Tip# 6: Have a Rosé Day

If your summer plans do not include a trip to the South of France with ‘la belle élite’ than make a trip to South Harbor Road and go to Croteaux Vineyards.   They specialize in Rosé (on purpose) in the style of the South of France.  And a visit to their tasting barn and garden will make you feel like you’ve escaped to Provence or even Côte d’Azur for the afternoon.  Vintage, wrought-iron tables and chairs scattered through-out the garden overlook the vineyard and encourage small, intimate gatherings.  Along with wine, there are cheese plates available.  Friends and couples alike linger over their tastings and feel no pressure to move along and more importantly, encounter no jostling for space. Croteaux doesn’t even allow groups larger than 8.

While such a setting emanates a “laissez-faire” charm it should be noted that every detail is so carefully handpicked and obviously well-thought.  You may be served wine from bottles carried in a vintage milk bottle carrier on one occasion or your tasting is delivered in glasses set in a terra cotta saucer on another. The cool tasting room staff is knowledgeable, with a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ about them. (I just couldn’t resist – and it is true!)  And the rosé is always fantastic.   You will want to stock up for the summer. Now would be a good time, too. 

Tomorrow night, Croteaux Vineyards is hosting a Garden Party for their case club members complete with hors d’oeuvres, new releases and sunset over the vines.  And there are more parties to come this season so take my advice & don’t miss out!

Croteaux Vineyards

1450 South Harbor Road
Open Thursday – Monday in May from noon – 5pm
and every day after Memorial Day until Labor Day
www.croteaux.com

Tip# 32: Pizza, wine and music at Twilight Tuesdays

There is fun stuff happening every day of the week on the North Fork. On Tuesday nights Corey Creek Vineyard (Rte 25 in Southold) stays open late from 6-9pm with live music.  But the real reason to go is for the pizza from Rolling in Dough truck.  Wood -fired, brick oven pizza baked in the back of a restored 1943 K-6 Harvester truck.  How cool is that? And the pizzas are delicious - and cost around $20 for a large. There is no better deal for dinner. And who wants to cook when it is so hot out?  Also a perfect spot to bring the kids as there is ample space for them to run around while the adults picnic. But bring lawn chairs and blankets - the Adirondack seating and picnic tables at the vineyard tend to fill up quickly.

So come and sit out under the stars on a Tuesday and make sure you stop by and say 'Hi' -- I'll be the one drinking Taste Rose and eating a bacon-artichoke pizza.  

The Rolling in Dough truck is available for parties - have them come to your next NoFo event: www.rollingindoughpizza.com  ph: 631.603.7378