Seated in that gorgeous North Fork of Long Island are the Pellegrini Vineyards, a 14,000 square foot winery complex that has been producing wines since the early 1990s. The land was purchased by Bob and Joyce Pellegrini in 1991 and they quickly began creating a facility that would be focused on every minute detail of the winemaking process.
Their 35 acres in Cutchogue, New York plus their other 35 acres in Peconic and Southold are dedicated to the production of 185 tons of homegrown grapes every year, which turns into about 10,000 cases of wine.
One of the truly spectacular facets of the Pellegrini institution is their commitment to sustainable winemaking through innovative techniques, all while using traditional equipment. Their grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks before being aged in French oak barrels that live below the winery in a cool cellar. It’s their belief that wines should be as minimally touched as possible to preserve the natural beauty of the grapes.
Winemaker Zander Hargrave comes from a viticultural family and has dedicated his life to winemaking in the Long Island community. He takes great care to allow “ripe fruit to shine” through high-quality methods using control and direction, and that is truly evident in the wines of Pellegrini Vineyards. You can find the classics like Cabernet Sauvignon and a steel-aged Chardonnay, or try one of their own Reserve blends.
The vineyard isn’t just a beautiful swath of land meant for growing delicious grapes but the tasting room is a pillar of fantastic architecture. Robert Pellegrini was a designer himself, and it was his goal to create a space that was just as aesthetically pleasing as it was efficient in its wine production. To this day, it’s still regarded as one of the most beautiful buildings in the area.
After the first stellar rating in 1997 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Pellegrini Vineyards kept striving for more. The Pellegrini wines have won dozens of awards at some of the most important food and wine competitions in the state, and are gaining acclaim throughout the wider community.
This is a place you should see for yourself. Their gorgeous, two-story tasting room is open year-round and their knowledgeable staff is always ready to take you on a tour of the cellars and answer your most pressing wine questions.
