I am a big fan of Napa Valley and its amazing wines. But it’s summer in the City and the perfect time to escape to Long Island for a countryside wine tasting.
For those who are not familiar with Long Island, especially the North Fork, this is one of the sunniest locations in the New York State. The temperatures are also much cooler.
We arrived at Raphael, a family-owned winery, after a 2-hour drive from New York City .
We first enjoyed a wine tasting, which was a great opportunity to discover the diversity of the wines produced at Raphael.
They are all made from European grapes varieties, such as Sauvignon, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Malbec, or Cabernet Sauvignon (and a few more).
Originally from Naples in Italy, the Petrocelli family makes wine since 4 generations.
Raphael’s vineyard was planted in 1996 and the winery released its first wines in 2000.
The gentle maritime influence of the surrounding water provides a moderate climate. It therefore allows the grapes to fully ripen, achieving perfect balance, aroma, and flavor.
The winery produces natural wines and uses sustainable vineyard practices, hand harvesting, and spontaneous fermentation.
I felt right away in love with the Mediterranean architecture of the facility where technology meets winemaking traditions.
The philosophy of Raphael winery is pretty straightforward and sounds like a motto: wine is grown, not made!
2013 Primo
Primo is a classic Bordeaux blend, full-bodied but softened by velvety tannins.
The grapes are hand harvested, hand sorted, and wild fermented. Primo is then aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, resulting in a wine structured to age for many years.
Wine Enthusiast awarded Primo 2013 93 pts, among the highest rankings the publication has ever given a Long Island wine.
2017 Sauvignon Blanc
The 2017 Sauvignon Blanc is a dry wine with a balanced acidity and minerality. It exhibits a beautiful floral nose of citrus blossom, with flavors of grapefruit and lime.
Cool fermented in stainless steel to retain fresh fruit flavors.
2014 Riesling
My “coup de coeur” during this wine tasting went to the 2014 Riesling.
Raphael produces this dessert wine by fortifying the Riesling grapes during fermentation with Raphael’s homemade grappa.
The result is amazing, with a good balance of alcohol (18% ABV) and residual sugar, bright fruit flavors, and a dry finish.
I paired it with a duck foie gras and it was a great match. The sweetness, fresh acidity, and alcohol of the wine counterbalanced the fattiness of the foie gras.
Raphael Vineyard & Winery
39390 NY-25, Peconic, NY 11958
www.raphaelwine.com