“Wine is sunlight, held together by water." - Galileo Galilei, 1564-1642
I have lived on Long Island for most of my life, and I love it. I have true Long Island pride. I love being less than an hour drive from New York City, ten minutes from the beaches, and half an hour from the famous Hamptons. One of my favorite parts of Long Island is one of the least talked about- the North Fork. Everyone thinks that all of eastern Long Island is just like the trendy Hamptons, but the North Fork is rich in farm-land, mom and pop joints, and- my personal favorite- wineries.
Even though I am a Health Coach, I definitely enjoy having a good glass of wine every once in a while! I love going out to eastern Long Island to visit some local wineries. It’s hard to believe that farmland so abundant is so close to NYC- it feels like a world away when you are out on the North Fork. And once you get out there- you realize you are in wine country- it feels like you are on vacation, and it is there that you get to indulge in a little liquid sunshine.
I like to support organic and biodynamic growing- two very important forms of agriculture that are close to my own personal values. Most people are familiar with the term ‘organic’. Growing organically means thatfood is grown and processed using no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, with no antibiotics or growth hormones. Biodynamic growing is a little different- it embodies all of the same characteristics of organic growing but it takes on a more holistic approach. Biodynamic agriculture incorporates everything around the area- animals, crops, and soil in every aspect of the growing process. Most uniquely, biodynamic agriculture uses the astronomical planting calendar, which revolves around the phases of the moon. Pretty amazing, if you ask me.
So what does this mean for the wine? It means that when you drink an organic or biodynamic wine you are drinking a product that is grown in the most natural way possible! I came across a winery on the North Fork of Long Island in Mattituck called Shinn Estates that uses biodynamic farming techniques to grow their grapes. The owners have even installed a solar and wind powered system that produces all of the energy used for the winery, cellar, vineyard bed and breakfast.
The owners of Shinn Estates created a fantastic estate. It is quaint, laid back and refined all together on one piece of land. It is a must-see if you plan on taking a ride to the farms, or on a winery tour. Try the light and crisp “First Fruit” Sauvignon Blanc, or the smooth “Nine Barrels” Merlot- both wines are excellent and will please any white or red wine drinker! Now that the warmer weather is here, it’s definitely worth a drive out to eastern Long Island and enjoy some time out in the fresh air with a healthy glass of amazing wine. It’s the healthier way to have a drink and support local agriculture.
To hear more about making healthier choices in your life, or to schedule a FREE Health History Assessment, please email me at: stacycrawfordhealthcoach@gmail.com. Also visit my website www.stacycrawfordhealthcoach.com or visit my facebook page www.facebook.com/stacycrawfordhealthcoach.
- Stacy