The closing session of Bridgehampton Polo was sponsored by Ferrari North America, who erected a second tent for its VIP clientele. As you approached Two Trees Farm, there was a line-up of stunning Ferraris flanking the entrance to the Ferrari tent.
Sam Dangremond, a friend from Town & Country magazine, rushed over to me at polo and described the wonders of having just driven a Ferrari from Battery Park in Manhattan to Bridgehampton in a caravan of Ferraris. He and his brother, Gus, a senior at Trinity College, made the drive along with 65 other lucky owners and admirers of Ferrari who drove both current models and classics (Daytonas as well as an F40, 275 GTB, 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet and Dino 246) in the rally.
Beluga Vodka, the new super-premium vodka, was the main spirits sponsor at the closing. Beluga Noble Russian Vodka was just released in the United States in April. Like all premium spirits, it has a good story. The grains are grown in the plains of an environmentally pure region in Siberia. The water is extremely pure and made purer by a double filter in quartz sand and silver. The secret, though, is once the vodka is distilled at Russia’s famous Mariinsky Distillery, it’s left to “rest” for about 30 days. I have to giggle that this is ingenious marketing: a vodka which so rested and relaxed is naturally going to relax you. Here’s the refreshing mint cocktail served at polo, where the final results were Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm beat a talented Heathcote team 15-12.
Beluga’s Cool Mint
1 1/2 oz Beluga Noble Russian Vodka
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
5 mint leaves
ginger beer (can be substituted with ginger ale)
Add mint and press. Add liquid ingredients and ice. Shake well. Double strain into a collins glass. Top off with ginger beer or ginger ale. Garnish with a mint sprig.
My friends more and more realize the value of being friends with me. Not only I can take them as plus ones into events but also I seem to bring them extraordinary luck. It’s happened numerous times when I’ve taken friends to parties, invariably they win the top prizes offered in drawings. Not long ago, a male friend won a trip to the Galapagos Islands on a new yacht and on August 24th at Bridgehampton Polo, a girlfriend, Ingrid McNulty, won Lancôme’s Limited Edition Absolue L’Extrait Black Crystal, a $1200 youth serum coming in a Baccarat-designed jar.
Held at the McCall Vineyard & Ranch in Cutchogue, Harvest East End celebrated 40 years of winemaking in Long Island wine country. This fourth annual Harvest East End was held on the North Fork for the first time right in the heart of the LI wine region with thirteen hundred people in attendance. Many traveled there from the Hamptons taking two ferries: from Sag Harbor to Shelter Island and from the north side of Shelter Island over to Greenport.
I rushed over from the final session of Bridgehampton Polo and sadly just missed the appearance of Governor Andrew Cuomo, who honored Russ McCall with Winery of the Year award from the New York Wine & Food Classic. McCall Vineyard has distinguished itself in the wine region for its great Pinot Noir.
The event was held in a huge field on the McCall Ranch under an enormous white tent decorated with white Chinese lanterns Forty-two wineries had booths. A large centered VIP section, which opened at 6PM for the higher priced ticket holders, was the place to taste the highest rated wines of the region.
My favorite winemakers were all present to pour and discuss their new releases. Sparkling Pointe’s Gilles Martin was pouring his fine cuvees, Brut Seduction and Blanc de Blancs. Martin is from Champagne in France and has brought his French touch here to Long Island. He’s also the winemaker at the newest Long Island winery, Kontokosta. Wolffer’s winemaker Roman Roth was offering something entirely new: Wolffer’s No. 139, a sparkling dry cider (6% alcohol) made with local New York apples. Now that the winery’s 9,000 cases of rosé (which they make yearly) is almost sold out, Wolffer will bring us cider for the fall.
I discovered an interesting Malbec from Jason’s Vineyards. And tasted the new Merliance 2010— a collective blend of Merlot from Long Island producers (Clovis Point, McCall, Raphael, Sherwood House, T’Jara and Wolffer)— which has gotten high scores from critics. With my inscribed tasting glass hanging from a strap around my neck (a keepsake from the event), I ricocheted around the huge tent tasting at Macari Vineyard, Shinn Estate, Bedell Cellars, Croteaux and Lieb Cellars.
Since this was a wine event, food was a secondary focus yet there were some great bites to be had. Bless Noah’s restaurant for providing the event freshly shucked oysters. A team of four or five men shucked the oysters all night—including Noah himself! It seemed that gazpachos and soups (clam chowder) ruled this event and scallops were everywhere, raw in ceviche and grilled. The great restaurants all turned out among them Vine Street Café, Fresh, Madison and Main, The Riverhead Project and North Fork Table and Inn. Organized by the long Island Wine Council and Merliance, Harvest East End benefits East End Hospice, Group for the East End, the Peconic Land Trust and the Long Island Farm Bureau Promotion & Education Foundation.
