Two Long Island natives, Erik and Benford, have been slowly and quietly searching out this landscape, using Erik’s 18^th century home in Roslyn as their base and (literally) garage winery. Using backyard vineyards farmed organically by locals and natural methods in their winemaking, Floral Terranes is the most in-demand small producer in the region. Their production is tiny so run, don't walk. 

Since the beginning Erik has had an obvious thing for Merlot - obviously Long Island has a thing for Merlot. Yet Floral Terranes always gives the wine its own signature. My sense is that this is the wine they baby the most, with daily loving punch downs, etc. What to say? This is deeply plummy and Merlot-y, textural yet there is also the brightness of red fruit, a wonderful bounce for such a mouth-coating and deeply satisfying wine. Yum.

Grape: Merlot 

Viticulture: Organic 

Soils: Sandy loam 

Pairings: Mushroom grilled cheese with New York cheddar