Long Island’s Ambassadors of Wine
By Chris and Rich Gordon
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Founded in 1989, the Long Island Wine Council is a trade organization that, according to its mission statement, is “dedicated to achieving recognition for Long Island as a premium wine producing region.” LIWC further defines its role as providing “a coordinated effort for the promotion and development of the region’s wine industry.”
The Long Island Wine Ambassadors, or LIWA, was started about six years ago by Jane Baxter Lynn, the first executive director of the wine council. Prior to that time, regional pourings and event organization were handled by the staff of each winery. As the number of events increased, Ms. Lynn saw the need for a dedicated group of trained individuals who could help promote the region’s wine. Thus, LIWA was formed.
This all-volunteer group was to be limited to 20 members and was originally made up of women only. As a whole, the group was known as “Very Important Pourers,” or VIPs. Members were given monikers such as “Noble Vine” for the honorary chair, “Chief Grape” for the chief coordinator, “Wise Grapes” for the education coordinators, “Cork Poppers” for the event coordinators and “Canopy Manager” for the membership coordinator.
Steve Bate, current executive director of the wine council, has expanded the group to approximately 30 men and women in response to an increase in events. New members are not needed at present.
The Membership Committee is chaired by Angela Lipfert. Jackie Rogers chairs Education/Events. Cali Schultheis heads up the Administrative Committee, which gathers current technical data on the wineries. The Distribution Committee, chaired by Chris Gordon, delivers wine council literature to member wineries, and Rich Gordon is president of the group.
Wine Ambassadors are required to take a “Wine 101” class taught by Jackie Rogers, who is co-chair of the North Fork chapter of the American Wine Society. The course covers the basics of wine pouring, kinds of wine, how to recognize corked or oxidized wine and the how-to’s of wine tasting. Additional requirements include visiting every LIWC-member winery, participating in events and attending quarterly meetings, where current LIWA business is discussed and continuing education programs are presented.
Winemakers, vineyard managers or winery owners may be guest speakers at continuing education sessions. Generally, wine from the guest speaker’s winery is served and discussed. At other meetings, a particular wine varietal or type of wine, such as a rosé, might be tasted and discussed.
LIWA members come from all walks of life. There are accountants, retired school principals, a travel agent, a “head hunter,” a professional artist and a clinical chemist, just to name a few. Several members are award-winning home winemakers, and many belong to the American Wine Society.
Wine Ambassadors are called upon to participate in many different kinds of events. Some require only one ambassador, while others may require all 30. Events include an annual pouring for the New York Philharmonic concert at Hecksher State Park, three days of pouring at the New York International Restaurant Show at the Javits Center in New York City and wine expositions at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods casinos in Connecticut. Past events have included Long Island wine pouring at Windows on the World at the World Trade Center, the Hamptons Classic Horse Show, and a regional pouring at Union Square Wine and Spirits in Manhattan. There are also annual events in conjunction with the East End Arts Council, such as Long Island Winterfest, and pourings at the newly restored Brecknock Hall in Greenport. All events may require the Ambassadors to be involved with setup, registration and break-down.
Wine Ambassadors must always be ready to answer questions on the spur of the moment. What’s your favorite wine? What’s your favorite winery? Where do the grapes come from, California or France? We always answer that it doesn’t matter what our favorite wine is. The best wine is the wine you like. It’s like art, music or food. It’s individual taste — that’s the beauty of it! We also explain that you may not like everything at every winery, but will most likely find something you like at every winery. Of course, we pull out the Long Island wine trail map and point out that Long Island has over 50 licensed wineries and over 60 vineyards with more than 3,000 acres of vines planted.
As Long Island Wine Ambassadors, we visit wine council member wineries very often, many of us on a weekly basis. While visiting the various tasting rooms to check out the latest releases, we also act as “cheerleaders” for the local wine industry.
Here’s a sample of what it’s like to be a Long Island Wine Ambassador: It’s a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and we’re an East End tasting room, waiting to taste some wine. We overhear the couple next to us saying this is their first time at the vineyards and how excited they are to try the wine. Their wine is poured, they clink glasses and it’s bottoms-up. No swirling. No sniffing. No sipping. There’s no discussion about the bouquet (or “nose”) or the various flavors as the wine is tasted. Standing next to them, we swirl, sniff and sip. We talk about the bouquet: chocolate, cherry, oak. We discuss the taste: cigar box, blueberry, earthy.
“Why do people slosh the wine around in their glass and then stick their nose into it?” they ask. “It looks snobby.” We explain why this is done and begin an impromptu tasting class with a group of patrons at the tasting bar. Thoughts of snobbery are dispelled. They’re learning to enjoy wine and have fun with it. This is one of the perks we get from being Long Island Wine Ambassadors: meeting folks at the wineries and helping them learn about wine, world-class Long Island wine in particular.
Oh, and there are no embassies; there’s no dealing with foreign governments, unless it’s for a wine council event; and we do not have official government status. We’re just out there having fun supporting the Long Island Wine Council in its mission to promote Long Island as a world-class wine region.
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