Roanoke Vineyards Plans Mattituck Tasting Room

Riverhead's plans to branch out in the spring, opening a second tasting room in Mattituck.

The winery's creative director Scott Sandell would not disclose the location because the real estate deal still hasn't closed.

"We thought having a second location that was slightly more convenient than the tasting room would make it easier for people to get Roanoke Wines – we don't wholesale to wine shops, so the wines have only been available in the tasting room, or by mail order," Sandell said in an email.

And though Roanoke is considered a boutique winery on Long Island, making around 3,000 cases of wine a year, Sandell said production won't need to increase to support a second location.

"You'd think an expansion like this would encourage us to make thousands of cases of each of our wines. We're doing just the opposite, preferring to try new and exciting blends, making wines from specific blocks in the vineyard, and constantly trying to push the envelope as to what's possible here on the East End," he said.

That's includes having the region's first tasting room open only to members of a vineyard's wine club, which Sandell said is on the horizon for Roanoke's existing Riverhead tasting room. He would not say how soon that changeover would take place after the opening in Mattituck.

That also means the winery's recently opened wine library would become a members-only club.

"Our thought was that joining the wine club should have some additional perks in addition to a subscription to our wines," Sandell said.

Many Long Island wineries offer wine clubs, special programs where people buy a set amount of wine a year in return for perks. Those include free tastings, discounts and access to members-only events.

As for second locations, Roanoke will join , and  in running two tasting rooms.

That also includes Peconic Bay Winery, , a retail store in Riverhead's Tanger Outlet center that sells Peconic Bay wines as well as wines produced across New York state.

Sandell said he couldn't disclose where the Mattituck shop would be, but he would say that it's centrally located.

"I will mention there's plenty of parking," he said.