64 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • FEBRUARY 2022
GOLDYS GEMS
G&T SOUR CATCHES PURISTS EYE
BY CJ ARLOTTA
The classic gin and tonic cocktail can be
ordered at any bar, whether it’s at the tavern
SOMETHING TO WINE ABOUT
LONG ISLAND
VIOGNIER
BY LINDA DELMONICO PRUSSEN
When thinking of Long Island wines,
one may think cabernet Franc for red,
and chardonnay or riesling for white.
But another beautiful Long Island wine
to consider is Viognier. Viognier is a
grape most often associated with the
Rhone Valley region in France, but two
Long Island vineyards have captured
the essence of this lovely grape and have
produced two wines that are both approachable
and elegant.
The fi rst is the 2018 RGNY Viognier.
This sophisticated wine is produced
from 100% Viognier grapes fermented
in stainless-steel tanks with 20% of the
juice being aged for six months in French
oak. There are no oak-fl avor characteristics
imparted to the wine, but there is a
lovely soft mouthfeel. This wine is supple,
smooth, fl oral, with light notes of
pineapple. It retails for $33. Check out
the RGNY website at rgnywine.com.
The second is the 2020 Peconic Bay
Vineyards Viognier. This gorgeous
wine comes in a graceful Mosel-style
bottle and the wine inside is equally
lovely. Unlike the RGNY Viognier, this
wine spends no time in oak. Peconic
Bay’s winemaker Greg Gove said, “This
wine was entirely fermented in stainless
steel at cool temperatures.” He added,
“I used a strain of yeast known for
expressing the aromatic character of
this varietal.” This is a lyrical wine with
notes of citrus fruit, hibiscus, and honeysuckle.
It’s also soft and silky smooth.
It retails for $22. Visit the Peconic Bay
Vineyards website at peconic-bay-vineyards.
square.site.
This wine varietal is a pleasure to pair
with light foods such as salads, seafood,
and pasta, with light or creamy
sauces. While easily a go-to wine for
the summer, it shouldn’t be ruled out
year-round as a light refreshing alternative,
without any overly aggressive
citrus or acidity, sometimes expected
in whites such as sauvignon blanc or
even pinot grigio.
2018 RGNY Viognier
down the street or the eclectic cocktail
bar in town. But the G&T sour can only
be ordered at Bay Shore’s Goldy’s Gems.
“The general concept for Goldy’s Gems was
inspired by showcasing something familiar
and approachable with the thought of
blending newer and more modern elements
into our off erings and overall atmosphere,”
says Michael Lessing Jr., group
area operations manager at Lessing›s Hospitality
Group. “The inspiration for our
cocktail program was derived from that
same mindset. One of our favorites, the
G&T sour, presents something almost everyone
can relate to in a gin and tonic.”
The G&T sour isn’t your typical gin and
tonic. While there are classic elements,
it stands out to the gin and tonic purist.
“On the menu, it catches the eye of anyone who
loves the classic mixed drink, and for many
who are still apprehensive about getting a
cocktail with egg whites in it, it’s just enough
of a nudge to get them out of their comfort
zone and try something new,” he says.
The cocktail is made with Ford’s Gin,
lemon juice, meringue (egg white), and
a house-made green tea-tonic cordial.
“All the ingredients are shaken dry to
create the frothy texture of meringue,
and then shaken a second time with ice,”
Lessing says. “We garnish this cocktail
with cracked black pepper after it is double
strained into a coupe glass.”
For drinkers looking for a classic sour
cocktail on the menu, one with a balance
of sweet and sour, the G&T sour is
the way to go.
“The sweet, tart fl avors are timeless, but it’s
the hints of the green tea and tonic cordial
that serve as nostalgia to anyone who’s enjoyed
a G&T in their day,” he says. “In my
opinion it’s fun twists and notes of familiarity
that keep guests coming back for more.”
“The G&T sour has turned into one of our
best sellers,” he says. “At any bar, there
is a customer to be served who willingly
goes for the sour, but when you add
something memorable to it, you can
open the door to someone who wants
to step out. It doesn’t matter what decade
you live in, anyone can enjoy a good
G&T!”
Goldy’s Gems is located at 5 Third Ave.,
Bay Shore. It can be reached at 631-
665-9596 or lessings.com/corporate/
restaurants/venue/goldys-gems.
MAIN DISH
Goldy’s Gems’ G&T sour
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
/rgnywine.com
/
