mission: bedell winery part 1

this is an adventure wine lovers, or anyone who needs a relaxing weekend, should take! the bedell winery is owned by michael lynn, a big name in the film industry, with kelly urbanik over-seeing the wine-making process at the present. bedell is situated on 78 acres of vineyards that i, along with patrick and my friends adam davie and laura jacobs, had the pleasure of strolling through and tasting some of the fruits of the harvest. we were able to do this because adam was once an intern at this beautiful winery, and so he gave us access to our behind-the-scenes tour.

we first checked out the merlot grapes that were waiting to reach their peak flavor. the vines grow in a way in which the grapes hang freely and are completely exposed to the sun. i will post a video in the coming days to further explain this process. so stay tuned because it is fascinating.

next we went to the chardonnay grapes. these were my favorite because they were a little sweeter than the merlot grapes. however, the skins of these grapes are more bitter than the merlot and the texture was slightly squishier. still it was wonderful to pick a grape here and there, sampling them before they turned into wine.

after walking through the vineyard, the four of us headed back to the cellar where kelly and her crew make the wine. this warehouse type facility has a permanent wine aroma and makes you want to drink a glass right then and there. adam showed us where they sort the grapes (the berries) from everything else like leaves and stems and eventually seeds. we also got to see how they remove sediment like dirt or other elements that happen to cling to the grapes, called lees, from the wine. lees is eventually placed back into the wine to add character. we saw some barrels where wine was fermenting, and other barrels where the wine was sitting and flavorizing to get the desired oak flavor that makes this wine special.

as adam was explaining each step of the way to us, i began to gain an appreciation for how much care and time the crew at bedell puts into making the perfect bottle of wine. those working there can put in around 75-100 hours a week during peak harvest. this is to ensure that a precise level of care is given to the grapes to produce a product that is the highest quality. and it is quite amazing if you ask me. the wines we tasted were so smooth and delicious. try the white taste '08 if you want an earthy yet light wine that pairs very nicely with brie and crostadas (available at the tasting bar). we also sampled the '07 chardonnay, '06 musee (a red blend that is very pleasing to the palate). but! if you want a wine that will knock your socks off, you must have the '07 reserve chardonnay. it is my favorite-buttery, oaky, with hints of citrus. it is smooth as rose petals falling from the sky like in american beauty says patrick. i say it is like drinking a glassful of perfection. for more information about the wines that i have mentioned or the others that bedell cellars creates go to www.bedellcellars.com.

plan a trip today or make a weekend out of it. i recommend staying at the bartlett house b&b located in greenport, which is only a couple of miles away. while in greenport you can check out the frisky oyster for a delicious meal, have tea and scones at the greenport tea company, walk the charming streets of the downtown area, or take a ferry ride to shelter island. fall is an ideal time to visit because the foliage is spectacular and the harvest is in process. on the way home check out one of the local farmer's stands where you can purchase the last fruits of the season.

this is beth signing off.
mission accomplished october 25th.














special thanks to kelly urbanik, adam davie, and the bedell staff

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