Photo courtesy of Croteaux Vineyards
Yes way rosé, Croteaux Vineyards’ utterly charming tasting barn and garden is once again open and their 2018 vintages are the perfect way to savor summer while it lasts. Settle into their backyard garden daily from noon to 6:30 p.m., and sip a glass or two of their rosé wines.
Croteaux Vineyards is the only U.S. winery producing and selling solely rosé and the vineyard’s Southold tasting room has been a must-visit for rosé lovers ever since they opened back in 2003. But in 2018, a zoning issue kept the seasonal vineyard from opening. During that time it was still possible to purchase Croteaux’s wines at stores around Long Island, as well as at the vineyard’s ‘Rosé on Run,’ which popped up throughout the North Fork at Little Creek Oysters, Shinn Estate Vineyards and Farmhouse and more.
But we’ve missed passing our afternoons at the dreamy tasting room where it’s easy to feel like you’re wrapped up in a secluded French garden.
Read more: 5 Great Long Island 2018 Rosés You Need to Drink This Summer
This past August, the Southold Town Zoning Board of Appeals finally approved a settlement which allowed the vineyard to reopen its tasting room. As part of that deal, Croteaux has to follow several requirements including prohibiting buses and stretch limousines, allowing no more than 150 guests at a time and limiting their hours of operation from noon to 6:30 p.m., among other conditions.
Currently Croteaux has nine 2018 vintages, although we hear the ‘Chloe’ Sauvignon Blanc Rosé is sadly already sold out. The vineyard also has new owners. Michael Croteau sold Croteaux this past year to Randy Frankel, owner of Shinn Estate Vineyards, and Kristen and Daniel Pennessi, who own The Menhaden hotel in Greenport.
So far it seems like the new owners will continue Croteaux’s focus on drinkable rosés. We’ll cheers to that.
