One of the things I love most about winemaking is how deeply connected it is to nature and the rhythm of the seasons. Every year follows a familiar cycle, but no two vintages are ever exactly the same.
In the vineyard, we watch the vines move through each stage of the growing season:
Then, before you know it, the cycle begins again.
Most people naturally focus on harvest season because it’s the most visible and energetic time in the wine world. But as a winemaker, I also get to experience everything that happens after the grapes leave the vineyard.
The winery follows its own seasonal rhythm.
Harvest brings long days of:
As winter arrives, our white and Rosé wines begin bottling while the red wines continue aging in barrel.
Then spring and summer bring blending trials, bottling, and the next stage of development before another harvest season arrives once again.
But even after bottling, the wine’s journey is far from over.
Some of the most fascinating changes in wine happen quietly over time in the bottle.
As wines age, their:
This is what makes library wines so special.
Over the years, we’ve carefully held back select vintages in our cellar so we can revisit and share them later at their peak maturity. This summer, we’re excited to feature several of these library wines during our upcoming Clubhouse events at the Suhru Tasting House.
The North Fork of Long Island is considered a cool climate wine region. While winters here can certainly feel cold, our proximity to the surrounding water helps moderate extreme temperatures.
Being bordered by the Long Island Sound, Peconic Bay, and Atlantic Ocean creates a more stable growing environment than many inland regions.
This maritime climate helps our wines maintain:
Those characteristics are incredibly important for long-term aging potential.
Most of our red wines comfortably age for 10–15 years, developing beautifully over time while still retaining balance and vibrancy.
One of the standout vintages in recent North Fork wine history was 2013.
The growing season brought:
As a result, every grape variety reached exceptional maturity and balance.
That momentum continued through the 2014 and 2015 vintages, producing a remarkable run of high-quality Long Island wines.
As we continue releasing our 2023 white and Rosé wines and begin introducing our 2022 reds, we’re also excited to revisit some older vintages alongside them.
At select summer Clubhouse events, guests will have the opportunity to taste library wines from vintages like 2013 and explore how North Fork wines evolve over time.
We hope you’ll join us for a closer look at the aging potential, complexity, and character of Long Island wines.
— Russell Hearn
Winemaker, Suhru & Lieb Vineyards
