Foodstuffs: Artists’ Table Brunch and New North Fork Wines on Tap

Artists’ Table Brunch in Water Mill

The first of The Watermill Center’s annual Artists’ Table brunch series is coming up at noon on Saturday, April 29, and will feature Bridgehampton restaurauter and chef, Jason Weiner and Greek choreographer, Katerina Andreou.

The Artists’ Table series pairs international artists with local chefs and invites the community to an intimate presentation by The Watermill Center’s artists-in-residence, followed by a farm-to-table meal from East End chefs and wine pairings by Wölffer Estate Vineyard on The Center’s scenic campus.

Chef Jason Weiner boasts extensive experience at many of the country’s top kitchens. Since 2001, he has served as executive chef and proprietor of Almond restaurant, which opened its first location in Bridgehampton, followed shortly thereafter by a second Almond outpost in Manhattan’s Flatiron District in 2008 and L&W Oyster Company in 2012.

Born in Athens and based in France, Katerina Andreou graduated from the Law School-University of Athens and the State School of Dance in Athens. She attended the program ESSAIS in CNDC d’ Angers and holds a master’s degree of Paris 8 in research and choreography. As a dancer, she collaborated with DD Dorvillier, Lenio Kaklea, Bryan Campbell, Dinis Machado, Emmanuelle Huynh and Ana Rita Teodoro. In her work, she is interested in developing states of presence sorting out from a constant negotiation between contrasted tasks, fictions, and universes, often questioning the relation to ideas such as authority and autonomy, communication, and censorship. Andreou is a recipient of the Baroness Nina von Maltzahn Fellowship for the Performing Arts at The Watermill Center.

Tickets for the Artists’ Table brunch start at $100 at watermillcenter.org. The Watermill Center is at 39 Watermill Towd Road, Water Mill.

New Wines From Corey Creek Tap Room

Corey Creek Tap Room’s female winemaker, Marin Brennan, has released two new wines — Auxerrois 2022 and Old Vine Rosé 2022 — both of which are currently available for purchase.

The Auxerrois 2022 features ancient grapes of Alsace, which were grown from a single one-acre vineyard on the estate. After harvesting by hand, a majority of the juice was fermented with wild yeast in stainless-steel, while a portion of the clusters were spread on straw mats for two months to encourage dehydration and the concentration of sugar. The process called “appassimento,” has been used for centuries in Italy to produce Amarone. After losing almost 50 percent of their water, the dried grapes were crushed and wild-fermented separately. Both lots were blended prior to bottling, resulting in a beautiful and elegant white wine. The only varietal Auxerrois produced in New York, the Auxerrois is 13.4 percent alcohol and costs $30 a bottle.

The Old Vine Rosé was made from another famous variety, and this single vineyard wine was hand-harvested from one acre of 43-year-old Gewürztraminer vines — the oldest vines on the estate and some of the oldest on Long Island. After gently pressing, it was fermented wild for four months in neutral oak barrels, along with a small portion of the winery’s estate Malbec. The flowery aromatics of the Gewürztraminer combine perfectly with the bright color and crisp acidity of the Malbec, creating a truly unique and delicious rosé, that’s perfect for summer sipping. The Old Vine Rosé is 75 percent Gewürztraminer, 25 percent Merlot, is 12.2 percent alcohol by volume and costs $30 a bottle.

Both wines can be purchased online at coreycreektaproom.com, at Corey Creek Tap Room, 45470 Main Road, Southold, or at liquor stores throughout the East End.

Bedell Cellars Releases Cabernet Franc 2021

Bedell Cellars has released the 2021 Cabernet Franc. The hand-selected clones of this ancient noble grape are producing stunning wines. Aged in older French oak barrels to preserve its elegance and finesse, this wine was fermented with indigenous yeasts using their sustainably farmed estate grapes.

“Fresh black cherry and black currant fruit flavors are laced with a mouthwatering tobacco streak, with a subtle tug of earth on the juicy finish,” says James Molesworth of Wine Spectator.

The 2021 Cabernet Franc is 12 percent alcohol by volume, certified sustainable, certified vegan, costs $35 per bottle and is currently available for purchase at the winery or online at bedellcellars.com.

Bedell Cellars is a certified sustainable, family-owned estate, making some of the most critically acclaimed wines on the North Fork. The 80-acre estate produces hand-crafted wines that combine the most refined techniques with sustainable farming, indigenous fermentation and artistic blending. The goal is to achieve a natural balance between vine, soil and sunlight, which maximizes native aromas and flavors into the wines. This is done through a series of vineyard “best practices” which have been finely tuned over the past 30 years to minimize agricultural chemicals, protecting the farmer, environment, and society at large. Bedell Cellars is one of the only vineyards in the world fermenting with 100 percent naturally occurring indigenous yeasts. They have fermented over 50 small batches of wine and have produced over 34 vintages. All wines are hand crafted on their estate and the journey from vine to bottle is consistent with ancient winemaking traditions.

Bedell Cellars is at 36225 Main Road in Cutchogue. For more information, visit 631-734-7537.