What’s New on the North Fork and Shelter Island, From Sleek Tasting Rooms to Waterfront Hotels

08.08.2023 - 14:59 / cntraveler.com

Two and a half hours east of New York City and north of the Hamptons lies the North Fork, a 30-mile-long peninsula stretching from the town of Riverhead to Orient Point. Despite its proximity to Manhattan and its ritzy southern counterpart, the area feels like a world apart with its country roads dotted with stellar vineyards and farms. Day trippers head out here to sip wine, visit organic markets, or spend the day at one of many U-pick farms for berries, apples, pumpkins, and even Christmas trees, depending on the season.

Neighboring Shelter Island—reachable via a 10-minute ferry ride from Greenport Village—is equally charming, known for its peaceful beaches and bikeable roads. The 29-square-mile island with quaint homes, as well as impressive houses hidden behind tall, well-manicured hedges, feels like time stood still at just the right moment.

Once well-kept secrets of those in the know, the North Fork and Shelter Island are now unveiling new vineyards, restaurants, and hotels that are attracting an influx of visitors this summer and beyond.

The revamped outside of the Grand Tasting House at Sparkling Pointe vineyard.

The past two years saw exciting additions to the North Fork’s already prolific wine trail and its producers of award-winning reds, whites, and rosés. Meadowlark North Fork opened last summer in Cutchogue as the new sister property to Macari Vineyards in Mattituck. The 20-acre vineyard was created as an oasis where wine lovers can sip small-production and limited-edition vintages while wandering through lush pollinator gardens, thoughtfully designed to support the various species of butterflies and birds in the area, or lounging in one of the two modern farmhouse-inspired tasting rooms. The winery’s focus is on producing unique wines using biodynamic and organic farming methods.

Also in Cutchogue, Peconic Bay Vineyards reopened in May 2021 after an eight-year closure under new ownership with a cottage-esque tasting room and outdoor patio with fire pits overlooking its 148 acres of vines. One of the oldest (and largest) operating vineyards on the North Fork, the property offers tours, oyster happy hours on Fridays (when in season), and private picnics among the vines. Overnight stays in their red farmhouse, built in 1892, with private tastings and brunch are available. And a new tasting room with a state-of-the-art winemaking facility, hotel, spa, and additional acres of vineyard are in the works.

Over in Laurel, EV&EM Vineyards opened last spring with a sleek tasting room played up by a welcoming fireplace, a lounge-like tasting deck, an additional second-floor tasting deck overlooking the 40-acre property, and a cellar tasting room. The vineyard, now owned by news journalist and avid