Peconic Bay Winery to open store at Tanger in Riverhead
Peconic Bay Winery’s general manager James Silver knows that most people who come from afar to shop at Tanger Outlets in Riverhead wouldn’t make the trek for his vineyard’s wine alone.
But many tourist shoppers would make the schlep, he supposes, to choose bottles of wine from the majority of vineyards from around the state.
That’s why he and vineyard officials decided to open Empire State Cellars, a 3,000-square-foot wine merchant store and tasting room in Tanger One, filled only with bottles made in the state. The store is slated to open Oct. 21.
“The interest in New York wine has never been greater,” Mr. Silver said, explaining the decision to open up shop in another place. “The interest in local products has never been greater.”
Peconic Bay Winery is one of the only North Fork vineyards to open a second location, a move in accordance with a New York State agricultural law allowing wineries to have up to five satellite locations. Pindar Vineyards opened a second tasting room and retail store in Port Jefferson called Pindar Wine Shop about 25 years ago.
Of the approximately 300 wineries throughout the state, 200 of them will sell their wines in Empire State Cellars. About 15,000 bottles of wine, all made from grapes grown on New York soil, will soon line the shelves of the store.
“It’s a way of uniting New York’s wine region in a way that’s never really been done before,” Mr. Silver said.
Tastings will be held daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
