Wine tasting, Harmony vineyard, Head of the Harbor (Stony Brook, Nissequogue: new house, asbestos)

[2011littlehouse]

Yesterday we went for wine tasting at a very local place I did not know existed - a short walk from Stony Brook village/Duck Pond/Avalon Park.
Turned out to be a pretty cool, funky place, actually.

Mission

The tasting space is in an old historic house (the original structure built in the 1600s; major expansion in the early 1900s)), that was moved to this location from nearby.
Many things, incl. the floor and some doors, windows, fireplaces are original.
There is a small art gallery inside. The backyard overlooks the winery and and the water.
The best part was the live music - they had this quartet that was very good - played jazz, swing, rag... This was a Saturday afternoon; not sure how often are they there.

The wines - I did not care much about the mixes, but the straight Cabernet Sauvignon was pretty good, and so was one of the Chardonnays. Small selection, kind of pricey.

The place only opened in 2012 (the old house needs more work).
The vineyards (4 acres) were planted in 2002, first wine produced in 2007.

---
Interestingly, the owner, David Acker, is a local millionaire, lives next door.
He donates 100% of the proceeds from this vineyards to charities, including the Stony Brook Foundation (the university foundation), some charities in Kenya for women rights etc.
He is a local LI boy, who was a Stony Brook engineering undergraduate and made his millions by inventions and forming successful companies in the field of biomedical instrumentation. He has > 30 (real) patents - meaning, patents that actually make money unlike >90% of the patents today.

[garvey103]

Originally Posted by 2011littlehouse

Yesterday we went for wine tasting at a very local place I did not know existed - a short walk from Stony Brook village/Duck Pond/Avalon Park.
Turned out to be a pretty cool, funky place, actually.

Mission

The tasting space is in an old historic house (the original structure built in the 1600s; major expansion in the early 1900s)), that was moved to this location from nearby.
Many things, incl. the floor and some doors, windows, fireplaces are original.
There is a small art gallery inside. The backyard overlooks the winery and and the water.
The best part was the live music - they had this quartet that was very good - played jazz, swing, rag... This was a Saturday afternoon; not sure how often are they there.

The wines - I did not care much about the mixes, but the straight Cabernet Sauvignon was pretty good, and so was one of the Chardonnays. Small selection, kind of pricey.

The place only opened in 2012 (the old house needs more work).
The vineyards (4 acres) were planted in 2002, first wine produced in 2007.



-
Interestingly, the owner, David Acker, is a local millionaire, lives next door.
He donates 100% of the proceeds from this vineyards to charities, including the Stony Brook Foundation (the university foundation), some charities in Kenya for women rights etc.
He is a local LI boy, who was a Stony Brook engineering undergraduate and made his millions by inventions and forming successful companies in the field of biomedical instrumentation. He has > 30 (real) patents - meaning, patents that actually make money unlike >90% of the patents today.

great advertisement think I'll check it out sounds kinda funky

[dman72]

I think I remember when that house was moved, it was on these giant tracks that look like something from the space program. I was thinking, "whoever is moving that thing must have their own mint".

Is Acker's house that ginormous thing right down the road from the duck pond? I remember when that was built back in the 90's.

As you can see I often drive through HOH and Nissequoge to see how the other half lives.

[Frankie1]

I know the house you are thinking of dman, but its not the one. It can't be seen from the road, but if you want to view it go down to Long beach in Nissequogue and look over the harbor and you can't miss it. The vineyard is beautiful. The house...well to each his own.

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by dman72

I think I remember when that house was moved, it was on these giant tracks that look like something from the space program. I was thinking, "whoever is moving that thing must have their own mint".

Is Acker's house that ginormous thing right down the road from the duck pond? I remember when that was built back in the 90's.

As you can see I often drive through HOH and Nissequoge to see how the other half lives.

Google Earth the vineyard/estate. Acker lives on the premises. His home appears to the upper right (circular driveway) of the ca. 1690 house which is now the tasting room area. The old house sat closer to the water. When purchased, it was believed Mr. Acker bought the property for the view.

I believe the house was moved around 1999 or 2000. Our mutual friends went in there after the move to salvage some of the original trims for their own late 17th/early 18th century home.

Acker's new house isn't visible from the road. Is the ginormous house you refer to the one which is backs Harbor Rd at the corner of Emmet Drive? That house is beyond huge.


This might help fill in the details I can't recall:
Future Is Cloudy for Another Historic House - NYTimes.com

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by 2011littlehouse

Yesterday we went for wine tasting at a very local place I did not know existed - a short walk from Stony Brook village/Duck Pond/Avalon Park.
Turned out to be a pretty cool, funky place, actually.

Mission

The tasting space is in an old historic house (the original structure built in the 1600s; major expansion in the early 1900s)), that was moved to this location from nearby.
Many things, incl. the floor and some doors, windows, fireplaces are original.
There is a small art gallery inside. The backyard overlooks the winery and and the water.
The best part was the live music - they had this quartet that was very good - played jazz, swing, rag... This was a Saturday afternoon; not sure how often are they there.

The wines - I did not care much about the mixes, but the straight Cabernet Sauvignon was pretty good, and so was one of the Chardonnays. Small selection, kind of pricey.

The place only opened in 2012 (the old house needs more work).
The vineyards (4 acres) were planted in 2002, first wine produced in 2007.

---
Interestingly, the owner, David Acker, is a local millionaire, lives next door.
He donates 100% of the proceeds from this vineyards to charities, including the Stony Brook Foundation (the university foundation), some charities in Kenya for women rights etc.
He is a local LI boy, who was a Stony Brook engineering undergraduate and made his millions by inventions and forming successful companies in the field of biomedical instrumentation. He has > 30 (real) patents - meaning, patents that actually make money unlike >90% of the patents today.

I haven't been in there since it opened. One of the big tussles when he was contemplating moving it was whether they could move it and keep the beehive oven intact. I can't recall what happened.

The old house required significant asbestos and lead paint remediation.

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by Frankie1

I know the house you are thinking of dman, but its not the one. It can't be seen from the road, but if you want to view it go down to Long beach in Nissequogue and look over the harbor and you can't miss it. The vineyard is beautiful. The house...well to each his own.

I love the old house. The new one -- as long as Mr. Acker is happy, that's all that counts.

Link to photos:
East Farm Estate by Andre Tchelistcheff Architects | Head of the Harbor | california-architects.com

[2011littlehouse]

Originally Posted by OhBeeHave

I love the old house. The new one -- as long as Mr. Acker is happy, that's all that counts.

Link to photos:
East Farm Estate by Andre Tchelistcheff Architects | Head of the Harbor | california-architects.com

Interesting to see the inside of that mansion.
One can take a very good look at the outside from a walk towards the water within the winery (not from Harbor Rd). It looks a bit of a confused style - with parts going for a light house, an observatory and others going for a medieval castle...

The old house has a lot of character, but needs a lot of further restoration work. I did not love what appeared to be stucco between the old wood beams inside (those beams looked like they may be from the 1600s or something...). I am not an expert.
The seating benches at the windows are great, I wish I had those in my house.

[OhBeeHave]

Tasting Room

There's a video of the building being moved on the above linked page.

[dman72]

Originally Posted by OhBeeHave

Tasting Room

There's a video of the building being moved on the above linked page.

Yep, that's the house I saw on the rollers.

I have to check this place out now.