Foodstuffs: Wine Happenings for Fall

On Monday, October 17, The American Hotel in Sag Harbor is hosting a wine tasting dinner featuring the celebrated Merry Edwards Winery from the Russian River Valley in California. There will be a brief reception at 6:30 p.m. with Roederer Estate Brut. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m.

Sauvignon blanc, several recent pinot noirs and a late-harvest chardonnay will accompany oysters Romanoff, Chef James’s renowned cod au poivre, roast goose and dessert. The cost is $150 per person plus tax and service. Reservations are limited. For details, call at 631-725-3535. The American Hotel is at 45 Main Street, Sag Harbor.

Sommelier Jessica Green and writer and communications consultant Rachel Bosworth have both worked in the wine industry, beginning in tasting rooms on the North Fork of Long Island. Now, Green and Bosworth have teamed up to launch Sediment & Sentiment, a company that is committed to connecting wine drinkers to makers through blind wine tasting and wine education events, and S&S blind tasting kits and subscription boxes.

Focusing on biodynamic wines, S&S is passionate about making wine experiences inclusive, diverse, educational, environmentally-friendly, and fun.

After getting her start in the business, Green took her passion and experience to the next level, working harvest in New York vineyards, managing tasting rooms and wine clubs, developing corporate beverage programs, managing staff training, event support, wine buying, wine list curation, and retail ownership — complemented by education with Sommelier Society of America & Court of Masters Sommelier. Green ultimately bought Down the Rabbit Hole Wine Boutique in Sayville, shifting the shop’s focus to natural, organic, and biodynamic wines.

Bosworth, who studied advertising and marketing communications at the Fashion Institute of Technology, went on to open her own boutique communications firm, RB Collaborative, with a focus on nonprofits and small businesses, including wineries, wine shops and restaurants. She also worked as a freelance journalist for several East End publications. Bosworth’s experience as a journalist, while also working with environmental nonprofits specifically, has deepened her commitment to storytelling and sustainability both in life and business. Alongside Green, it became a natural next step for the pair to found S&S.

“The name is a combination of both our passions,” Green said. “Sediment is what’s left at the bottom of the bottle that’s always questioned. People are unsure of what it is, if they can drink it, why it’s there. We answer those questions by talking about unique wines, particularly biodynamic wines, to instill a sense of confidence in consumers. We think it’s important to highlight this type of winemaking, as it is all encompassing. Many of these wines are from vineyards where diversity is part of their core values. Every hand that touches the land or the grapes is valued equally and is important to the process.”

“Sentiment is a nod to the things that are most important to us, both in life and in business,” Bosworth added. “We want to do good for the environment and for the people. Sharing the stories of the people that make these wines, we aim to highlight their histories and practices, and form a deeper connection between wine drinkers and makers. Through the S&S subscription boxes specifically, we can share these stories in an educational yet fun way.”

S&S blind wine tasting kits include blind wine tasting instructions, deductive tasting pad, pencil and three burlap bags. The S&S subscription box is a quarterly service that will highlight three wine varietals, including three wines, information cards for each, information on the producers, a luxury wine tool, and access to members-only resources along with discounts on other purchases and events. Wines are sold through a partnership with Down the Rabbit Hole Wines in Sayville, also owned by Green.

The Preston House & Hotel and Sediment & Sentiment are collaborating on an educational wine pairing dinner featuring wines from RGNY on Friday, October 21, at 6:30 p.m. Highlighting local and sustainable winemaking practices and cuisine, the three-course wine pairing dinner will also include a sommelier-led wine discussion and an S&S box with wine education cards and luxury wine tools. Tickets are $140 per person, and reservations must be made in advance by Friday, October 13, by calling 631-775-1500. The Preston House & Hotel is at 428 East Main Street, Riverhead. For details visit theprestonhouseandhotel.com or sedimentandsentiment.com.

Southold Social, James Beard Award-winning Chef François Payard’s contemporary new bistro, is now offering special wine dinners on Thursdays. Payard and his team have hand-picked local North and South Fork wineries that are just a short distance from the restaurant. The wine region benefits from a location completely surrounded by water, with wind and maritime temperatures. The fall harvest season is the perfect time to discover the local bottlings.

Beginning October 13, 30 people will have the opportunity to enjoy a $75 prix fixe menu prepared exclusively by Payard in the upstairs dining room on Thursday evenings. Each week, the dishes will be curated to perfectly pair with the local wine offerings for an additional $30. Reservations are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Schedule:

October 13: Lenz Winery –– A 70-acre estate vineyard in Peconic that has bottled its own Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon since 1978. Winemaker Thomas Spotteck will be in attendance.

October 20: Peconic Bay Vineyards –– This “farm-to-cellar” winery in Cutchogue is dedicated to sustainable farming techniques to produce the highest quality wines.

October 27: Wölffer Estate Vineyard –– Since 1988, this Sagaponack-based winery has produced playful yet premium, distinctive wines, ciders, and spirits.

November 3: McCall Wines –– Located in Cutchogue, McCall wines has proudly been farming and producing a diverse array of award-winning wines since 2007.

November 10: Macari Vineyards –– The Macari family has owned their 500 acres of Mattituck waterfront for over half a century, though Macari Vineyards was not established until 1995. This family-run winery adopts biodynamic principles to create delicious, organic wines.

November 17: Pellegrini Vineyards –– The couple behind Pellegrini Vineyards are considered to be some of the original pioneers in the Long Island wine community; their state-of-the-art facility in Cutchogue boasts the best of winemaking technology while also honoring Old World traditions.

Southold Social is located at 56125 Main Road, Southold. For more information, call 631-765-8888 or visit southoldsocial.com.