Your Long Island wine tour Day
Sip and Savor the Flavors of the East End
East End Wine Tasting Tours™ will provide several Long Island wine tasting & tour packages with quotes, that will include transportation, wine tasting fees, suggested gratuity for driver, sales tax (where applicable), as well as lunch options, payment options, tolls ( when applicable) and more. Our Long Island wine tour services both the North Fork wineries as well as the South Fork or Hampton Wineries. Upon the Visitor approval of the Long Island Wine Tour quotation, we will require a major credit card on file, create reservations at all the venues, email a wine tour reservation form which will detail all pertinent information including name, cell number, email, pick up location, quoted costs, wineries selected, reservation time slots, eventual lunch order, depart times and a history of any changes. There will also be terms and conditions listed as well as link to website(s) for more detailed terms and conditions. Client shall electronically sign the reservation form which will also give our wine tour company permission to take the 10 or 15% deposit via listed CC. We then will update the form to reflect the authorized down payment and send back, via regular email, the updated pfd form along with Lunch Menu (if selected) with further instructions until the day of the tour. On the day of the tour, the Client shall collect all monies from their group before vehicle arrives, and promptly had over "cash" final payment (unless the tour is to be paid in full with CC/Corporate Check or Long Island Wine tour Gift Certificate) to the driver, as per the latest wine tour reservation form.
WHAT ARE THE NORMAL OPERATION HOURS AT THE WINERIES / OTHER VENUES?
A majority of the Wineries are normally open from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a few that are open to 7:00 PM. Those who are open after 5 PM, generally will close out tasting sales and sales of bottles for consumption on their respective properties. However, most wineries/ venues will NOT take groups in who arrive via for-hire services after 3:00 PM. Some exceptions are the Breweries that are located in "Old Town Riverhead", whom have later hours. We offer over 40 Wineries, Breweries and Spirit venues and over 140 pricing options in our database. Groups are permitted to visit, ONLY if the group meets the criteria or group policies of the selected Long Island venue.
Note: Please do not come to any of our Office Locations looking for a Vineyard or looking to join a group to head out to the East End of Long Island for wine tastings on that day. All Tours are prearranged in advance. We are not a winery. We are a Wine Tour company, among other prearranged transportation services.
TYP Questions and FAQ's
How much does a Long Island wine tour cost?
--- $129-$279 per person depending on party size and winery choices
Do you need reservations for Long Island wineries?
---- Yes, most wineries require reservations , only a handful will allow no reservations
What time of year is best for wine tours?
---- Fall is usually the busiest and harvest season but all year round it is nice to visit the wineries
What is the largest winery on Long Island?
----- Pindar is the largest winery on the East End of Long island
Are wine tastings worth it?
----- yes, it is if you are trying to taste and find new wines to drink, tasting is the way to sample
What wine is the North Fork known for?
----- for their red wines and some are known for their white, depends on your taste and preferences
How many vineyards are in the North Fork?
----- There are over 40 wineries and breweries on the North Fork of Long Island
Are North Fork wines good?
----- Yes, many people love the taste of north fork wineries and the grapes that are produced in the area
Are North Fork wineries open in the Winter?
----- not all wineries are open all year round, but at least 20 are still open during the winter months
How do you get around North Fork without a car?
------ you can hire a car or limousine service to bring you around safely
Can you bring food into the wineries?
------ some wineries allow outside food but most do NOT allow it
Which part of Long Island has the most vineyards?
----- The north fork of Long Island has the most vineyards in a close area
How many wineries should you visit in a day?
----- Typically 2 to 3 winery stops is the best to have a great tour
How many wineries are in the Hamptons?
----there are 3 wineries in the Hamptons, Wolfer Estate, Duck Walk South and Channing Daughters winery, (2) of which have limited capacity, ala carte and sell out quickly.
What should you not do at a winery?
----Do not dress inappropriate , do not wear bachelorette gag gifts , refrain from wearing strong scents or eating strong flavors before tasting
What is the difference between a wine tour and wine tasting?
-----a wine tour usually involves watching the process of wine making at a winery and then doing tastings at that winery , a wine tasting involves sampling usually 3 -5 wines ( 1-2ounce pours) from a specific winery
What is the oldest winery on Long Island?
----Lenz is one of the oldest wineries on Long Island
Why is Long Island an exciting new vineyard area?
---- a number of reasons make it exciting, its location and proximity to both the North Fork and South Fork of Long Island which offers beautiful accommodations , restaurants and views
Is there a minimum number of guests needed to book a Long Island Wine Tour?
----2 people is the minimum to set up a wine tour
Is there a maximum number of people who can attend a winery tour?
---- most wineries take reservations of up to 10 people. However, some wineries will allow more for reputable wine tour partners and limousine companies
Do you offer rain date guarantees?
---- rain or shine , wine tours still go on , most wineries have limited indoor seating which could accommodate bad weather, be sure to check the wineries policies before booking at that location. Some locations do close due to poor weather
How much notice do you need to book a tour?
---- you should allow for at least 2 weeks ahead of time to book a tour, if you have a larger party size or want to go on a Saturday, you should plan well ahead and book at least a month prior.....
What kind of vehicles do you have access to?
----- we have access to most sedan, suv, vans, busses and limos , please ask while booking
Are kids allowed at the wineries?
----- only at certain wineries, please check winery websites for rules and regulations
Can I bring my pet?
----- most do not but certain wineries do , please check winery websites for rules and regulations
Can I bring food on the vehicle?
----- yes , most lite finger foods are allowed , please don't bring anything oily or messy to mess up the vehicle and remember to clean up after yourself
Do you tip at the wineries?
-----although it's not always required, you should always tip based on service and on exceptional service
What is the recommended tip to tip my chauffeur driving my wine tour?
-----20% is the standard tip and if the driver is exceptional , you could always give more
Are your vehicles insured? Are your drivers certified?
------yes, fully licensed and insured, qualified drivers and late model vehicles are only offered
How does East End Wine Tasting Tours determine what is economical, mid range and premium?
--------Economical / Party / Lower mid range Long Island Vineyards are in the $12 to $19/pp per venue costing.
Mid Range or Better LI Vineyards are in the $20 - $29/pp per venue costing
Premium Long Island Wineries are in the $30/pp up to $95/pp per venue; as well as a few
"Ultimate Long Island Vineyards" in the $95 - $270/pp per venue range.
(Note: The Nomenclature describing the vineyard categories is strictly our own and based on over 15 years experience. The Pricing is set forth by the respective wineries / breweries / Venues.
What time do our Long Island wine tours start?
------Depends on where the pickup location is for your outing. The Wineries are 'generally" open from 11AM to 5/6PM... a few are earlier and a few are open later depending on the season. NYC Pickups are generally around 8:30 - 9 AM, as there is a 2.5 to 3 hr ride each way, pickups in Nassau / Suffolk around 10 to 11 AM.
Do you require a deposit?
-----Yes a 10% deposit and 15% deposit on all buses - paid on major CC or a corporate check' the remainder is due in cash day of tour (95% of our tours are paid in cash - as this is discounted payment)
Do all the Venues permit our own foodies, Birthday cakes, etc?
------(9) Venues out of (50) permit your own food or our Boxed Lunches.(No premium wineries*)
(3) Wineries out of the (9) Venues permit your own food/boxed Lunches "Inside with Reserved seating" in case of inclement weather. (1) of those (2) Wineries allows this option up to May 1 only.
Birthday Cakes are basically prohibited; there may be 1 or 2 wineries permitting this.
*
(1 Mid range Winery offers an "optional" Premium Plus VIP wine Flight
and allows our Boxed Lunches or your own food)
Do any of the Long Island Wineries offer Lunch?
------(1) Winery is deemed a restaurant and provides combo wine tasting and lunch.
(Jamesport Vineyard). Another Winery offers a Light Lunch Option
(Lenz) on weekends only and during peak season.
Greenport Harbor Brewery has self served style eatery
Food Trucks??
------The town of Southold has a ban on Food Trucks at the vineyards for nearly (4) years. Why?. It is an ongoing saga. 75% of all the vineyards are located in Southold. In Riverhead town, you will find food trucks on weekends only at
Palmer Vineyard, and
LI Spirits, &
Jamesport Farm Brewer (May thru October).
If your group is small - under 12 people - we recommend
North Fork Table's Food Truck in their parking lot. They have a few tables, huge trees with plenty of shade and best food truck, we think. 1 Hour Extra time would need to be allocated.
Do the Wineries offer Tours?
-----Yes, approximately (6) Venues offer tours and they all charge for it. The tours are packaged with tastings and some with cheese. Tours generally range from $50/pp to $125/pp. Covid-19 had an impact on Tour offerings, with some lingering effects
Can we bring our own alcoholic beverages in Vehicles?
------Yes you can as long as everyone is 21 years and older/or there is a legal guardian/parent on board if alcohol is involved and a minor is present. Our company does not provide any alcohol. Just Water, Ice, Cup setup in vehicles only equipped with a bar / cooler.. Alcohol is banned from all vineyards, breweries etc. Coolers are banned. Keep silo cups in vehicle when exiting as security at the venues will be on top of that.
FYI: If you desire a meaningful wine tasting experience, best to refrain from alcohol.
Is there Entertainment / Live Bands / DJ's at the Venues?
------On Saturdays / Sundays, weather permitting and seasonal - primarily from 1 PM onward there is Music ranging from solo musician to 3 piece bands at approximately (10) Wineries / Breweries. DJ's are no longer performing after the fallout and demise of Vineyard 48.
When we have a Reservation what does that really entail?
------A reservation at a particular winery / Venue does not necessarily mean you have a reserved seat/table service. All Guests arriving by for-hire Vehicle or Limos / Buses must have a reservation and this just entitles Guests to "enter" a property. Very few venues allows a for-hire vehicle without a reservation, especially weekends.
Ok, what do we have to do to get a Reserved Table or guaranteed seating?
------Reserved or guaranteed seating is NOT available at most
Economical / Popular Loong Island Mid range Vineyards.
Most Better "Mid Range" Wineries
and nearly all Premium Costing Long Island Wineries have Reserved Seating; Some have just guaranteed seating inside and / or Outside and a select few wineries have both.
Approximately (19) Venues have Reserved Seating inside.
Approximately (16) Venues have Reserved Seating outside; many the same as Inside.
Can we choose our own Wineries / Breweries ?
-----If you desire to do so, you can
Build Your Own Long Island Wine Tour
as long as your group meets the policy of your selection which can be impacted by group size, time slot restrictions and other criteria. BUT please be advised, it is best to review the option when choosing them, for the restrictions, descriptions of the venue etc.. - BUT we can always make any corrections / substitutions when we provide quotes via email.
You can also complete a
contact form.
Updated: 02.01.2023
Where does East End Wine Tasting Tours pickup from?
East End Wine Tasting Tours will pickup from your location as long it is within our geographical locations which include Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Westchester County, Staten Island, Manhattan, Nassau and Suffolk Counties as well as North Fork from Riverhead to Greenport and to Orient Point. We also pickup from all areas surrounding Westhampton thru the Hamptons and out to Montauk. The minimum tour duration depends on the client's pickup location. We generally have a six (6) hour minimum from Suffolk County, west of Riverhead. The remaining areas west to NYC will be seven (7) hrs thru ten (10) hour minimum tours, with some areas up to eleven (11) hours. Pickup locations such as Montauk to the North Fork vineyards will be as much as eight (8) hours. Other options can be the use of the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) from Zone 1 Or NYC to Babylon or Ronkonkoma for a minimum of six (6) or seven (7) hours respectively.
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Long Island wine tasting tours Vehicles
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Transportation will arrive at your predetermined pick up location.
Final payments will take place at this time, 99% of our transactions are cash. Should a tour be corporate paid via Credit Card or Check, the payments will be complete 5 business days prior to the Wine Tour. Vehicle will stop at locations as per signed reservation form, with optional Farm Stand stops. Wineries can't be changed on day of wine unless the group is very small (less than 3) and NO reservations had been made. If group decides to stay longer than the reservation drop time, the hourly rate for extra time will be clearly identified on the reservation form. Boxed Lunches ordered thru East End Wine Tasting Tours™ are usually picked up while our guests are tasting wine at either the 1st or 2nd winery. This can change depending on timing and logistics of our caterers and our schedule. Whether we provide lunches or is customer brings own picnic lunch, they are expected to clean up after themselves. Again, there are wineries that forbid outside lunches, other wineries charge a fee to eat at their winery and ALL will NOT allow food in their TASTING AREAS.
Your wine tour reservation form will also have the expected departure times
at each winery in order to arrive at the next winery "on time". Typically most wine tours are at least 7 hours in duration when picking up outside the North Fork Region up-island to mid Nassau County. Our Package pricing on this website includes these areas. Western Nassau and NYC typically require (8) hours or more. Your time in wine country is generally (4) hours.
(1) hour is the minimum recommended time to spend a eash winery in order to truely appreciate each winery and their offerings.
Other options to lengthen your actual time in Long Island Wine Country is to take the LIRR from NYC area to Ronkonkoma Train Station or take the Hampton Jitney and we will coordinate to meet you and take you out for the day. We can provide quotes including outside transport as well.
East End Wine Tour Lunch Options
In addition to tours, we offer a wide variety of lunch options, including BOXED LUNCHES, cheese platters, and
Alure Chowder House
with a delicious Prix Fixe menu
.
Boxed lunch options allow guests to have lunch at a vineyard in an area chosen by the winery; which is predominantly 'OUTSIDE". You are required to clean up after yourselves and leave the area as you found it. The chauffeur will pick up your lunch when you are having your tastings.
Alure Chowder House also offers prix fixe (3) course lunches, Saturday and Sundays starting in April. As the season approaches Summer, Alure slowly opens to nearly seven (7) days a week, offering their Prix Fixe Lunch, which is slightly higher in cost
than Amano.
Cooperage Inn -
new for 2021, we have added the Cooperage Inn small 3 course Prix Fixe lunch with some nice entrees, including unlimited soft drinks, coffee, tea etc. Whatever you do, you must purchase their Chicken Pot Pies to go. With pies representing Briermere Farms, Chicken Pot Pies is the Cooperage Inn.
Boxed Lunch Options are considered to be "outside" lunches or same if a visitor brings a picnic basket from home. 20% of the wineries permit an "outside" or Boxed Lunch BUT in a designated area only....which generally means "outdoors' or outside of the Tasting Room.
Noteworthy : 8 years ago or 2014, 75% of the Long Island wineries permitted Boxed Lunch or Bringing Your Own Food onto their respective venues. Now we are down to approximately 15%.
Noteworthy : There are (2-3) wineries that permit "Your Own Food or Boxed Lunches" INSIDE their buildings.
Lunch Trucks - as of Summer 2018, Lunch Trucks have been
banned / fined
at any vineyard located in the
town of Southold, where majority of wineries are located.
Lunch Trucks in town of Riverhead are generally at the following venues on weekends: Palmer, Jamesport Farm Brewery, LI Spirits
The North Fork Food Truck
is located in the Park lot at the North Fork Table and available generally every weekend from Mid May until end of November.
Updated (Jan 2024)
Do any of the Long Island vineyards offer Lunch?
East End Wine Tour Pricing and Packages
Guests will be able to acquire pricing from many different North Fork Winery locations, vehicle types, lunch options, and payment options. Our Packages on this website consist of the most economical, Better and Premium Wineries. Some of the "least expensive" are very lively and so called 'Party Wineries' and may not be for all our guests. As of 2021, the party wineries are not what they once were, calmed down quite a bit. There are other wineries in the "economical" packages that practice more crowd control. The "Better" and "Premium" Packages speak for themselves. The higher end wineries select what groups can visit their respective wineries.
Of course, there are smaller "boutique" wineries that offer a more personable experience and, at times, offer better wines. There is a wine out here to satisfy everyone's tastes buds.
Your Guide to Wine Tasting on Long Island
We prepared this small guide to assist both newcomers and past customers of the East End Vineyards
with wine tasting. There is much more to wine tasting than sampling as many wines as possible for a few dollars. We also urge
our guests to become familiar with some wine "lingo" prior to your day in the Long Island Vineyards.
