It has been a whirlwind year for Massapequa resident Mike Smith’s, OR Wine Estates. In April 2014, the Observer profiled Smith and his company and in just a little over a year, the vineyard located in Orient Point, has gone from being represented in one local market to being available in well over a dozen notable restaurants and just as many high-end wine stores and receiving one of the industry’s highest awards at the NY Wine and Food Classic.
“I was thrilled we won the silver medal for our chardonnay, especially since the vineyard is so young,” said Smith.
When asked how he feels about the new name recognition his wine has recently achieved and being able to order his wine when out to dinner with his wife Teresa, a wow moment for anyone, Smith simply said, “I’m very proud of our accomplishments this year.”
In fact, three of the restaurants where OR Chardonnay is being served: Grotta di Fucco of Long Beach, Left Coast Kitchen and Cocktails in Merrick and The Petulant Wino in Aquebogue all made Newsday’s top 100 restaurants list. The wine is also in RS Jones of Merrick which continues to rack up awards as Long Island best of soul/southern, Tex-Mex and Cajun.
A 30-year veteran of the FDNY, Smith didn’t set out to be a winemaker. A year after the attack on 9/11 the Smith’s decided to buy and remodel a home on Long Island’s North Fork. Planting a vineyard was a landscaping idea that turned fruitful. Once he had viable grapes, Mr. Smith decided rather than to produce wine on his own as a hobby, to produce quality wine the public could enjoy. Through recommendation and introduction he was able to pair with world renowned winemaking consultant Gilles Martin, who is synonymous with the best wines Long Island has to offer.
Martin, described the wine style as very similar to a French Burgundy, but right here on Long Island. It is a terroir driven Chardonnay.
“It’s not over powered by the oak,” said Martin, who added that the wine had ripe flavors, with some notes of pear and apple, was very well balanced and very fresh.
It’s a flavor that has proven itself popular at both Kellenberg Memorial High School’s Annual Food and Wine Expo. Both of Smith’s children, Scott and Amy, as well as his daughter-in-law Michelle attended the high school, and at the annual Taste the East End event held at the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead.
“Knowing my dad I know he had this creative side to him. It was beautiful seeing him connect to that side of him again. He really is an artist,” said Amy Singh née Smith, daughter of Michael and Teresa.
Daughter-in-law Michelle Smith, married to the Michael and Teresa’s son Scott, helps out as webmaster for the fledgling wine company.
“It has been a real bonding experience working together. A fun family experience,” said Michelle. And while Scott and Mikki now live in California helping with the family wine business through Michelle marketing helps close the miles between them.
The Smith’s wine, “OR Wine,” is not mass produced. Smith trims back the vines to harvest only the best grapes. He’s interested in quality, not quantity and is releasing only 140 cases per year. Right now the vineyard has produced both an oaked and an unoaked version of Chardonnay.
OR Wine can be found at not only at restaurants like Dark Horse in Riverhead, or wine bars such as Molto Vino in Babylon and SaVino’s in Lynbrook, but also in the new Corkscrew Wine and Books in Rockville Centre, a book store that instead of just serving coffee, also sells wine by the glass. OR Wine will be hosting at tasting of their wine at Corkscrew Wine and Books Nov. 12 from 5 to 8 p.m.
If you would like to find out where you can buy or sample OR Wine at one of their many tasting events, visit www.orwineestate.com. To see a video of the vineyard, click here.
