Founded in 1994 by Dr. Herodotus “Dan” Damianos and his son Alexander, Duck Walk Vineyards is a family-owned Long Island winery producing about 5,000 cases of wine each year across 140 scenic acres. Its two tasting-room locations span the Hamptons and North Fork, with distinctive offerings such as Vidal Ice Wine made from grapes frozen on the vine and Blueberry Port crafted with wild Maine blueberries.
Jamesport VineyardsSince 1986, Jamesport Vineyards has been making estate-grown wines on Long Island’s North Fork, where a Goerler father-son partnership has grown into one of the area’s oldest vineyards. Now in its third generation, the family farms sustainably around a 165-year-old barn that houses the winery and tasting room. The Jamesport experience extends to Little Oak Wood Fired Kitchen, where seasonal North Fork ingredients and naturally leavened pizza are served alongside the wines.JAMESPORT, NY
Frontenac Point Vineyard & Estate WineryFounded by Jim and Carol Doolittle in 1978 on a former fruit-growing property overlooking Cayuga Lake, Frontenac Point Vineyard & Estate Winery grows its own grapes and makes small-batch Finger Lakes wines. The Doolittles handle the work from planting and hand-picking through winemaking, bottling, and presentation, with son Lawrence continuing the family business as its second generation. Licensed as New York’s farm winery No. 44 in 1982, Frontenac Point is especially distinctive for wines made entirely from grapes grown on its Cayuga Lake estate.TRUMANSBURG, NY
Buttonwood Grove WinerySince David and Melissa Pittard purchased the property in 2014, Buttonwood Grove Winery has grown into a family-run Finger Lakes winery producing estate wines beside Cayuga Lake. Dave’s roots at the fourth-generation Beak & Skiff Apple Farm inform the Pittards’ blend of agriculture and winemaking, while the family’s expansion of the vineyards and new winemaking building carries the property into its next chapter. Its 2016 Riesling won the 2017 Governor’s Cup as New York State’s best wine, and the site now pairs tastings with lakeside music and cabins among the vines.ROMULUS, NY