Channing Daughters Winery
by
Kathy Sullivan
Summary: Channing Daughters is one of the few wineries located in the Hamptons area of Long Island. The winery features a friendly tasting room with an outdoor patio and sculpture garden. Grape varieties include some of the lesser-known but important varieties.
Walter Channing, owner of Channing Daughters winery, recalls in the 1960s taking the train from Boston area to eastern New York City and seeing advertising signs with the names of companies including “something and sons.” He noted that if he ever owned a business he would include “Daughters” thus Channing Daughters is named for his four daughters.
Walter wanted to protect the farmland in the Hamptons. He has successfully done this by planting a vineyard and building a winery. The winery was established in 1983.
Walter has many interests in addition to wine and one is woodcarving. He has a workshop where he creates massive pieces of intricately carved wood. Some of these creations decorate the tasting room and can be seen outside the winery in Walter’s sculpture garden. Some images of sculptures are used for bottle labels. Hurricane Gloria knocked down a large tree. Walter took the wood and began sculpting pieces. An image of the tree with its roots in the air is the logo for the winery. It tends to remind one of the roots of a grapevine.
Larry Perrine is a partner with Walter Channing at Channing Daughters Winery. Larry has an intese interest in vineyards, winemaking and wine education. He has studied Soil Science and microbiology prior entering the Graduate Program at Cornell University's Enology and Viticulture program. Eventually, he moved to Long Island, working for Mudd's Vineyard and later worked as a research viticulutist for Cornell on Long Island.
Christopher Tracy and Allison Dubin are also partners Channing Daughters Winery. In addition, Christopher is the winemaker and Allison is the General Manager. They both began as Wine Club members which led the way to their current positions at the winery. The couple also has an extensive background in culinary and theatre. Regarding winemaking, Christopher's has said, "its just the magic of givin' the wines some love."
Vineyards
On the 130-acre property, the vineyards for Channing Daughters include 30 acres of grapevines. The grape varieties include Chardonnay, Tocai Friulano, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanco, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Blaufränkisch, Dornfelder, Lagrein and Refosco. The winery also sources some grapes from North Fork primarily Mudd Vineyard.
Winery and Tasting Room
Behind the tasting counter, windows allow visitors to view the winery. In the process of producing wines, the winemaker Christopher Tracy uses native yeasts. Chris has enough native yeast that he is able to sell it to a bakery in Manhattan who produces delicious artisan bread with the yeast. Another technique he uses is to ferment whites on the skins. The resulting color of these wines ranges from pale to darker orange. Today some are referring to these wines as “orange” wines. At Channing Daughters wines are grouped by color: white, orange, pink and red.
Wines
Mosaico, one of the winery’s most popular wines was named so because the six varieties of grapes are planted in a mosaic pattern in one vineyard. The wine is a field blend of Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Ottonel, Tocai Friulano and Gewürztraminer. The gold wine had a fruit aroma with nuances of orange blossoms. The smooth taste was slightly sweet from the numerous fruit notes and honeysuckle. The finish was crisp with a hint of minerals. The wine lingered on the aftertaste. Suggested pairings included fish, vegetables and white meats. Meditazione 2009 (an orange wine) was a burnt orange color. The wine notes reminds one of oregano on pizza. The grape varieties in this wine included Muscato Ottonel, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanco, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Malvasia Blanco. Suggested pairings included pork belly, sausages, game birds, and aged alpine cheeses. Tocai Friulano was a straw color. The aroma had floral nuances and the taste had citrus and rose notes. The finish was crisp. Sauvignon Blanc was produced with grapes from Mudd Vineyard. This straw colored wine had tropical nuances. The taste was of grapefruit yielding to tropical notes. The finish was crisp and fruity. Pair this wine with seafood. L’Enfant Sauvage was produced with indigenous yeast and oaked. Apple and pear nuances were on the aroma and taste. The taste also had hints of vanilla and caramel. The finish was crisp with fruit yielding to vanilla and caramel. Romato Pinot Grigio was a dark gold color. Spice was on the aroma. The taste had spice and floral notes. The finish was crisp with cloves and a hint of cinnamon.
Blaufränkisch was a blend of 80 percent Blaufränkisch and 20 percent Dornfelder. The wine’s color was a dark ruby. The aroma offered notes of berries and spice. The taste was reminiscent of cranberries and spice. The finish was crisp and fruity. Over & Over was a blend of Merlot, Syrah and Dornfelder. This wine was produced in a repossa method – blending back in previous vintages. The wine was a dark ruby. The aroma was earthy with spices. The taste was of dark fruits. The finish had tannins with fruit yielding to earthiness. Due Uve was a blend of Syrah and Merlot. This wine was a purple/red color. The wine offered intense fruity notes. The taste and finish was dry. The taste lingers and spices were noted on the aftertaste.
Research Cab is produced in very small quantities. The grapes for this wine come from a “Research” vineyard on Long Island. The wine offered fruit notes and the taste was smooth with a hint of pepper. The 2009 vintage included Dornfelder, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Blaufränkisch, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Semebat, Barbera, Segalin, Malbec and Sangiovese. Pairings include roasts, duck, and lamb chops.
Pazza was a fortified wine made from Merlot grapes. It was a dark orange/red. The aroma offered notes of jammy fruits while the taste reminds one of dried fruits. The finish had some crispiness.
Enjoy a visit to Channing Daughters where you will discover white, orange, pink and red wines. Take time to enjoy the sculpture garden and to spend time on the patio.
Channing Daughters Winery
1927 Scuttlehole Road
Bridgehampton, NY 11932
GPS: N40º 57.585’ W72º 18.581’
Article written January 2013
