Spring is here!

The pruning was finished ahead of schedule, so our 12,000 vines are now ready for the season to start. With the last few days of warmth and rain the buds are breaking open and exposing their still-pink leaves. The dandelions are out in profusion. The wires have been dropped and waiting to follow the progress of the shoots up the trellis. You can feel the new beginnings everywhere; this is a very exciting time of the year for us!

Comfortable living for our feathered friends

Our chickens spent a very comfortable winter in their new coops that Ryan built last year. We are expecting a new batch on the 22nd of May which will include baby chicks, two ducks and two turkeys. We cannot wait for their arrival at the post office.

The Old Field in the news

Last year we were followed by a PBS series producer and will be part of a program on various professions, in particular, the ones on the East End of Long Island. Also, we had a writer/sommelier from Wine Advocate, stop in one cold winter morning at 8:00 am (ouch) to taste our wines along with seventeen other vineyards here on the East End. He raved about our sparkling wine in particular and to quote him, he said it was, "world class". Chris and I were thrilled. We'll let you know when to find us on PBS and in Wine Advocate.

New releases

At the Tasting Barn, we have released the new 2003 Blush de Noir, so please come and try it. In June we will release the 2001 Merlot for wine club members only for a few weeks. Our 2001 Blanc de Noir Sparkling is now available as well. We will be having music once a month if not more and that will be posted on the website.

Almost ready (only three more years)

We have been hard at work in the cellar making our 2005 Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir. They taste beautifully and are now waiting for the old cow barn to warm up so they can begin going through their malolactic fermentation. Malolactic fermentation refers to a bacterial driven (versus yeast driven) fermentation, converting the harsher malic acid into a smoother lactic acid thereby making the wine softer and more pleasant to drink. ML also lessens the total acidity, makes the wine more stable and adds complexity and flavour to the finished product. We've tasted the rest of the 2005s, and you'll be happy to know they have great fruit and richness. Get ready — they'll be ready for you in just three more years!

Still not a member of our Wine Club?

We started our Wine Club this winter and it is growing fast. The second shipment was mailed the second Tuesday in May. We are also in the thick of planning the July party for Wine Club members, so keep an eye out for that. (Now would be a great time to join the Wine Club!)

Camp for grownups

The Wine Camp was here and they had a super time over the four-day event. At The Old Field, they put down some nitrogen and learned why we do that and a bit about our soils. They raised and lowered wires in the Merlot and were somewhat surprised at the difficulty of the seemingly simple task. They also learned about grafting, and planted their very own Merlot vines to take home with them. Of course, the end of their time here was spent tasting our wines. If you are interested in participating in the future, go to www.winecamp.org to learn more.

Another summer of film

We all had so much fun at last year's Movies by the Bay, so we will again be showing films on the great lawn on Thursday evenings in August. We would love to have your suggestions. The films need to be made before 1976. Please email your ideas to livinifera@aol.com, and we hope to see you under the stars in August (and many times before).

Our Wines

2003 Blush de Noir
NEW RELEASE! The still half of our sparkling and made from Pinot Noir grapes, this wine, tasting of honey, grapefruit and a touch of strawberry, makes a refreshing treat for a warm, lazy afternoon. $9/bottle $97.20/case (includes 10% case-discount)

2003 Chardonnay
RECENT RELEASE. With only partial malolactic fermentation (ML), and three months in the barrel, this Chardonnay holds on to its green apple flavours and finishes in bright lemon citrus. $16/bottle $173/case (includes 10% case-discount).

2002 Cabernet franc
blackberry, spice, licorice, and plum accompanied by soft, ripe tannins and a lingering finish. Pulse Magazine loved this one! $24/bottle $259.20/case (includes 10% case-discount)

2001 Chardonnay
Tropical fruit, buttery. 6 months on oak. $22/bottle $264/case
8 3 cases remain for Wine Club members only.

1998 Pinot Noir
Black cherry, spice. Aged in oak 21 months. $22/bottle $264/case
18 12 cases remain for Wine Club members only.

2000 Merlot
A Merlot/ Cabernet franc blend (90/10) with black fruit, herbs, and a bit of black pepper in the nose and on the palate. A food friendly, sophisticated wine with a medium finish. 18 months in French barrels. $16/bottle $120/case (includes 37.5% case-discount — we're making room for the new Merlot!)

2001 Blanc de Noir Sparkling
NEW RELEASE! 100% Pinot Noir fruit, this driest of the méthode champenoise sparkling wines, will delight your mouth with its tiny bubbles. A wine rich with the flavours of cherry, and toasty yeast; it has just the right balance of acidity to be both creamy and palate cleansing. Truly, "a world class wine". $35/bottle $420/case

Prices are exclusive of New York sales tax. Please call or email us for out-of-state shipment possibilities.

Visit our Tasting Barn, open Saturday & Sunday, 11AM — 5PM. We're 1 mile east of the Southold Village traffic light, on the right, on Rt 25. Look for a red fence, white gate and grape vines.

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