New Yorkers do not need to travel far for genuinely good wine country. Less than a hundred miles east of Manhattan, the vineyards of Long Island have quietly grown into one of the East Coast’s most rewarding wine escapes, a peaceful stretch of farmland, tasting rooms and bay beaches that feels a world away from the city.
The wineries closest to NYC sit mostly on Long Island’s North Fork, a narrow spit of land cooled by the water on either side, which gives the wines, led by Merlot, Cabernet Franc and crisp whites, a fresh, food-friendly character. This guide gathers the wineries we would actually send you to for a trip from the city, plus where to eat, where to stay, and how to plan the day.
Getting There From NYC
The heart of the wine country sits about 90 miles east of Manhattan, roughly a two to two-and-a-half-hour drive depending on traffic, out along the Long Island Expressway to exit 73 and then onto Routes 25 and 48, the two roads that run past most of the wineries. A car is by far the easiest way to get around, since the tasting rooms are spread across farmland.
If you would rather not drive, the Long Island Rail Road runs east to Ronkonkoma and Greenport, where you can pick up a car, a taxi or a local wine tour, and the Hampton Jitney bus serves the area too. Many visitors book a guided wine tour or a car service so the whole group can taste freely and leave the driving to someone else, which is always the safest choice.
On timing, late summer and fall are the most rewarding, with harvest underway and the farm stands overflowing, though summer weekends are busy and worth booking ahead for. Spring is quieter and pretty, and even the off-season has its charm. Three or four wineries is a comfortable, enjoyable day.
Our Recommended Wineries Near NYC
These are the wineries we would point a first-timer to for a day trip from the city, mapped below and sorted roughly by how close they sit together. Most are on the North Fork, with a couple of South Fork stars for good measure, and each links through to our full winery guide.
Wineries within day-trip range of New York City · tap a pin for the winery guide. Map data © OpenStreetMap.
Paumanok Vineyards
Why Guests Love It: Vineyard-View Deck, Wine & Cheese Pairings, Standout Chenin Blanc
A family estate in Aquebogue run by the Massoud family since the 1980s, Paumanok is especially known for its Chenin Blanc, a local rarity, along with polished Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The hilltop tasting room and deck overlooking the vines make it a lovely first stop.
Read our full Paumanok Vineyards guide →Bedell Cellars
Why Guests Love It: Sculpture-Dotted Grounds, Premium Flights & Charcuterie, Signature Merlot
Bedell Cellars in Cutchogue is famous for its Merlot and for artist-designed labels, including one by Chuck Close. Farmed sustainably, its wines have even been poured at a presidential inauguration, and the stylish barn tasting room with sculpture-dotted grounds is a highlight.
Read our full Bedell Cellars guide →McCall Wines
Why Guests Love It: Rustic Barn Tasting Room, Grass-Fed Burger Nights, Estate Pinot Noir
McCall Wines in Cutchogue doubles as a grass-fed cattle ranch, and its focus on Pinot Noir sets it apart on a coast better known for Bordeaux grapes. Alongside elegant Pinot it makes serious Merlot, poured in a relaxed, rustic setting.
Read our full McCall Wines guide →Lenz Winery
Why Guests Love It: Dog-Friendly Grounds, Age-Worthy Merlot, Traditional-Method Sparkling
Planted in 1978, The Lenz Winery in Peconic is one of the older estates in the area, with a quiet reputation for age-worthy Merlot and excellent traditional-method sparkling wine. It is a favorite of those who like their wine with a track record.
Read our full Lenz Winery guide →Raphael Wine
Why Guests Love It: Mediterranean-Villa Setting, Bordeaux-Style Reds, Attentive Patio Service
One of the grandest wineries around, Raphael in Peconic is built around a Mediterranean-style villa and a focus on Merlot and estate-grown Bordeaux varieties. The elegant tasting room and loggia make it a destination for a longer, more formal visit.
Read our full Raphael Wine guide →Lieb Cellars
Why Guests Love It: Relaxed Welcoming Vibe, Crisp Pinot Blanc, Standout Charcuterie
Lieb Cellars in Cutchogue is known for crisp Pinot Blanc and fine sparkling wine, and it is the parent of the popular, approachable Bridge Lane brand. Its modern tasting room is a comfortable, unpretentious place to settle in.
Read our full Lieb Cellars guide →Bridge Lane Tasting Room
Why Guests Love It: Shuffleboard & Lawn Games, Casual Picnic Vibe, Approachable Wines on Tap
Bridge Lane, Lieb’s laid-back sister label in Mattituck, is all about approachable wine without fuss, sold in bottles, cans, kegs and even boxes. It is a fun, low-key stop when you want to keep things casual.
Read our full Bridge Lane Tasting Room guide →Sparkling Pointe
Why Guests Love It: All-Sparkling Portfolio, Traditional-Method Bubbly, Glamorous Tasting Room
Sparkling Pointe in Southold does one thing and does it beautifully: traditional-method sparkling wine, made in the same way as Champagne. Its glamorous tasting room and flutes of estate bubbly make it one of the most distinctive experiences on this coast.
Read our full Sparkling Pointe guide →RGNY
Why Guests Love It: Modern Riverside Space, Curated Food Pairings, Hands-On Blending Experiences
RGNY is a modern, design-forward winery on the banks of the Peconic River in Riverhead, owned by the Argentine Rivero Gonzalez family. It pairs a sleek space and riverside setting with a lively events calendar, and makes a stylish, contemporary stop.
Read our full RGNY guide →Rose Hill Vineyards
Why Guests Love It: Intimate Farmhouse Setting, Whites & Rose Focus, Knowledgeable Service
Rose Hill Vineyards in Mattituck is a smaller, boutique producer with a hilltop setting and an intimate feel, a good choice when you want somewhere quieter than the bigger estates.
Read our full Rose Hill Vineyards guide →Channing Daughters Winery
Why Guests Love It: Orange & Italian-Variety Wines, Personalized Flights, Scenic Estate
Over on the South Fork in Bridgehampton, Channing Daughters is the creative wild card of the region, known for orange wines, Italian grape varieties and an experimental, artistic streak. Wine lovers looking for something different should not miss it.
Read our full Channing Daughters Winery guide →Wölffer Estate
Why Guests Love It: Famous Dry Rose, By-Reservation Pergola Tastings, Polished Service
Wolffer Estate in Sagaponack is the glamorous face of Hamptons wine, world-famous for its dry rose, including the cult Summer in a Bottle. Its handsome estate and stand-alone wine stand make it a rose lover’s pilgrimage.
Read our full Wölffer Estate guide →Recommended Wine Tours from NYC
Not everyone wants to rent a car and plan their own route. If you would rather leave from the city and let someone else drive, these are some of the most highly rated ways to reach Long Island wine country from New York City, several of them round-trip from Manhattan, so everyone in your group can taste freely. Availability and pricing are set by the tour operator; we earn a small commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you.
The most-reviewed and easiest option here: round-trip transport from Manhattan out to the North Fork, tastings at multiple Long Island wineries, and lunch included, so no one in your group has to think about the drive back to the city.
Check availability on ViatorA private, small-group day out to Long Island wine country with pickup offered from New York City, a good fit when you want the itinerary, and the vehicle, to yourselves for a birthday, anniversary or close-knit group.
Check availability on ViatorYou meet this private, luxury tour at the Hicksville LIRR station, a direct train from Manhattan, and it is door-to-door from there, an easy car-free way to reach Long Island favorites like Pindar Vineyards at an unhurried pace.
Check availability on ViatorWhere to Eat
The food scene out here has caught up with the wine, built around the same farms, bays and vineyards. Here are a few of the best places to refuel between tastings.
North Fork Table & Inn (Southold)
The benchmark for fine dining in the area, North Fork Table & Inn serves refined, seasonal, farm-to-table menus built around local produce and seafood, with wine pairings drawn from the vineyards down the road. It is the obvious choice for a special dinner, and it doubles as a small inn.
Noah's (Greenport)
A lively, wine-focused small-plates spot in the heart of Greenport, Noah’s builds its menu around local farms, fishermen and vintners, with standout oysters, wood-fired dishes and seafood-forward plates. A perfect, relaxed way to eat your way through the region.
The Frisky Oyster (Greenport)
A long-running Greenport favorite, The Frisky Oyster pairs polished, contemporary cooking with a lively downtown room. It is the kind of place worth a proper dinner reservation at the end of a day in the vines.
The Halyard (Greenport)
Set at the Sound View hotel with sweeping views over Peconic Bay, The Halyard is a seasonal, seafood-forward, farm-to-table restaurant that makes the most of its waterfront setting. Convenient if you are staying at Sound View, and a lovely lunch stop for anyone.
Touch of Venice (Cutchogue)
A local staple for hearty Italian cooking and fresh seafood, Touch of Venice offers a warm, unfussy atmosphere and a wine list that suits the mood. A reliable, comforting option right in the middle of wine country.
Where to Stay
There is a growing crop of characterful places to stay near the wineries, from historic inns to sleek design hotels. These three are our favorites, each with its own personality and all bookable on Booking.com.
Jedediah Hawkins Inn (Jamesport)
For history and romance, it is hard to beat the Jedediah Hawkins Inn, a beautifully restored 1863 Italianate mansion with a handful of luxurious boutique rooms and an acclaimed farm-to-table restaurant. It sits minutes from Paumanok and the western cluster of wineries, making it an ideal, atmospheric base.
Check availability on Booking.comSound View Greenport
Perched right on the Long Island Sound just outside Greenport, Sound View is a stylish, mid-century-modern hotel with its own private beach, a seasonal pool and The Halyard restaurant overlooking the water. Every room faces the water, and the setting is hard to beat for a weekend of tasting and unwinding.
Check availability on Booking.comThe Menhaden (Greenport)
In the heart of Greenport village, The Menhaden is a sleek, design-forward boutique hotel that brings a touch of Manhattan polish to the coast, with a rooftop, thoughtful service and an easy walk to the harbor, shops and restaurants. It is the most urbane of the three and ideally placed for exploring Greenport on foot.
Check availability on Booking.comWhat to Pack
This is a casual, outdoorsy corner of the world, so pack accordingly: comfortable, closed-toe shoes for gravel paths and vineyard walks, and layers, since the bay breeze can turn a warm afternoon cool, especially in spring and fall. Sun protection is worth it in summer, when tasting decks catch the full afternoon light.
A few practical extras help. Bring a cooler or insulated wine bag for the car so any bottles you buy stay safe on the drive home, and keep water on hand between tastings. Most of all, sort out your transport in advance, whether that is a designated driver, a car service or a guided tour, so everyone can enjoy the wine.
Why It's Worth the Trip From NYC
The best thing about wine tasting near New York City is how easily you can escape it. In a couple of hours you can trade sidewalks for vineyards, farm stands and bay beaches, taste wine made by the families who grew it, and still be back in the city by dinner if you want to be. Few big cities have anything like it so close.
Whether you go for a single sunny afternoon or make a weekend of it, a wine day trip is one of the most rewarding and underrated escapes from the city. Book a driver or a tour, pick a few wineries from the list above, and go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the closest wineries to NYC?
The closest concentration of wineries to New York City is on Long Island, about 90 miles and roughly two to two and a half hours east of Manhattan. The Hudson Valley, to the north, is another option a little closer to the city.
How do you get to the wineries from NYC?
The easiest way is to drive, taking the Long Island Expressway east to exit 73, then Routes 25 and 48 through wine country, about two to two and a half hours. You can also take the Long Island Rail Road or the Hampton Jitney and pick up a car or a local wine tour on arrival.
Can you visit the wineries as a day trip from NYC?
Yes, it makes a very doable day trip at about two to two and a half hours each way. That said, with excellent restaurants and characterful inns nearby, it is well worth staying overnight to explore at a relaxed pace.
How many wineries can you visit in a day?
Three or four is a comfortable and enjoyable day, allowing time for tastings, lunch and the drive between them. Booking a car service or guided tour lets everyone taste freely and is the safest way to spend the day.
When is the best time to visit?
Late summer and fall are the most rewarding, with harvest underway, though summer weekends are busy and best booked ahead. Spring is quieter and pretty, and even the off-season is pleasant, with cozy tasting rooms and far smaller crowds.
Do you need a car to visit the wineries near NYC?
A car makes it much easier, since the wineries are spread across farmland. If you would rather not drive, take the train or the Hampton Jitney and use a local wine tour or car service, or book a guided tour from the city.
Sources and further reading
- Long Island Wine Country, the region's official wine association
- New York Wine and Grape Foundation, on New York State wine regions