Photo Credit: Custer Institute

With an impending meteor shower scheduled for Friday of this week, I felt it only appropriate to share a few top star-gazing spots that the North Fork has to offer. The unobstructed views and low level of light pollution leave tourists in awe by nightfall, their eyes wide and mouths agape, as they try to make sense of a sky that can only be described as both foreign and familiar. Even us locals know not to take for granted the ethereal beauty we’re lucky enough to bask in every single evening. With that being said, it’s important to note that there are a few nighttime vantage points on the North Fork that are certainly better than others.

Nassau Point Causeway (Nassau Point Rd., Cutchogue) 

For those of you unfamiliar with Nassau Point, it is (in my opinion) one of the North Fork’s hidden gems. The causeway is what links the peninsula of Nassau Point to the mainland, and also provides us with a span of sky that allows one to catch a glimpse of a few shooting stars. My good friend and co-worker, Allissa Goodale, is quite the advocate for this location and infamous for bringing along a Chinese lantern or two. If you have the urge to watch the meteor shower from the beach, the causeway would be my first pick. For ultimate meteor shower preparedness, you should make sure you have a box of Bridge Lane Chardonnay and a few govinos on hand.

Custer Institute & Observatory (1115 Main Bayview Rd., Southold)

If you peg yourself as more of a seasoned stargazer as well as a history buff, a visit to the Custer Observatory is in order. Although I received a “C” in my college Astronomy class, there is no doubt that the infinite abyss of space is better understood with the guidance of a professional… and a telescope. Established in 1927, the Custer Institute is actually the oldest observatory on Long Island (if you don’t know, now you know). Open to the public every Saturday night till midnight, you can swing by Custer and see the stars – no squinting necessary. For more information on the Custer Observatory, check out their website – www.custerobservatory.org.

Rooftop Access (Anywhere, North Fork)

As of June 1^st, I am now lucky enough to call myself a Greenport resident. Making the move to Greenport was a no-brainer – walking distance to some of the North Fork’s best restaurants and bars? Sign me up. Along with my apartment’s central location, a huge selling point was its rooftop access. Now before you start imagining a Manhattan rooftop, let me just say that it is a rooftop with no frills. But, a rooftop nonetheless. My plan for this week’s meteor shower is simply this – a bottle of our 2015 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, a blanket, a few friends, and that Greenport sky.

If you find yourself unable to get to any of these locations tomorrow, simply walk down to your nearest beach and look up. We’re privileged to live in a place that affords us the opportunity to catch these celestial happenings unobstructed, as well as provide us with a glass of wine to accompany them.

Jul Fedele

Tasting Room Captain