North Fork of Long Island is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) at the very eastern end of New York's Long Island. Surrounded on three sides by ocean, the AVA is one of the few places on the north-east coast of the US where Vitis vinifera grapes will reliably ripen. North Fork is home to a thriving boutique wine industry, producing wines with black-fruit flavors and elegant, balanced tannins primarily from Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are also showing promise in the region.
Long Island juts 110 miles (175km) into the Atlantic Ocean from New York City, ending in a pair of peninsulas that run parallel for roughly 30 miles (50km), separated by Peconic Bay. These forks – North Fork and the Hamptons – are both sub-AVAs of the larger Long Island AVA. North Fork of Long Island is by far the most concentrated viticulturally and is home to more than three-quarters of the island's wine industry.
North Fork lies on the southern edge of the Long Island Sound, and the Atlantic Ocean is only 10 miles (16km) away over the narrow island. There is a distinct maritime climate, and the ocean contributes heavily to viticulture here. During the warm, sunny growing season (North Fork is the sunniest place in New York State), cooling breezes help to refresh the vineyards during the day. These breezes moderate the temperatures and extend the growing season, leading to grapes that have a balance of sugars and acids. The season is sufficiently long to ripen red-grape varieties, something that is not possible in any of New York's upstate AVAs.
Although such close proximity to the sea has some advantages, it can also bring in bad fall weather from the Atlantic that has the potential to devastate the grapes. Unpredictable weather patterns continue throughout the year, with frost, drought and hurricanes all likely hazards. On the positive side, the ocean's presence during winter provides a warming influence and helps to prevent devastating vine freeze.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the region's position between bays, North Fork's soils are sandy, with deposits of clay and gravel. These soils have low to moderate fertility and drain freely, limiting excessive vigor in the vines and promoting the growth of high-quality grapes.
North Fork's concentration of wineries and close proximity to both New York City and the Hamptons have made it something of a local tourist destination. The wine industry here is more lifestyle-oriented than commercial, and plantings are dominated by small, family-run operations.
North Fork of Long Island is so-named to distinguish it from Virginia's North Fork of Roanoke AVA, 500 miles (800km) away.
