Suhru Blog

Cooking with Suhru: Fish & Chips with Pinot Grigio

Is there anything more quintessentially beach town summer than Fish & Chips ? I think not. Pair it with a bottle of our crisp and refreshing Pinot Grigio or crack open a Pinot Grigio can and you have the all the makings on a perfect backyard BBQ! 

In the Hearn household Fish and Chips is taken very seriously. My father (our winemaker, Russell Hearn) is Australian and growing up whenever we would go to visit his family in Perth one of the first things we did after stepping off the plane was go get a Fish & Chips dinner. There is something about the savory, sweet flavor of the flaky fried fish paired with the salty chips all smothered in malt vinegar that will forever taste like home. Now as adult, pairing it all with a crisp bottle of Pinot Grigio just makes the flavors sing!

There are many rules of thought and suggested guidelines when it comes to food pairing. However one of my favorite wine and food pairing hacks that works especially well with Pinot Grigio is any meal that you would squeeze lemon over will pair beautifully with our Pinot Grigio because the bright acidity and hints of lemon in the wine will compliment the dish in the same way that a squeeze of lemon would, opening up the flavors and adding that little bit of contrast!

Over the last year, Brad & I have been busy testing and tasting every fish & chips recipe we can get our hands on to bring you the best one out there for at home cooking! (It's a hard job but someone has to do it) We finally found the one! I can't recommend enough The Spruce Eats British Fish and Chips recipe! However my suggestions to taking this meal to the next level:

1. Cook the whole meal on the grill outside to keep your house from smelling like fried foods.
2. Don't bother peeling the potatoes, the little bit of potato peel adds some nice texture and flavor to the chips.
3. Be sure to pickup some malt vinegar and dowse the whole plate before digging in. Enjoy!

Learn More about our Pinot Grigio

New Release: 2021 Pinot Grigio

With the warm days quickly approaching it could not be better timing to be releasing our 2021 Pinot Grigio. Consistently one of our most popular wines, Pinot Grigio is a staple of the Suhru Wines brand. Crisp and bright with delicate fruit notes we make an Italian style Pinot Grigio as opposed to the French style Pinot Gris which tends to dominate the American market. If you are interested in learning more about the difference between the two, checkout our "History of a Grape: Pinot Grigio vs Pinot Gris" blog post from a few months back!

A Note from our Winemaker

The 2021 vintage brings a slightly different winemaking approach as we have blended a small amount of Finger Lakes grown Pinot Grigio into this wine. The choice was made to blend vineyards and AVAs into this single wine to allow for a richer mouthfeel which is achieved through higher pH. The Finger Lakes grown fruit was picked two weeks later than our North Fork fruit, bringing forth a wider range of fruit notes including peach and hints of apricot.

With this style of Pinot Grigio the goal typically is to have a bright acid driven style that typically is at the expense of a low pH however by blending fruit from the two AVAs one with a lower and a second with a high pH it allows us to achieve a little higher pH overall which brings increased mouthfeel to the wine.

Tasting Notes for the 2021 Pinot Grigio

Made from 100% Pinot Grigio fruit, this white wine was fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel tanks. It did not undergo malolactic secondary fermentation and was not barrel aged, resulting in a finished wine that accentuates the vibrant varietal fruit aromas and flavor while retaining a clean, crisp acidity.

Pale straw yellow with delicate fruit notes on the nose. Light apple notes and rich pear on the pallet with a hint of lemon showcase the round mouthfeel and rich texture on the pallet. The bright flavors and refreshing acidity offers a diverse range of food compliments. Try a glass of this Pinot Grigio with lighter flavors such as grilled fish, fresh salads, spring and summer cheese plates, lobster, and shellfish.

Pinot Grigio is an excellent wine to pair with any meal although a few of our favorites include BBQ Lemon Garlic Shrimp on top of Grilled Sourdough Toast and Seared Sea Scallops, both excellent options this time of year with the weather warming and warmer temperatures meaning that alfresco dining is back baby, happy sipping!
 

Learn More about the 2021 Pinot Grigio

What's Happening at Suhru this May

It has been a cold, long winter but with the arrival of May there is no denying that Spring has Sprung! 70+ degree days, sundresses, and lazy days in the backyard, on the boat, at the beach (insert delightful outdoor setting of your choice) with a glass of wine... here we come!

To say that I am ready for Spring is the understatement of the century. I am the first to admit that I am a Fall/Winter girl but let me at some warm weather! It has been a long, cold winter full of twists and turns. In the wine industry as in many businesses across the country supply chain delays have been the constant topic of conversation along with the many other economic and political challenges that are facing the globe at the moment. We have seen major delays in glass deliveries meaning that many of our 2021 white and rosé wines have seen delayed release dates this season. However those delays have come to an end!

We are excited to be releasing our 2021 Pinot Grigio, the first of our 2021 whites to hit the market (more soon to follow)! This refreshing white wine is slightly different from years past with softer, more delicate fruit notes with notes of gala apple and rich pear and a hint of lemon showcasing the round mouthfeel and rich texture on the pallet. A beautiful wine, particularly well suited to a meal, we are beyond excited to share this new vintage!

In addition to new releases, we are excited to welcome our seasonal team back to the tasting room! Over the next few weeks you will start to see many familiar faces in the Tasting House and behind the bar, as well as a few new faces so be sure to stop by and say hello!

We have tons of great things planned for the season including a full events calendar that is currently up-to-date through the end of July with lots of great events featuring oysters, lobster rolls, succulents, watercolors, live music and more! In addition to our events, I have been busy in our backyard seating area transforming it into a wine garden for the season! We hope you will stop by to enjoy a glass in our beautiful new backyard wine garden this season. Happy Spring!

2022 Mother's Day Gift Guide

Mother's Day Weekend is quickly approaching and we cannot wait for all of the wonderful Spring activities that Mother's Day brings! While brunch or breakfast at home is always the classic Mother's Day option, in our house Mother's Day is all about prepping the house indoors and out for Spring and ensuring that Moms garden is planted and beautiful for the warmer growing days ahead!

Given this we have put together a few floral based Mother's Day specials that fit perfectly into any Mother's Day plans whether you're seeing mom in person this year or celebrating her from afar we have you covered with a number of great gift options as well as a Mother's Day event. 

Plus for those who are looking for a day of wine tasting this Mother's Day (you are my kinda Moms!!) our backyard wine garden will be open and we will be pouring tasting flights, glasses, and serving up bottles and cheese plates from 12noon to 6pm on Sunday, May 8th so make a reservation and spend Mother's Day relaxing among the flowers with a glass fo your favorite wine in hand!

Reservations at the Tasting Room

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We are beyond excited to have partnered with Nerdling Acres Flowers this year to put together a number of excellent Mother's Day offerings featuring their stunning, local, sustainably-grown blooms and botanicals!

On Sunday, May 8th at 2PM we will be hosting a Wildflowers & Wine Workshop during which you can create your own unique mixed garden style arrangement with an abundance of local blooms and botanicals grown at the Nerdling Acres farm while sipping your favorite Suhru wines and snacking on a sweet & savory cheese plate! During this fun and informative workshop you'll learn about seasonal specialty flowers as well as techniques to create their own beautiful floral arrangements. 

We are also offering Mother's Day Bundles including a bottle of Rosé or Sauvignon Blanc paired with a beautiful, local bouquet featuring heirloom tulips, lilac, camellia, & more! Pre-Order is Required for these bundles and they are available for pickup at the Tasting House May  6th - 8th or free local delivery available between Riverhead and Orient, NY.

If you are a little further away and looking to send Mom a little something, be sure to checkout our gift options including favorites like our Wine Tumblers, which are great for life on the go! These custom stainless steel tumblers (available in white or black) feature a powder-coated finish, modern stainless steel accents, and revolutionary copper vacuum insulation to keep your wine cold for up 16 hours. Plus, a clear push-on lid makes it worry-free.

A few other gift ideas include Merlot Dark Chocolate bar and a bottle of her favorite wine shipped directly to her doorstep! If you are shipping a gift to Mom this year (we ship to 40+ states!), please allow 3 business days for East Coast addresses and 6 business days for West Coast deliveries. 

However you are spending Mother's Day weekend, we hope that you have a great day surrounded by family and friends, enjoying great food and sipping on an excellent wine! Cheers to all the amazing mommas!! 

 

Bud Break

Spring has arrived and with it comes the beginning of a new growing season on the North Fork. Over the past month the buzz has begun in the agriculture community as plant nurseries open their doors and farm stands apply a fresh coat of paint to prepare for the coming season. In the wine industry attention turns to the vineyard as vineyard crews finish the winter pruning and eyes turn to the shoots of the vine to watch for bud break. 

The start of a new season in wine country begins when there is new growth on the vine, also known as bud break. The warmer weather of Spring causes the soil to warm up and alerts the vines that it is time to wake up from their winter sleep. The sap begins to flow and the buds form new leaves. For the winemaker and team, all eyes will be on the growth of the vines and managing the vineyard until harvest.

Bud break is quickly approaching and all eyes have turned to the vineyards as the first bud marks the beginning of the 2022 growing season!

More Behind the Bottle

Suhru Wine Dinners

One of the deep joys of wine is pairing it with a meal. At Suhru Wines we belive wine is best enjoyed among family and friends over a delicious meal. With that in mind we are thrilled to share two great wine dinners coming up this Month on Friday, March 4th and Monday, March 7th, one of each of Long Island's two forks. 

 

 

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Friday, March 4th at Hamlet Green in Hampton Bays, NY

Enjoy Suhru Wines with your meal at The Cottages at Hamlet Green's weekly Dinner Pop Up hosted by Dayna Corlito, available by reservation only. Reservations are available 5-9pm. 

The three-course $50 prix fixe menu, prepared by Chef  Karl McDermott features escargot canapés, potatoes au gratin, poached pears, curries shrimp, grilled salmon, drenched chicken breast, lamb sausages, gateau au chocolate, tarts aux pommes, creme brûlée and more! Your choice of starter, main, and dessert with each course paired with a complimentary wine pairings from Suhru Wines. 

 

 

Monday, March 7th at Grace & Grit in Southold, NY

Join winemaker Russell Hearn and acclaimed Chef Adam Kaufer for a six-course wine dinner at Grace & Grit on Monday, March 7th showcasing the best of the North Fork!

This intimate six-course meal prepared by Chef Adam will take place at Grace & Grit (55750 Main Road in Southold) with seatings available at 6pm and 8:30pm. Reservations are required for this limited seating event. Tickets are $125pp and include all six-courses and the wine pairings listed below.

Enjoy commentary on the wines by Suhru winemaker Russell Hearn throughout the dinner.

What's Happening at Suhru Wines this March

We are starting to come out of the deep freeze of winter and it’s beginning to feel more like Spring every day! By this time of year, we usually have all the white wines and rosé bottled. As we all know Covid has been wreaking havoc on the supply chain, it has now trickled down to Suhru wines both with shipping delays and price increases on everything. Our primary issue is glass bottles. Knowing about supply chain delays, I ordered the glass bottles and my other packaging supplies, screw caps, labels, etc late last summer before we had harvested even one grape. I expected the glass to arrive in December so we could bottle early in January. Well... that didn’t happen. The glass has been sitting on a container ship off the coast of New York waiting for space to come into the harbor and after many long weeks finally arrived!

Our 2021 Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé were bottled in mid-February and our Pinot Grigio and Dry Riesling will be bottled in the weeks to come. We are excited to share these new releases with you in the coming months and are looking forward to the warmer Spring weather soon to come!

It's another busy month here at Suhru with lots of great events including two wine dinners with local restaurateurs. On Monday, March 7th we are partnering with chef Adam Kaufer of Grace & Grit in Southold for a six-course wine dinner. The Friday before we will also be served at Hamlet Green's Wine Dinner Pop-Up with a three-course menu prepared by Chef Karl McDermott. We hope you will join us for one of these great dinners or stop by the Tasting House this March!

Our March Wine Club is just around the corner and I am very excited for this quarter's selections. The March Wine Club includes a Library wine—2014 Shiraz—and this is especially exciting as this is the first time a Library Wine has been featured in our Club. The tasting notes from its original release describe it as:

“A vibrant wine which has a rich, dark and vibrant hue with aromas of cigar box and dried herbs with a hint of black pepper and spice. It's red fruit and raspberry flavors mingle across the elegant mid palate with silky smooth fine grain tannins.”

As a wine ages its flavors continue to age and develop with it so we are looking forward to sharing the experience of tasting this 2014 Shiraz alongside our current 2019 Shiraz during the Wine Club tastings. In addition to the Shiraz, the March Wine Club features our 2017 T'Jara Merlot and 2020 Rosé, three wines perfect for the transition from winter to spring. If you are in our Wine Club be sure to check your email for the dedicated link to make a reservation for the March Wine Club Event which runs March 3rd to March 14th, reservations are required. Each quarter with the release of our Wine Club selections we partner with a local restaurateur or artisan to create a custom pairing menu with our wines. This March we are pairing the wine selections with Disset Chocolate just down the road in Cutchogue. If you haven’t tried the delectable chocolates created by Ursula XVII you are in for a treat. She has created a custom chocolate pairing that will pair beautifully with our wines.

Cooking With Suhru: Mac & Cheese

There are few dishes that provide more warmth, satisfaction, and comfort than homemade mac & cheese! Maybe it's just me, but there is something completely irresistible about hot cheese no matter its form, but if I had to pick a favorite way to eat it, this recipe takes the cake every time!

Good friends of the family and members of our Wine Club—Tom & Nancy—introduced us to this recipe many years ago on a family ski trip and ever since it has been one of my winter staples (and I think you'll understand why)!

Whether sharing dinner with friends after a long day on the mountain, dressing it up (and adding lobster) for an appearance at Christmas Eve, or enjoying as a little comfort food in a long, cold winter, this recipe hits the spot every time!

Mac & Cheese with a bottle of wine may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but don't knock it till you try it (trust me)! Pair your decadent baked mac & cheese with a fruity, medium-bodied wine like our Merlot and you have a perfect night in!

So without further ado...

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Tom's Famous Baked Mac & Cheese

Ingredients:

• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 stick of salted butter
• 1/2 cup flour (more or less if needed)
• 1 pint half & half
• 1 tbsp mustard
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 pound Velveeta
• 1 pound hard cheese (whichever variety you like)
• 1 pound macaroni noodles
• 1 pound ham or bacon, cubed (optional)
• 1 packaged shredded cheese (whichever variety you like)
• 1 tbsp paprika

Directions:

1. Make a rue, by first melting the butter in a large saucepan on medium heat. Once melted, add diced onions and cook on low heat, stirring occasionally until onions are translucent, roughly 5 minutes.
2. While the onions are cooking, get your flour and half & half ready, measuring each into their own small bowl and set aside. Prepare the cheese by cutting the hard cheese and Velveeta into cubes and set aside.
3. Once onions are translucent, turn off the stove top and slowly add flour into the onion mixture, stirring constantly to keep it from burning. Once the flour is fully combined, slowly pour in the half & half stirring all the while.
4. Add salt, pepper and mustard to your rue and stir. Your mixture should be a smooth liquid, not a solid. Add milk as needed to ensure you maintain a soupy consistency as it thickens. 
5. Turn the heat back on to low and slowly add the cubed cheese & Velveeta, stirring all the while. (You will get a nice arm workout while making this). Stir until the cheese has fully melted and is one homogenous sauce. Turn off stove top and set cheese mixture aside.
6. Cook the macaroni following the instructions on the box for al dente.
7. While the macaroni is cooking, preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease your casserole dish(es). I prefer to split mine into two smaller round Pyrex's and freeze one (uncooked) so I can pull it out of the freezer and throw it in the oven on a day I don't feel like cooking. 
8. Once the macaroni is finished cooking, drain and pour into the cheese mixture. Add the cubed ham and mix until well combined. 
9. Pour the macaroni and cheese mixture into your baking dishes. Top the mixture with your shredded cheese and sprinkle with a dusting of paprika.
10. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until cheese is bubbling and a brown crispy crust has formed on the top of your macaroni and cheese.
11. Serve with a bottle of Merlot and enjoy!

For more Recipe and Pairing Suggestion, checkout Cooking with Suhru!

 

What's Happening at Suhru Wines this February

I can't believe that it is already February! Our annual Winter Holiday has flown by and we are looking forward to getting back in the Tasting House for another wonderful season!

We are excited to announce a few changes in 2022. We are extending our Tasting House hours and will now be open 5 days a week—Thursday - Monday from 12noon to 6pm—year round (with the exception of our annual Winter Break). Reservations are currently open for indoor seating though April and we highly recommend making a reservation if you plan to visit the Tasting House in the coming months as our indoor seating is limited. 

We also are introducing Thursday Happy Hours! Each Thursday we will be featuring a selection of glass and small bite specials. Follow us on Instagram and keep an eye on our Stories for updates on the weekly specials! 

With a new month also comes new releases—our new 2019 Ember is now available and is being poured at the Tasting House! If you are a member of our Wine Club, this wine will be familiar as you received it as a pre-release in your December Wine Club, for everyone else, this wine is now available and tasting beautifully! The 2019 Ember, our Bordeaux blend, is medium bodied with rich dark fruit notes, think cherry, plum, black currant, & cranberry as well as nice dried herb notes tarragon and sage. Warm and inviting the 2019 has a long, lingering finish and the classic touch of smoke on the finish for which this wine is so well known. There are so many great pairing options when it comes to Ember, but with the piles of snow blanketing the North Fork from this past weekend's snow storm, it seems only appropriate to recommend pairing a bottle of Ember with a warm, smoky bean & beluga lentil Chili, you can find a great recipe on the Suhru Blog. 

Beyond the Tasting House we have a number of great events quickly approaching including:

1. Valentine's Day Virtual Tasting: I will be participating in a Valentine's Day Virtual Tasting Panel featuring five producers from New York State on Tuesday, February 8th at 7PM EST. This virtual event hosted by Crush Wine Events is part of their 2022 virtual tasting series and the second that I have done this year. Registration is free and I would love for you to join me to chat about the great wines
    
2. Riverhead Indoor Farmers Market: If you live on the East End you may have heard that the Riverhead Winter Market is back and open Saturdays from 9am-1pm now through April. We have long participated in this market and this year have a rotating booth in the Long Island Wine Country corner. On select Saturdays you can find myself or owner Susan Hearn pouring a selection of our wines alongside other Long Island wineries, famers, artisans, and artists. You can next find us at the market on February 12th and March 5th with a complete list of upcoming dates on our events calendar.
    
3. March Wine Dinner: As I mentioned before, the Suhru team has been hard at work planning a number of great upcoming events. We are beyond excited to once again be partnering with Chef Adam Kaufer of Grace & Grit in Southold for a six-course Wine Dinner on Monday, March 7th with insights into the wine pairings by winemaker Russell Hearn. Seating is limited, reservations required.
    
4. Watercolors & Wine: We are thrilled to welcome back local watercolor artist Melissa Hyatt this April 7th for a Piping Plover watercolor class. As an added bonus, at this class we will be joined by Christie Jones who makes non-toxic, handmade watercolor paints that you will use during the class. These classes are so much fun and open to all levels. Come explore your creativity with us! 

That's all for now, but I hope to see you in the Tasting House soon!

Cheers,

Shelby Hearn Ulrich, General Manager

Cooking with Suhru: Shiraz & Roasted Lamb Roulade

One of my favorite things about the winter months is that when it is cold outside all I want to do is stay in and cook delicious meals! One of our latest activities was roast leg of lamb roulade over a bed of root vegetables.We paired it with a glass of Shiraz and enjoyed this delicious Sunday roast with family and friends! 

Given our family's Australian heritage (winemaker Russell Hearn was born in and grew up in Australia) lamb and Shiraz are a regular occurrence on our dinner table. There is something about the soft, spicy hints of pepper and ripe red fruit notes that make Shiraz, Australian style Shiraz in particular, such a fantastic pairing with lamb.

When it comes to roasted meats we often find ourselves experimenting with new recipes, our latest roast was inspired by Hostess at Heart's Roasted Leg of Lamb Roulade recipe with the addition of garlic and rosemary (because in this house nothing is roasted without being slathered in garlic and rosemary). No meal is complete without a vegetable and one great trick I discovered years ago is to fill the bottom of your roasting pan with whatever vegetables you have on hand, I usually opt for potatoes, carrots,  quartered onions, more garlic and either broccoli or Brussels sprouts. As the meat cooks the fat and the drippings will baste your vegetables, infusing them with a delicious roasted meat flavor. Plus this one pan method makes cleaning up a breeze. Happy roasting!

Learn More about our Shiraz