DAN'S PAPERS, July 4, 2008 Page 194 www.danshamptons.com
Dan’s North Fork
Over The Barrel... with Lenn Thompson
The New York City Wine Market New York City is perhaps the world’s most important wine market. It is also the most competitive. So, it only stands to reason that Long Island wine country’s proximity to the market is both a plus and a minus. Most local winery owners focus on the advantages, which make for a better story. After all, didn’t Sinatra sing, about New York City “If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere.” Well, it’s a nice theory, but the Chairman of the Board won’t be remembered for his wine marketing acumen. So far, only a handful of producers have been able to infiltrate New York City restaurants lists — places like Wolffer Estate, Channing Daughters Winery, Paumanok Vineyards, Lieb Cellars and Schneider Vineyard (not a completely list by any means). It takes a lot of hard work pounding the pavement and a fair amount of money to gain traction in the vaunted NYC market. To date, there hasn’t been a concerted, or at least effective, effort on the part of the region as a whole to market its wines in New York City. As such—and unfortunately—the average New Yorker doesn’t think much of Long Island wines. Because the wines are so scarce, they’ve probably only tasted one or wines—and probably not from a top producer. New Yorkers can be a judgmental lot, so they are more than willing to write off an entire region based on one or two bottles of thing, vegetal merlot or a watery, woody chardonnay. Is that a bit like judging all of California wine based on Sutter Home White Zinfandel? Maybe, but in a city filled with endless wine options, New Yorkers can afford to be particular. There are
always different (and often cheaper) wines available—usually less than a block away. But, I think if Long Island wineries can get their better and best wines, many of which are in fact values, in front of more New Yorkers, they can start to turn the regions NYC reputation around I think. And $200,000 that New York State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle assigned to the 2008-2009 New York State budget specifically allocated for marketing Long Island wines in New York City should
help. But only if it is used well. As of this writing, specifics about what programs they plan to invest the money in aren’t available, but the grant will be administered by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation and will focus on four ideas outlined by the Long Island Wine Council: awareness building, media outreach, restaurant outreach/direct marketing, and marketing analysis and education. According to a press release I got this week about the news: The goal of this initiative and the focus of the strategies are to generate wholesale opportunities in restaurants and retail stores in the New York City market. Ideally, the project will not only result in new sales over the course of the (one year) initiative, but will also lay the groundwork for sustained, longer-term interest and demand on the basis of a new understanding of the quality and consistency of our region’s products, as well as new relationships formed between wineries and sales targets. I, for one, will be watching this closely to see what programs and strategies the region comes up with. This would seem to be well timed considering the continuing and swelling “local” movement. Maybe this will be a perfect storm of funding, programming and audience. Maybe it will be another costly flop of a tax-supported program. With so many wineries involved, making different kinds (levels of quality) and with so many strong personalities (egos) involved the LIWC and NYWGF will have their hands full trying to focus members on common goals and action plans.
North Fork Events FRIDAY, JULY 4 PERLMAN MUSIC PROGRAM- 7:30 p.m.: Works in progress concerts at Perlman Music Program campus, 73 Shore Rd., Shelter Island. Sunday, July 6, 11:30 a.m.— Annual Children’s Concert. Call same day to confirm. 631749-0740, 631-877-5045, perlmanmusicprogram.org. RIVERHEAD SUMMER CONCERT SERIES- 7:30 p.m.: Riverhead Summer Concert Series at East End Arts & Humanities Council property features Who Are Those Guys? performing rock and blues. Sponsored by Cliff’s Rondezvous and Peter Danowski. Rain location: Pulaski Street School. Free. 631-727-1215.
SATURDAY, JULY 5 STREET CLEANUP IN GREENPORT- 10:30 a.m.noon: North Street cleanup in Greenport with Group For the East End; help restore Silver Lake area. Bring gloves; meet at east end of North Street Extension. Collection bags provided. 631-537-1400, ext. 12, jsamuelson@eastendenviron-
The
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ment.org. HOMEGROWN STRING BAND AT CUSTER- 8 p.m.: Concert by Homegrown String Band at Custer Institute and Observatory, Southold. Tickets: $15; members, $13. 631-7652626, custerdonna@yahoo.com. 44TH ANNUAL ANTIQUES SHOW- 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Cutchogue-New Suffolk Historical Council’s 44th annual antique show and sale with 78 dealers, snack bar and homemade baked goods. Rain or shine. Village Green, Main Road, Cutchogue. Admission, $5; early birds (7:30-9 a.m.), $10. Information: Janet Healy, 631-734-2608, cutchoguenewsuffolkhistory.org. ARTS AND CRAFTS SALE- 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Arts and crafts snow fence show and sale at Old Town Art & Crafts Guild, Main Road, Cutchogue, features local artists and original crafts. 631-734-6382, oldtownguild.com. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.: Lawn sale on Mattituck-Laurel Historical Society museum grounds, Main Road and Cardinal Lane, Mattituck. $1 admission fee benefits museums’ upkeep. North Fork Animal League brings puppies and kittens to adopt. Rain date Sunday, July 6. mlhistoricalsociety.org, 631298-5248. WINE PRESS CONCERT- 6 p.m. check out the Wine Press Concert: Swingtime Big Band performs original arrangements of popular standards under tent at Martha Clara Vineyards, Sound Avenue, Riverhead. Tickets: $20. Purchase at East End Arts Council, 631-727-0900, or at gate; season pass: $80. Bring lawn chair or blanket; picnics encouraged; no outside wine or other alcohol permitted. eastendarts.org. HALLOCKVILLE MUSEUM FARM- 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: L.I. Antique Power Association’s annual tractor pull and antique farm machinery show at Hallockville Museum Farm, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead. Fee. 631-298-5292. hallockville.com. PERLMAN MUSIC PROGRAM- 7:30 p.m.: Works in progress concerts at Perlman Music Program campus, 73 Shore Rd., Shelter Island. Sunday, July 6, 11:30 a.m.— Annual Children’s Concert. Call same day to confirm. 631749-0740, 631-877-5045, perlmanmusicprogram.org.
SUNDAY, JULY 6 BREAKFAST WITH THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS- 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Breakfast buffet at Knights of Columbus, Depot Lane, Cutchogue; all you can eat. Adults, $8; children, $4. 631-734-7338. ANNUAL TRACTOR PULL- 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: L.I. Antique Power Association’s annual tractor pull and antique farm machinery show at Hallockville Museum Farm, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead. Fee. 631-298-5292. hallockville.com. CUTCHOGUE LIONS CLUB CLASSIC CAR SHOW- 9 a.m.-4 p.m.: Cutchogue Lions Club’s Classic Car Show charity fundraiser, Capital One Bank Operations Center, Main Road, Mattituck. Over 250 antique, classic, foreign, domestic and “muscle” cars dating from 1905-1982. Ample free parking, refreshments, rest rooms. Adults, $5; under 12, free. Car registration fees: before event, $15; at gate, $20. Includes car, driver and one passenger. Forty trophies awarded. Forms available on Web site. John Hofer, 631-765-6262, cutchoguelions@optonline.net, cutchoguelions.org.
ONGOING EVENTS HEALTHY COOKING MADE QUICK & EASY – The second Friday of every month, a Quick and Easy Healthy Cooking demonstration is being offered. The demo will be done by Dr. Russ L’HommeDieu, DPT; a certified Wellness Coach – who has himself, maintained an over 200 pound weight loss for the last four years. Call to reserve your spot! 888-446-7764. REIKI CIRCLES- Reiki Circles Monday Nights @ Grace Episcopal Church Last Monday of the month, meetings are held at Peconic Bay Medical Center. For more Information, contact Ellen J. McCabe at (631) 727-2072 SKATEBOARDING – Great skate park in Greenport offering ramps and a half pipe. Call 631-477-2385 for hours. INDIAN MUSEUM – In Southold, open Sundays from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 631-765-5577. CUSTER OBSERVATORY– Weather permitting Custer staff will be on hand to assist visitors in observing the night sky using their telescopes. From sunset until midnight in Southold. Call 631-765-2626.