Long Island Spirits Produces First Brandy from Long Island
Peconic Bay Winery and Long Island Spirits recently announced the completion of a project to create a grape brandy product called Sono Rinata. Technically, the product is labeled as “Immature Grape Brandy,” but it is styled to lie between Grappa and Eau-de-Vie types of clear brandies.
Sono Rinata is produced entirely of Merlot grapes grown on the Peconic Bay Winery’s vineyards in Cutchogue, NY. By agreement, and in keeping with both state and federal laws, the finished Merlot wine was sold in bulk to Long Island Spirits (LIS).
After direct consultation between the winery and the master distillers at LIS, the finished brandy was created and bottled, then legally sold back to Peconic Bay Winery at 42.5% alcohol by volume. The label bears the logo of both Peconic Bay Winery and of Long Island Spirits, and carries a fanciful name (Sono Rinata) as well as a TTB designation as “Immature Grape Brandy” indicating it is not aged in barrel.
The finished brandy is crystal clear after a single distillation and filtration. It has aromas of bright red and blue fruits, and fresh baked cherry pie. There are hints of toast and butter in the nose, as well as a floral and citrus component. In the mouth, Sono Rinata is very bright, light weight, and airy, with a fresh fruitiness and a soft impression of alcohol. The finish is very long and pleasant.
Sono Rinata is available primarily at the tasting room at Peconic Bay Winery in Cutchogue. It will retail for $29 per bottle and can be tasted by the public at those tasting rooms.
“The owners of Peconic Bay Winery, Paul and Ursula Lowerre, are very fond of distilled spirits of all kinds, and the recent change of law (allowing retail sales of NY-distilled product by farm wineries) was an opportunity to experiment with this side of the business “, said Jim Silver, Peconic Bay Winery’s General Manager. “We grow outstanding grapes here, and capturing the essence of our Merlot fruit so faithfully in a brandy is something we hoped would someday be possible. Now it is.”
“We are very excited to have distilled and bottled the first Brandy ever created on Long Island,” extolled, Richard Stabile, President and Founder of Long Island Spirits home of LiV Vodka; adding “Sono Rinata is a uniquely rich and warm spirit that captures the subtle character of the Merlot Grapes from where it began.”
Mr. Silver adds, “This is as an extension of our business model and another potential use for our produce. We intend to produce more high-end spirit products from other grape varieties and fruit eau-de-vies later this year, and Mr. Stabile has been a great partner to work with.”
Click here for more information on Sono Rinata and Peconic Bay Winery
Click here for more information on Long Island Spirits
Click here for more information on LiV Vodka from Long Island Spirits
