New Kontokosta Winery Tasting Room Pours First Drink

Long Island Wine Country now has a new tasting room — The Kontokosta Winery in Greenport, which sits atop bluffs overlooking the Long Island Sound has officially opened its doors to the public.

The 62-acre winery, which has been in the works for several years, is now open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering tours, $10 individual tastings, group tastings and events, including weddings, as well as wine club memberships.

Bottles of Kontokosta wines are also available for sale in the new tasting room with 3,000 cases expected to be available annually.

The winery is the vision of two brothers Michael and Constantine Kontokosta, who also own the Harbor Front Inn in Greenport and Cove Place Inn in Aquebogue.

That vision resulted in a winery, which they said "combines the latest technological innovations with centuries-old traditions to develop and ensure the best expression of the unique Long Island vineyard site."

The first vines at Kontokosta Winery, according to the brothers, were planted in 2002 under the guidance of the late Long Island wine pioneer Ray Blum with the additional planting completed in 2004 with a first harvest of cabernet franc, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, viognier, sauvignon blanc and riesling in 2006.

The tasting room, according to the brothers is designed after a 19th-century New England barn with 90 percent of it constructed from recycled-content steel and Forest Stewardship Council-certified reclaimed wood siding. The building, which features a tasting room and cellar, is powered by wind energy.

Patch wants to know: Will you be one of the first to enter the new tasting room?