Bedell Cellars' vineyards are said to have the oldest average age of vines on the North Fork.
The soil here is sandy loam and gravelly loam, created by melting glaciers.
We plant grape clones that are suited to the soil and microclimate of each vineyard, cultivating grapes that allow the wine to retain the nuances and aromas of Long Island's local breezes.
Long Island, nicknamed the "Bordeaux of New York," is New York State's newest and fastest growing wine region.
Located about 100 miles east of New York City, the tip of the island is split into the North Fork and the South Fork, known as The Hamptons.
The Great Peconic Bay divides the river into two forks; the North Fork is bounded by the Long Island Sound to the north and the South Fork by the Pacific Ocean.
These seas provide a warm climate and a long growing season, making it the perfect place for traditional European varieties such as robust Merlot and aromatic, elegant Cabernet Franc.
Kip Bedell, who lived in Garden City on Long Island, began making wine as a hobby at home.
As he and his wife Susan made wine, he felt that making wine in the basement of their home was not enough, so in 1979 he purchased a 50-acre potato field and began cultivating vineyards.
The pair started Bedell Cellars, commuting from Garden City, and with help from friends planted the first 15 acres before expanding.
The grapes from the first harvest, in '83 and '84, were sold to other wineries.
During the harvest in 1985, the winery was hit by the devastating Hurricane Gloria, which, combined with power outages and other effects, resulted in the loss of almost all of the grapes for red wine.
Because of this incident, Kip calls the 1986 vintage the first harvest from Bedell Cellar.
This first vintage, Chardonnay Reserve, won a Gold Medal at the Dallas Morning News competition.
The vineyards currently owned by Bedell Cellars are said to have the oldest average age of vines on the North Fork of Long Island.
The soil in this area is said to have been created by melting glaciers, and is a mixture of sandy loam and gravelly loam.
We plant grape clones that are suited to the soil and microclimate of each vineyard, cultivating grapes that allow the wine to retain the nuances and aromas of Long Island's local breezes.
The wine is brewed entirely using natural yeast, and unique wines are carefully crafted by balancing the natural acidity and minerals found in the grapes with the aroma of the barrels and the alcohol content.
Currently owned by Michael Lin, chairman and CEO of New Line Cinema, the film company known for films such as The Lord of the Rings, the winery has installed state-of-the-art equipment and continues to produce even higher quality wines.
In January 2013, Bedell's Merlot was served at President Obama's re-election inauguration lunch, making the winery a hot topic.
Long Island, nicknamed the "Bordeaux of New York," is New York State's newest and fastest growing wine region.
Located about 100 miles east of New York City, the tip of the island is split into the North Fork and the South Fork, known as The Hamptons.
The Great Peconic Bay divides the river into two forks; the North Fork is bounded by the Long Island Sound to the north and the South Fork by the Pacific Ocean.
These seas provide a warm climate and a long growing season, making it the perfect place for traditional European varieties such as robust Merlot and aromatic, elegant Cabernet Franc.