ABC is an anagram for “anything but Chardonnay” (or Cabernet Sauvignon). Chardonnay is one of the premier grape varietals in the world and on the east end of Long Island wine AVA, the most widely planted white grape with Sauvignon Blanc a distant second.
Many people get stuck in a rut and drink only one type of wine and that’s too bad since there are many varietals grown around the world and bottled other than Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Out on the North Fork everyone bottles some type of Chardonnay, but many wineries have a few acres of the other whites planted as well.
One Sunday afternoon I drove out East to sample a few.
One Women Winery 5195 Old North Road, Southold
Family run winery with the smallest tasting ‘shack” on the wine crawl.
2020 Gruner Veltliner
Medium gold in color, earthy and floral notes on the nose, ripe vegetal, asparagus on the fruit ending with crisp acidity.
Bedell Cellars 36225 Main Road, Cutchogue
One of the first wineries to open on the North Fork with grapevines planted in 1980. They bottle several outlier grape varietals.
2021 Viognier
Medium yellow with a greenish tint, big nose of green apples with green apple notes on the fruit ending with a nice crisp finish.
Palmer Vineyards 108 Sound Avenue, Riverhead
Another one of the original wineries out East, it was recently sold to the folks who own Paumanok Vineyards.
2022 Albariño
Medium gold, asparagus and white flowers on the nose, juicy apples on the fruit with moderate to low acidity ending with tart lime notes.
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