DAN’S PAPERS
Page 38 October 12, 2012
danshamptons.com WINERIES
NORTH FORK EVENTS
Drink in the whole North Fork!
So much to see and do this weekend!
A “Taste” of Palmer Winery
C
’mon people! What’s better than wine tasting? A wine and artisanal chocolate tasting! And Palmer Winery made it happen for 30 lucky folks, including financial consultant Brian Byrne, from Gilman/Ciocia of Ronkonkoma who brought client and Travolta impersonator, Phil Francavilla. “This is really good!” says Byrne about the peppery finish of the first selection to the Vinny Barbarino-look-alike who is entertaining the ladies. Winemaker and general manager Miguel Martin and Roxanne Browning, chocolate sommelier from Exotic Chocolate Tastings spent an entire day pairing wines from the vineyard with chocolates from Ecuador, the Philippines and farms near the equator in preparation for the hour and a half event so that we might swirl, sniff, taste the wine and snap, sniff, taste the chocolate! Tough work but someone’s gotta do it! “Miguel has one of the finest palates I have ever seen,” says Browning as she extolls the Palmer selections for the event, as well as the many nutritional benefits of dark chocolate. Martin is no newcomer to the burgeoning wine industry on the East End. Already an agricultural engineer with a specialty in fermentation science, he worked on the South Fork 23 years ago but decided to get his masters in oenology and travel the world to study different methods of winemaking. As his wife grew up in Southampton, it was only a matter of time before he brought his craft back to a local vineyard.
“I was on my way to Spain with my wife when I best…I am so appreciative to the Palmers,” says saw that Bob Palmer was looking for a winemaker. Martin, “because they allow me to be creative.” Palmer produces about 15 different varieties I sent my resumé by email from the airport. When I landed in Madrid, there was an email offering me an and was one of the first on Long Island to ship interview. I was in Spain for less than 24 hours…and internationally. Martin has also worked with Gallagher’s restaurants to create an original blend. the rest is history” says Martin. Dark clouds gather over the beautifully set tables “Every wine has its own personality, like every kid,” in the vineyard, but the tasting continues with a says the father of three. “Wine has been part of my pouring of the crowd-pleasing daily life,” he says. “Every day Gewurztraminer, followed by a my mother would set a glass on rosé, a cabernet sauvignon and the table for my father. One day a cabernet franc. Feet are damp (when I was about 17) my dad from an earlier rain but spirits asked for a second glass, and are not! New friends are made, that was for me. Since then, I business cards exchanged, have a little wine every day.” chocolate shared. Before the rain threatens to Palmer started the winery end the fun, Kenny Cereola, in 1983 while looking for a A group tasting at Palmer Winery Operations Manager announces change after a successful career in advertising. There were only a handful of wineries upcoming events, including an extended Halloween at that time and he planted the first vine himself. Happy Hour on October 27, as well as after-dusk “He was such a great person,” Martin says of Palmer hayrides, tarot card readings and candy apples. The who passed away three years ago. “We never signed following day features Mutts & Mimosas, a Halloween contracts. He was a good guy.” Survived by his wife pet parade. They also plan weekly wine education Lorraine and two daughters, Barbara and Kathy, it is classes during the winter at “Palmer University.” “This is so much better than the boxed wines Kathy who is still involved in the day-to-day aspects we had when we were teenagers,” says the ersatz of the family business. “What makes Palmer special,” says Martin, “is that Travolta as the rain feels like it is closing in. No the wine is made in the vineyard. No winemaker in worries. “The sun will come out tomorrow,” Byrne the world can make good wine from bad grapes. We sings as the wine informs the moment. www.palmervineyards.com, control the production of the wine. I can choose to www.exoticchocolatetasting.com handpick, or machine harvest—whatever I think is Jessie Sidewitz
By debbie slevin
North Fork’s Oldest Hotel and Restaurant Established in 1896
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