Grape growing on Long Island began right here in the town of Cutchogue, just over 400 years ago, when Frenchman Moses Fournier planted the European varieties he brought with him.
It is unlikely he was very successful, but legends do speak of his impressive vineyards and the wines he made from them. Later, grapes were grown in Queens in the early 1800’s, and more recently in nearby Brookhaven in the 1950’s.
Renowned farmer and Cutchogue grape grower John Wickham was successful with table varieties for many years leading up to the first commercial vineyard being planted by the Hargraves in 1973. Today, Alex and Louisa are credited with giving birth to the Long Island wine industry. Their brother Charlie who helped to plant the first Chardonnay vines there is our vineyard manager here at Peconic Bay Winery.
Peconic Bay Winery was founded and the vineyards planted in 1979 by the late Ray Blum and originally managed by viticulturalist and winemaker Charles Flatt. Originally the farm meant to sell all of its grapes, but by 1989 the fruit was all going towards producing wines here on the estate.
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