Wind Down in a Wine Town on Long Island and in New Jersey

Nothing says relaxation like a glass of good wine in a romantic setting with a night at a bed and breakfast. Visitors of the vineyards on Long Island’s East End or New Jersey’s Cape May will want to stay in one of these inns, as compiled by iLoveInns.com.

By Julie Dietzel-Glair

Andrew’s Legacy, Cutchogue, New York
Guests here are able to stay in one of three luxurious rooms in a fourth generation family home. All of the rooms feature antique furniture and a private bathroom. It may be hard to get out of a bed made comfortable with handmade quilts and vintage linens. The family has strived to include furniture that is original to or duplicates of the early furnishings. With the help of local gardening friends, the gardens have been lovingly replanted and have flourished since 2003 when this bed and breakfast first opened. Guests can enjoy a Victorian breakfast featuring homemade bread and eggs from the backyard chickens before walking two houses away to sample the 2007 Musee at Bedell (www.bedellcellars.com), the highest scoring red wine in Eastern North America. This winery can also be seen from the backyard of the inn. Bedell is sustainably farmed and has been family owned for thirty years. All of the wines at the Lenz Winery (www.lenzwine.com) are estate bottled and, therefore, made by grapes grown only on their estate. They also have some of the most mature vineyards in the area. Many other wineries are close to Andrew’s Legacy, including four more within walking distance. Cutchogue, New York, is only 8.5 square miles yet Albert Einstein spent two summers there.

Blue Iris Bed and Breakfast, Cutchogue, New York
This newly-constructed farmhouse has three over-sized guest rooms. Spa services, including Swedish or Oriental massages, facials, and reflexology, are offered onsite in the soothing massage room; no need to pack a bathrobe from home, a plush one is provided. Those who enjoy the outdoors can play bocce, croquet, horse shoes, or a stroll through the gardens. Passes are available for the local sandy beach. The innkeepers are happy to assist with dinner reservations or to arrange for the delivery of flowers or gift baskets. After visiting one of the local wineries, guests can enjoy a bottle of wine near the fire pit on the outdoor patio. Six wineries are within a one mile radius, including Pindar Vineyards (www.pindar.net) which powers 80% of all winery operations by a wind turbine on site. Peconic Bay Winery (www.peconicbaywinery.com) has an open mic night on Thursdays. Their old vines produce a superb Chardonnay. At the end of the day, guests can relax in a whirlpool tub or by a gas fireplace (both available in all three rooms).

East Hampton Colonial Inn, East Hampton, New York
Privacy is the name of the game at this inn with only two beautifully decorated rooms. Guests can enjoy the soothing waters of the granite pool or admire the gardens while rocking on the porch. The bright and cozy sunroom is the perfect place to curl up with a book. Both rooms have a terrace that overlooks the gardens. This inn is conveniently located near many popular restaurants. Brides may also choose to have their wedding among the magnificent old trees or on the manicured lawn. Channing Daughters Winery (www.channingdaughters.com) is only minutes away and features a large variety of both red and white wines. Their calendar is filled with intimate wine tasting classes. The nearby Wolffer Estate Winery (www.wolffer.com) hosts numerous events onsite that benefit causes such as the environment, health care, and education. Their Rose, “Summer in a Bottle,” has hints of fresh wildflowers and strawberries and always sells out quickly. The town of East Hampton includes Wainscott, East Hampton Village, Springs, Amagansett and Montauk. Each hamlet has waterside dining, beaches, shopping, museums, theaters, and galleries. It is also home to the famous Montauk Lighthouse, which was built in 1796.

Shorecrest Bed and Breakfast, Southold, New York
Located on an inlet of Shelter Bay, this inn was originally built in the mid-1800s as a summer home for a wealthy family. This lovingly restored setting features ten foot ceilings and floor to ceiling windows. Guests in each of the five rooms can choose to enjoy a four course breakfast in the garden room or on the deck. Breathtaking sunsets can be seen from the private Long Island Sound beach located only 500 feet from the inn. The second private beach is a great spot to launch kayaks or canoes. Hammocks and lounge chairs are available for stretching out weary legs. The Old Field Vineyards (www.theoldfield.com) is just minutes away. Established in 1974 to sell fruit, this vineyard started making its own wine in 1997. Guests can also venture to Sparkling Pointe (www.sparklingpointe.com) to try five tasty and unique sparkling wines. Most histories designate Southold as the first English settlement on Long Island. It is home to 24 listings on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Southern Mansion, Cape May, New Jersey
Located in the heart of the historic district and built in 1860, this is the largest and most magnificent bed and breakfast in Cape May. Bath in elegance in the private bathrooms with hand painted tile showers. Celebrate a special occasion by having chocolate covered strawberries or a cheese and fruit platter delivered to the room. Omelets, blueberry pancakes, or the chef’s special can be enjoyed at a private breakfast table. The inn is available for brides wanting an unforgettable wedding in a southern mansion. The Southern Mansion’s own vineyard, Willow Creek Winery (www.willowcreekwinerycapemay.com), is a short two mile bike or car trip away. This brand new winery opened to the public in May 2012. Visitors can enjoy tasting wine near the fireplace on the brick patio or take a guided tour of the vineyard. Four other wineries are within a short drive of The Southern Mansion. Numerous boutique shops can be found in the historic district. With local seafood fresh from the boat to French cuisine, Cape May is known as “The Restaurant Capital of New Jersey.”

Fordham House, Greenport, New York
Located on the semi-rural East End of Long Island, this historic home was built in 1901 by a master ship builder, H. Fletcher Fordham. Along with its newly renovated features, this inn offers beautiful and spacious bedchambers as well as a peaceful breakfast room capturing the ambiance of this serene New York home. Guests can stroll the garden, enjoy a couple’s massage or relax on the swing or wicker furnishings on the wraparound porch. Close by are endless activities such as cycling, swimming, horseback riding, golfing kayaking, and bird watching at the nature preserves. The docks of Greenport also provide opportunities for boating, fishing, and sailing. Explore and indulge in more than 30 wineries on Long Island’s North Fork to add to the experience. Visit Crtoteaux Vineyards (www.Croteaux.com) and try one of their refreshing signature rosés made from three different merlots. Castello di Borghese (www.castellodiborghese.com) features many award winning wines such as their signature Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.

Ruby’s Cove, Greenport, New York
Surrounded by over 41 wineries in a 30 mile span, Ruby’s Cove is a Queen Anne-style Victorian home situated “127 steps to Main Street” in the bustling seaport village of Greenport, New York. Their luxurious hallways display glass chandeliers as the sitting room provides a charming ambiance to share with a good book or conversation. The original hand crafted woodwork adorning the parlor rooms, guest rooms and the grand staircase all recollect and reminisce the home’s heritage. Guests can choose to relax in their bright and elegant bedrooms to soothe the soul, enjoy the swing on the stunning wraparound porch, or they can venture with the free bikes that the inn provides to cruise around town, exploring the several opportunities of recreation in the picturesque village. Taste one of The Old Field’s (www.theoldfield.com) newly released Blanc de Noir sparkling wines at what is considered one of the most romantic wineries around. Their vines stretch all the way down to the sugar-sand beach that fronts Peconic Bay.