Guy The Wine Closer Than You Think

When images of beautiful vineyards, tasting rooms and quaint country settings come to mind, you’d probably think of Burgundy, Tuscany or Napa. Well, think again. Just to the south of us, Long Island’s North Fork area is fairly bursting with vineyards and wineries that produce a surprisingly broad array of wines. While there are plenty of stops along the way, the following are definitely worth your time...

Sparkling Point Brut including the Instagram-famous Summer in a Bottle. For me, the Estate Rosé is the real gem.

Sparkling wine is the hidden treasure of Long Island — it doesn’t always get a lot of attention, but at Sparkling Point it is the focus, and this vibrant blend of chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier always over-delivers for around $30.

Macari Vineyards “Katherine’s Field” Sauvignon Blanc, ($22.99)

At its best, Long Island Sauvignon Blanc sort of straddles the riper West Coast examples and leaner, more mineral-driven Loire examples. This Macari is a benchmark for that style locally. Citrus with melon and sometimes even some

Passion fruit, it’s brisk and ready for local shellfish and other seafood.

Channing Daughters, Scuttlehole Chardonnay, ($19.99)

Winemaker Christopher Tracy makes several that I enjoy, including one of the best values on this list. You won’t find any oak flavors to get in the way of the fresh apple and pear flavors with just a little citrus zest and a hint of the creaminess you expect from the grape.

Paumanok Vineyards Chenin Blanc, ($26.99) One of the iconic white wines of the North Fork, this is a wine that varies greatly depending on the season but is always a winner. Some years, it’s more citrus and green apple driven. Others, it’s more tropical. One constant is its fresh, juicy acidity that pairs well with seafood, whether it’s in a salad, grilled or fried.

I’m picking the still version here, but the sparkling version deserves an honorable mention.

McCall Wines Pinot Noir, ($29.99) With thin skins and a very different ripening curve than most of the red wine grapes that are so successful here, Pinot Noir is rarely a standout on the North Fork. Yet, McCall consistently makes the exception to that rule. It’s impossible for me to make a list like this without this wine on it.

I get to put two on if I want to!), this one shows the wild, rustic nature that local Cabernet Franc can take on when it’s allowed to show off. Unoaked, this wine keeps the focus on bright fruit and herbal nuances.

Wölffer Estate Vineyard Estate

Rosé, ($18.99) Wölffer winemaker

Roman Roth has been making dry Rosé since before it was cool.,

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Lieb Cellars Pinot Blanc, ($26.99) Pinot Blanc can be pretty bland, but this wine never is. Floral,with citrus notes, it slots right in next to all of the other food-friendly white wines that make Long Island so compelling.

Anthony Nappa Wines “Bordo Antico” Cabernet Franc, ($25.99) One of two Cabernet Francs on this list (it’s my list, so

Bedell Cellars 2016 Cabernet Franc, ($22.99) Veteran winemaker Rich Olsen-Harbich shares my love of Cabernet Franc on the North Fork and it shows in this wine every year. He uses old, neutral oak barrels in its making, resulting in a silky, high-toned wine with floral notes along with berries and notes of savory herbs. ernment Center Station. These stations are less than a half-mile from Haymarket, or a four- to eight-minute walk.

• Red Line trains will be replaced with free, accessible shuttle bus service between Alewife and Kendall/MIT stations during the weekend of February 25-26. This weekend service diversion will allow MBTA crews to perform critical power, lighting, and track drainage work within the tunnels near Alewife as well as rail replacement work that will remove a speed restriction near Harvard Station on the southbound side of the tracks.

• Haverhill Commuter Rail Line trains will be replaced with free, accessible shuttle bus service between Haverhill and Reading Stations for nine days from Saturday, February 4, through Sunday, February 12, to perform ATC work. ATC is a federally mandated safety system that sends signals to trains about potentially unsafe conditions, automatically slowing and stopping a train if needed. Passengers should note that bicycles are not allowed on shuttle buses, and regular Commuter Rail fares will be collected between Reading and North Station.