JULY 2021 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 79
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END WINE TRAILBLAZERS
explore and learn more about the wine
culture widely.”
Allison Dubin is a partner and general
manager at Channing Daughters Winery
in Bridgehampton. Her goal has
been to work hard with the rest of the
staff at Channing Daughters to produce
a quality wine for their customers, but
also to provide a fun and educational
environment for visitors.
“Our sense of play and creativity makes
awesome wines,” she says. “We have
an amazing supportive group of wine
club members and guests who are an
important part of what we do, as well
as our team that has been together for
so many years in the vineyard, cellar,
and in tasting operations.”
Dubin’s career at Channing Daughters
began in 1999 when she drove up to the
vineyard to meet the founder, Larry
Perrine. They have remained close over
the years, and he’s someone she considers
to be one of her greatest teachers.
“I love this business so very much and
feel blessed to have my career going on
20 years here at Channing Daughters,”
says Dubin. “We live in one of the most
beautiful places, and we get to make
something that provides pleasure and
simultaneously be stewards of our
land and focus on sustainability in our
community.”
Epperson-McCarthy, who runs Saltbird
Cellars in addition to her role at Chronicle
Wines, believes her local knowledge
sets her wine apart from others.
“That global viticultural education
combined with local knowledge derived
from growing up on the North Fork are
what go into every bottle of Saltbird
Cellars wine,” the winemaker says.
She says her main goal is to make quality
wine available to everyone, no matter
their economic status.
“Wine is meant to be shared,” she says.
“Wine and food are a reason for people
to come together. Wine does not have to
be the realm of only the elitists. Maybe
a conversation with someone new may
result in a new culinary tradition that
wouldn’t have come about eating and
talking with the same people every day.”
Jamesport Vineyards offers their guests
a full experience when visiting.
“Our staff is quite knowledgeable
about our wine and can assist guests in
determining their wine preferences,”
says Office Manager Joanne Goerler. “In
addition to this, we also have a woodfired
oven on site, operating as Little
Oak Wood-Fired Kitchen. Our chef
incorporates our wine in many of his
dishes and educates our staff on wine
suggestions to pair with his foods. We
hope that our guests can enjoy, relax
and take a break in our vast backyard.”
Jamesport Vineyards is a great example
of how women are starting to gain
some footing in the wine industry.
Seventy-five percent of the staff at the
vineyard are women. However, Goerler
still believes there is more work to be
done to get women more hands-on jobs.
“There are studies that show that
women actually are better suited when
discerning flavors in wines, something
that can certainly be an asset in a
female winemaker,” she says. “I’d love
to see more women represented in that
capacity.”
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