Pellegrini Vineyards does not do live bands. Or festivals. Or, as a rule, any kind of wine-adjacent hoopla that takes attention away from what they’ve been doing for decades: making wine.
It was the focus of founders and Long Island wine pioneers Bob and Joyce Pellegrini. They entered the “Wild East” of wine back in the early ‘80s, building and opening their beautiful 14,000 square foot tasting room in 1991. Today, winemaker Zander Hargrave — a legend himself with wine in his DNA; his family founded the first commercial wine operation on the East End, Hargrave Vineyards — vibes just fine with the steady focus on what’s in the bottle and glass.
Case in point: He does not release wines quickly; instead, preferring to hold them back until he knows they’re ready to show themselves, as well as continue to evolve and improve in the cellar. The 2019 Pellegrini Vineyards Cabernet Franc is an excellent example of why the house rules are good ones. Five years in the bottle has allowed the parts — almost entirely made from cabernet franc, but with little tiny stiches of merlot and petit verdot — to knit together the story of the vintage.
Sip on Pellegrini wine at this year’s Northforker Wine & Food Classic on Sept. 3 at Borghese Vineyard (17150 County Road 48, Cutchogue, 631-734-5111).
Who else is pulling out all the stops and bringing some serious savory (and sweet) bite and beverage action this year? Our list is growing by the minute:
- Art of Eating
- Balo’s Foods
- Borghese Vineyards
- DJ Chef
- Ficarra Ristorante
- Goomba Johnny’s Pizzeria
- Grace & Grit
- La Plage
- Land and Sea Smokehouse
- Oysterponds Shellfish Co.
- R.AIRE
- Seaside Grill
- The Catered Fork
- The Pike
- The Treatery
- The Village Cheese Shop
- Uncle Giuseppe’s
- Kidd Squid Brewing Co.
- Po’Boy Brewery
- Take Two Brewery
- Twin Fork Beer Co.
- Übergeek Brewing
- Borghese Vineyard & Winery
- Chronicle Wines
- Harbes Vineyard
- Jamesport Vineyards
- JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery
- Mattebella Vineyards
- Palmer Vineyards
- Paumanok Vineyards
- Pellegrini Vineyards
- Sannino Vineyards
- Casa J Tequila
- Fort Hamilton Distillery
- Twisted Cow Distillery
- La Plage
- Little Fish
- The Treatery
As is tradition, plenty of toe-tappin’, shoulder-swayin’ live tunes provided by funk master band In the Groove.
Tickets for the event start at $135 for general admission and may be obtained here. This is a 21+ all-inclusive event.
