Note: This tip is an excerpt from the June 15, 2016, issue of Wine Spectator.
WÖLFFER KITCHEN
Website www.wolfferkitchen.com
For New Yorkers fleeing the grinding workweek, a trip to Wölffer Estate Vineyard and its casual eatery, Wölffer Kitchen, can be refreshing. Just a couple doors down from Sag Harbor's Wine Spectator Grand Award-winning American Hotel, Wölffer Kitchen serves brunch, lunch and dinner along with a $35 prix fixe that includes a glass of the vineyard's wine. The food leans heavily on simple, wine-friendly fare under the guidance of chef Brian Cheewing. A Mediterranean influence shows in dishes like lollipop lamb chops with crispy chickpeas, while a mural of fruits and summer flowers brightens the restaurant's clean, contemporary look. In a nod to the region's growing wine appreciation, Wölffer's winemaker dinner series supports local organizations including the Long Island Merlot Alliance.
Just a few miles away, the Wölffer Estate stretches across 55 acres of sustainably farmed vines. More than half the restaurant's wine list (nearly 50 bottles and about 25 wines by the glass) are from Wölffer and other Long Island producers, with a mix of New and Old World wines curated by winemaker Roman Roth filling in the rest. On summer evenings, the vineyard's wine stand offers free live music and wines by the glass or bottle as guests loll on the lawn with a view of the vines.
RED MAPLE AT THE CHEQUIT INN
Website www.thechequit.com/redmaple
Built in the 1870s, the Chequit Inn, once a haven for high rollers like Frank Sinatra, is upping Shelter Island's hospitality standards. Reopening in late April, it has a lived-in luxury feel, with pale rose- and cream-colored walls, bare wooden flooring and antique accents.
The inn's restaurant, Red Maple, is hitting its stride after opening a year ago. The new summer menu has seaside fare like Montauk fluke cooked with white wine in parchment paper, while the wine list offers 55 selections that include lesser-known options like Grenache Blanc and Pinot Bianco. On the porch, guests can dine under the restaurant's namesake 50-foot maple tree. The renovated lobby offers breakfast that changes daily, then converts to a guests-only wine bar in the afternoon. If you're looking for good food picnic-style, the inn's White Hill café packs up meals from Red Maple.
