Power. Grace. Complexity. These words, often used to describe our favorite wines, are also used to depict the nuances and wonders of great music. Standing alone, wine and music are two of life’s great pleasures, but blend the two and you have an event and experience with few peers.
Last Sunday night Wölffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack hosted just such an event: “Salon at Wölffer Estate – A Romantic Liederabend to Benefit the Music Festival of the Hamptons.” Those in attendance enjoyed glasses of Wölffer’s award-winning wines as Katya Sonina, an extremely talented pianist and student at Julliard, played selections from Rachmaninoff, Mozart, Chopin and Scriabin. And as if that weren’t enough, Wölffer Estate’s very own Roman Roth, known throughout the region for his considerable winemaking talents, shared yet another gift with the crowd, his wonderful tenor voice, as he sang six Schubert songs.
While there probably aren’t many other singing winemakers on Long Island (outside of their showers, anyway), many wineries understand and embrace how live music can enhance the wine tasting experience. And, with a variety of winery music options available – from classical to jazz to folk music – there’s something virtually for everyone.
For some wineries, including Jamesport Vineyards, Peconic Bay Winery, Palmer Vineyards, Osprey’s Dominion Winery and Martha Clara Vineyards, live music is an every weekend or nearly every weekend occurrence, with local soloists and bands performing every Saturday and Sunday, usually outside near the vines. Visitors can bring a picnic lunch, buy some wine and enjoy the show.
Other wineries, however, go well beyond weekly vine-side entertainment. Below are some summer music highlights in Long Island wine country.
Castello di Borghese, Cutchogue
Saturday, July 30: Wine Press Concert Series featuring singer/songwriter Hugh Prestwood
Saturday, August 20: Opera of the Hamptons, an East End company, presents their annual and very popular ìOpera to Broadway.î
For more information on these and other Castello di Borgehese events, visit www.castellodiborghese.com
Martha Clara Vineyards, Riverhead
Sunday, July 24: The Funk Brothers, Joan Osbourne and a special guest in a benefit concert for Central Suffolk Hospital and Soldier Ride.
For more information on these and other Martha Clara events, visit www.marthaclaravineyards.com.
Palmer Vineyards
Saturday, July 9: Jazz Through the Ages with Transitions Sax Quartet.
For more information on this and other events at Palmer Vineyards, visit www.palmervineyards.com
Wölffer Estate Vineyards, Sagaponack
Monday-Wednesday, July 11-13: Tiffany Rising Star Series – Tatiana Goncharova on piano, Andrey Tchekmazov on cello, Ogor Begelman on clarinet; Piano/percussion ensemble; Sonia Wieder on cello.
Tuesday-Thursday, July 19-21: String Trio: Sami Merdinian on violin, Kyle Armbrust on viola and Michael Nicolas on cello; Alex Fiterstein, clarinet with guest artist Gary Graffman, piano. For more information on these and other events at Wölffer Estate, visit www.wolffer.com
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