31 Aug East End Bubbly: Sparkling Pointe Winery
A visit to the Sparkling Pointe winery in Southold is nothing short of spectacular. Upon entering, visitors are greeted by soaring vaulted ceilings and vast pools of natural light, a marked departure from the rustic interior aesthetics of most Long Island wineries. The bright and airy space is just one reason that makes wine-tasting here special. Another is the expansive stone patio with both table and plush seating and sweeping views of the vineyard.
The true reason that Sparkling Pointe is special, however, is a winemaking process called méthode champenoise.
Méthode Champenoise
Méthode champenoise, also known as méthode classique or the traditional Champagne method, is the most labor-intensive process for making sparkling wine. The double-fermentation process occurs directly in the bottle of wine without the addition of further carbonation.
The grapes at Sparkling Pointe are harvested slightly earlier than at other North Fork vineyards to capture the height of their acidity and before they ripen and become too sweet. Like other wines, they are pressed whole cluster and the resulting juice is allowed to ferment in barrels.
After the initial fermentation process, the wine is bottled and the méthode champenoise magic begins. Most wines are sealed and either sold right away or allowed to age. Sparkling Pointe, on the other hand, adds another round of yeast and a few other ingredients to the bottled wine which activates a second fermentation process and produces the familiar bubbles that are characteristic of champagne.
The removal of byproducts in the bottles produced by méthode champenoise is what makes the process difficult. The bottles of sparkling wine must go through a series of small, delicate steps to remove the sediment and spent yeast without disturbing the pressure inside. What’s left is lively, effervescent wine with bright aromas and complex flavors.
A Natural Sparkling Wine
Some varietals at Sparkling Pointe are aged to produce a range of flavors that we find common in the best mature wines. The result, at any rate, is delicious and natural. Sparkling Pointe’s exclusive process for producing sparkling wine is unique on Long Island. Earning 90+ Wine Enthusiast scores consistently, Sparkling Pointe’s signature sparkling wines are regarded as some of the best on the island.
Stop into the tasting room at Sparkling Pointe, 39750 Route 48, Southold, from 11am-6pm daily. To include the winery on your East End itinerary with a stay at Hotel Indigo, call 631.369.2200 ext. 0.