicle’s sauvignon blanc, as well as the latter’s rosé, which is (fittingly!) a cabernet franc and sauvignon blanc blend.
“We love any opportunity to bring people together, highlight the craftsmanship of our neighboring winemakers and chefs and celebrate the North Fork community that supports us,” says Robin Epperson-McCarthy, Chronicle co-founder and winemaker.
Chronicle will also be pouring the sips alongside Lenz Winery on April 26 at Tucker’s Taproom & Smokehouse (9095 Sound Ave., Mattituck). The $89 prix-fixe menu leans into barbecue-style options, like smoked pork belly Benedict, brisket, pulled pork and ribs.
In May, Suhru & Lieb and McCall come together at Enology Wine Bar & Bistro in mid-island to accompany the surf, turf and eggy brunch menu.
John Fondacaro, co-owner and director of viticulture at Suhru & Lieb vineyards, is looking forward to the event because of the opportunity to support the grapes and food from our area, an idea that has bolstered some of the most well-known wine regions in the world.
“In wine culture, I think it’s important to have an identity — winemakers call that typicity, a term that applied to grape [varieties],” says Fondacaro. “There is a typicity now. They’re not all the same but there is a Long Island cabernet franc typicity that’s developing. That’s when you’re getting serious.”
To end the mouthwatering events off strong, Ev&Em will fill glasses at Canoe Place Inn on June 7.
To learn more about the menus or make reservations click here.
