Franklins World: The North Fork

When we travel, we are nothing if not organized.  That doesn't mean that EVERY minute is planned out - spontaneity has created some of my favorite travel moments ever.....but we certainly do our research beforehand when we're walking into something new.

This past April we went on a mini mid-week vacation to the North Fork with friends of ours!  Angie and Nate had been SO sweet and suggested that we bring Franklin along...which turned out to be the best idea ever.  All four of us work retail of some sort, so mid-week was just as easy to plan as any other normal person's three day long weekend.  We went Wednesday - Friday, the third week of April.  April in New England is a crapshoot to begin with, so we figured it would be the perfect off peak time to go enjoy the vineyards before the crowds got crazy!    We found an AirBNB that was dog friendly right in downtown Greenport, and off we went!

Before we left, I did a LOT of research into the different vineyards on the North Fork.  They fell into one of a few categories: dog friendly, "BYOS" (bring your own snacks) friendly, neither, or both.  While I didn't want our trip to feel overly rigid and planned out, I did want us to know going into it where Franklin would be welcomed, and when we'd need to leave him behind in the apartment!

As it turned out - we could not have gotten luckier with the weather!  We had weather that was sunny and 70 most of the time, which allowed us to bring Franklin along and enjoy many more outdoor spaces.  Since it was still only mid April, and mid week, we had the vineyards to ourselves probably 80% of the time - and when we weren't alone there were never more than a couple other groups around.  This made the entirely trip TOTALLY relaxing and enjoyable, and Franklin was the best behaved pup the entire time!

There are a couple of websites that talk about dog-friendly vineyards, but here's an overview of our personal experiences:

Bedell Cellars:
As soon as we got off the ferry we headed straight to Bedell.  Bedell Cellars states online that dogs are allowed outside, and *update* no outside food is allowed.  (When we were there in April you were allowed to bring outside food)  When we called to confirm that they were dog friendly, the woman told us that since it was so quiet, we could even bring Franklin inside, as long as no other patrons complained.  When we arrived we were the only ones inside the tasting room, so we enjoyed a full tasting to kick off our trip!  We then took a bottle outside, and enjoyed the view of the vineyard while eating our lunch.

Raphael:
Raphael does not allow outside food, but is the only place that very clearly states on their site that dogs are welcomed both inside and outside of the tasting room.  We have been to the North Fork many times, but never been to Raphael - they are often closed for private functions!  So we were thrilled to find them open when we arrived.  Raphael's building is absolutely beautiful, and we enjoyed a tasting at the bar in the center of their main room.

Duck Walk:
Duck Walk was the last vineyard we visited on our first day.  They have such a large variety of wines it was a little overwhelming.  We just grabbed a bottle and brought it outside to enjoy on their patio - again we were the only ones outside so I was able to let Franklin run around off leash!

The Lenz Winery:
Based on what I read online, I believe Lenz would be dog friendly in their outdoor area, however we planned our second morning to go to all of the places we couldn't take Franklin - so we just didn't have him when we did our traditional 10AM visit to Lenz!  Most vineyards open around 11 or 12, but Lenz is famous in our world for their early hours.  We also love their wine, so we make a point to go there first thing in the morning when we're visiting - another perfect way to beat the crowds!

Sparkling Pointe:
Sparkling Pointe is not dog friendly, nor outside food friendly...but their sparkling wines are delicious and so it's a necessary stop!  They also do table service for your tasting, so you can enjoy the weather outside rather than standing at the bar.

Kontokosta Winery:
Another winery that does not allow dogs or outside food.  In this case, their views are a necessary stop so we forgave them and made the trip!  They are the first vineyard you get to coming from the ferry - and they have a sprawling lawn leading up to a cliff looking over the water.

Mattabella Vineyards:
Mattabella is another favorite of mine.  They have an extremely adorable outside seating area - so every group gets to sit at their own table with either chairs or benches - they even have blankets for the cooler temps to keep you cozy!  They offer a red or white tasting, and include some "bites" to go along with the tastings. AND!  Dog friendly :) We often take a bottle of their wine home with us.

Palmer Vineyards:
Palmer is pet friendly in their outside seating area - and ended up being another hit!  Their indoor space looked like an english style pub, and they had tons of patio and lawn seating outside.  Ant and I ended up joining their wine club, so we get 3 bottles from them 4 times a year!  It's been a really nice reminder of the trip.  It's also a really great "easy in, easy out" location with tons of parking, so I've recommended it to friends and family looking to grab good wine when in the area!

As an added bonus, we also stopped by the Greenport Harbor Brewing Co.  They have two locations - their original one in downtown Greenport, and an expanded space a little further down in Peconic.  We brought Franklin with us to the Peconic location and enjoyed a beer flight for a change in scenery!

Overall, our mini getaway was absolutely amazing!  We loved being able to get away with friends, without having to leave Franklin behind. (although there are many grandparents always happy to have him!!)

Have you been to any of the vineyards on Long Island?  Which is your favorite??  Ever since getting pregnant I have been counting down the days until my next vineyard visit!