Palmer Lighthouse Red

[Innkeeper]

During our last foray to the netherworld we took the New London to Orient Point Ferry across Long Island Sound. Stopped at Palmer Vineyards on the North Fork. Very nice operation, with a nice mix of wines. They did charge for tasting, which was a new experiance for us. It ran a dollar or two for a two ounce taste. I guess if I had a winery within a couple of hours of millions of people, would do the same; and they did have a nice combo playing on the patio.

We ended up buying some wine we tasted, some we didn't taste, and didn't buy some we tasted; thus being the local logistics. Last night we opened their journeyman red, which we hadn't tasted. It is called Llghthouse Red and was a very good summer guaffing, hamburger wine. It was under $10.00 and a great value, especially for Long Island. Had it with Burgers a'la Orsen Wells, which have ground ham and loads of buttery onions in them. The Lighthouse did them good.

[winecollector]

Gee Innkeeper, all kidding aside, you must be quite a chef! I never would have thought of ground ham in hamburgers (hee hee hee!) I've just recently accepted turkey burgers as an alternative protein friendly meal, and still cheat from time to time on the breads. If I do make it up your way this fall, I'll bring you up some of my bread dipping oil- it goes great with just about any wine, any time.

By the way, in case I forgot to mention before, thanks for the recipes! I'll be playing around with some of them, giving them the old "winecollector" touch!

[Thomas]

IK, I was out at Palmer last week. They have a fine Cabernet Franc, a nice Gewurztraminer and Pinot Blanc too.

As for LI prices in general: they are steep, but then, those wineries get many visitors that are rolling in dollars.

I want to carry a few LI wines in the store and have found that the attitude on the island is generally: who needs you--we have the tourists?

[Innkeeper]

Don't let WW know but we tasted and bought the Pinot Blanc. It was excellent.

[winoweenie]

IK, Compared to What? WW

[Innkeeper]

Compared to all the other SWs we've tasted lately. Then again since you've tasted about 40 or 50 half SWs lately, you're way ahead of us.