"Taste The North Fork" To Offer Free Shuttles To Local Wineries

A grant from East End Tourism Alliance through an Empire State development grant program has allowed the North Fork Promotional Council to launch Taste the North Fork - a multi town program that highlights the area's craft beverage industry. The "taste of the towns" will debut on Friday, April 7 and continue through Sunday, April 9.

"Taste the North Fork is an excellent way for people to discover Long Island's beautiful wine country," explained Abigail Field of the North Fork Promotion Council. "Our weekend packages give an immersive, comprehensive experience - an exclusive wine dinner, special tastings, premium accommodations and more - while our Saturday and Sunday afternoon shuttles allow people to sample several wineries and hamlet downtowns without worrying about driving or parking."

The event is similar to Taste North Fork, which provided free shuttle buses that looped around the North Fork over Veteran's Day weekend.

Attendees can choose to "play for the day" or take advantage of a "premium weekend package" - which features a two night stay at a North Fork B&B or inn located in Greenport, East Marion, Cutchogue, or Southold, an extraordinary wine dinner with concierge transportation and a special tasting events, daily. "Taste the North Fork welcomes people to sample the best of Long Island's wine country stress-free," she explained. "We offer both immersive premium weekend packages that deliver a profound (and delicious) respite from city life and no-commitment afternoon shuttles that empower playful day trips of wine tasting and window shopping."

The free shuttles will be available starting around 12 p.m. and run until 5:30 p.m. The Mattituck-Cutchogue-Peconic Loop will offer access to Castello di Borghese Vineyard and Winery, Sannino Bella Vita Vineyard, Waters Crest Winery, Lenz Winery, Pindar Vineyards, Coffee Pot Cellars, Raphael Winery, Pugliese Vineyards, Laurel Lake Vineyards, Macari Vineyards, Greenport Harbor Brewing (tasting room), and the Bridge Lane Tasting Room, while the Southold-Greenport-Peconic Loop will make stops at Osprey's Dominion, Duck Walk Vineyards, and Sannino Bella Vita Vineyard. Additionally, North Fork Taps & Corks, who has a wide section of local beers and wines, will be walkable from the Southold stop, and Greenport Harbor Brewing's original tasting room is easily accessible from the Greenport stop. If you pick the Southold-Greenport Loop, make sure to visit First and South, who will be hosting a popup tasting with complimentary snacks and cash bar, featuring local artist Kara Hoblin's new art installation and show Flora & Fauna, from 2 to 5 p.m.

Through events like Taste the North Fork, the North Fork Promotional Council hopes to show that the North Fork shouldn't just be viewed as a super seasonal locale. "We're not just a summertime or harvest season destination; in some ways, April is the best time to stop by," noted Field. "The weather's nice, our businesses are open, and the crowds haven't yet come."

For more information, visit www.gonorthfork.org.

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Nicole is the Editor-in-Chief of Hamptons.com where she focuses on lifestyle, nightlife, and mixology. She grew up in the Hamptons and currently resides in Water Mill. www.hamptons.com NicoleBarylski NicoleBarylski