Pellegrini Winery

I was lucky enough to visit Pellegrini Vineyards in Long Island on Tuesday. Pellegrini is on Long Island's North Fork, at 23005 Main Road in Cutchogue. I took the self guided tour, then tasted some of their wines at the tasting bar. Luckily for me, Lynette, the lady behind the counter had a friend who went to my high school - in California! She let me taste a wide range of their wines, I really fell in love with their buttery chardonnay and dessert wines. Merlot has really found a home here in Long Island. Lynette said it's less jammy than California merlot, which was savaged by a character in the movie 'Sideways.' This is not that merlot, it's classier, more drinkable with dinner. My palate is really opening up, I tasted chocolate and spices and a hint of mint in their wines. Lynette encouraged tasters to swish the wine in the mouth like mouthwash to get contact with the sides of the tongue, as well as tasting it "normally." Kathleen Albany, NY