New State Bill Sponsored By Senator Kenneth P. LaValle Expands North Fork Wine Trail

S4686, a new bill sponsored by New York State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle, recently passed in the New York State Senate and is set to enlarge the North Fork Wine Trail.

According to Drew Biondo, LaValle's director of communications, the senator has been working on this bill since 2010. He felt that the East End would be able to reap the financial benefits of making the North Fork Wine Trail bigger.

"The wineries are an economic engine for the East End," Biondo said. LaValle hopes that tourists will visit wineries on the East End, spend money and then go into town continue the economic stimulation at shops and restaurants.

The trail will begin at exit 71 on the L.I.E., go east on State Road 24, turn north on County Road 105, turn east on Route 25, turn west on County Road 48 and turn south at the intersection of Edwards Avenue and Sound Avenue in Calverton.

Long Island, which happens to be New York State's fastest growing wine region, is home to over 50,000 wine producers who make 500,000 cases of wine each year, according to the Long Island Wine Council. While in 1973, Long Island had 17 acres dedicated to wine producing; the Island now housed 3,000 acres in 2004. Approximately 1,200,000 people visit East End wineries annually.

The Hamptons are an ideal place for wine makers thanks to its long growing season, sea climate, restrained temperatures and soil conditions.