Trending News: Will LI Wine Tours as We Know Them Soon Come to an End?

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It goes without saying that wine tours are a popular Long Island outing - but latest news from the East End explains the nature of a day at the vineyard may soon change. 

 
Members of the Long Island Wine Council announced in Tuesday’s Southold Town Board work session that they are working to shift the focus of the North Fork wine business away from the party centric, live music atmosphere and toward the quality of wines grown. Meaning? Goodbye party bus crowds and hello wine connoisseurs.

 
According to the East End Beacon:

“One of the biggest problems is music is not profitable,” said Long Island Wine Council Executive Director Steve Bate. “You have people sitting around for a whole afternoon sipping one glass of wine to listen to music, and they’re not actually taking the wine home with them.”
“We want to go after a different customer, one that is more interested in the product than in live music,” said Mr. Bate.

The Wine Council has begun a complete overhaul of the region’s branding strategies, creating a new website to focus on what goes into the making of award-winning North Fork wines and their winemakers. Wineries will also undergo a two-day training to help them redefine how wine is sold, pour no more than an ounce, and set a minimum standard for purchases when people spend all day at a tasting room.

“Customers should expect to invest when they come out here, not be looking for a deal. We want to make sure tasting room fees are not waived unless there is a significant investment.”

Read even more details here via Patch. What are your thoughts about this new initiative? Share your views on our Facebook page.

 
Given this will take time to see the shift take place, it’s certainly something to consider when heading to the wineries in the future. In the interim, connect with our expert wine tour representatives to create the perfect Vineyard Tour Package to suit your needs. For more information on our Winery Tour Packages or to make a Reservation please call 631-587-8500 today.