When wine aficionados think about traveling to taste their favorite beverage, they think of Tuscany, Napa Valley and Bordeaux, just to name a few. With so many vineyards to visit and so many tastings to enjoy, Long Island, New York, should also be on that list. To start, here are five of the top Long Island wineries:

Martha Clara Vineyards: Located in Riverhead, New York, the history of Martha Clara Vineyards actually begins with Entenmann’s Bakery. It was back in 1978, when the tasty company decided it was time to move on to other adventures. Robert Entenmann, the grandson of the founder, tried a potato farm, but realized that he should instead be creating a vineyard. He started the vineyard – which is named after his late mother — with only 18 acres and grew it into one of the most popular Long Island wineries. In addition to group and VIP tastings, The Vineyard also holds classes and a music festival with A-listers such as Keith Urban and Duran Duran.

One Woman Wines & Vineyards: That one woman is Claudia Purita, who brings her wine expertise all the way from her family’s farm in Calabria, Italy, where she helped out her father from the time she was a young girl. Her father taught her about sustainability and living off the land. One Woman Wines & Vineyards is a 16-acre farm and vineyard located in North Fork, Long Island. Taste the fruits of this hard-working woman’s labor in the tasting room, where the vineyard currently has 13 wines available for tasting and purchase in the tasting room.

Coffee Pot Cellars: Nope, it’s not a java shop. This Cutchogue family-owned winery is also located on the North Fork of Long Island’s winemaking country and is actually named after the Orient Point Lighthouse, which is nicknamed “The Coffee Pot.” The winery features Merlot, Meritage, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc in their tasting room. In addition, they also features handcrafted beeswax products from Blossom Meadow Farm.

Channing Daughters: Located in Bridgehampton, Channing Daughters utilizes traditional and artisanal methods in their wine making, including hand picking all of their grapes. Their portfolio includes white wine Mosaico, Cuvee Tropica, Tocai Friulano, Sauvignon Blanc, L’Enfant Sauvage, pinks, fortified, and so much more. There are no tours in this small winery, but they offer tastings of at least six different wines each day.

Scarola Vineyards: The history of Scarola Vineyards begins in Italy, where the family came from Bari, Italy, as farmers and winemakers. In the 1940s, the family relocated to the United States through Ellis Island – which you’ll see depicted on the wine bottles. The vineyard only makes 500 cases a year. If you stay at the Vineyard’s bed & breakfast, Cedar House on Sound B&B, you can enjoy an exclusive tasting of Scarola wines.

Jody’s Travel Inc