Dornfelder
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed within 1–5 years of the vintage to fully appreciate its vibrant fruit character and fresh acidity.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled sausages, roasted duck, pork loin with plum sauce
✨ Technical Specifications
Channing Daughters is one of the very few producers in the United States, and specifically on Long Island's East End, to champion the German red grape variety Dornfelder. Originally created in Germany in 1955 by August Herold as a crossing designed to add deep color to blends, Dornfelder has found a unique maritime expression in the glacial, sandy loam soils of Bridgehampton. Channing Daughters crafts this varietal red to showcase the grape's naturally striking, ink-dark purple hue and vibrant, juicy acidity. The winemaking philosophy typically employs small-batch fermentation and aging in older, neutral French and Slovenian oak barrels. This approach preserves the grape's intense primary dark berry fruit, exotic spice, and earthy undertones, reflecting the winery's adventurous spirit and dedication to exploring how cool-climate European varieties adapt to the unique terroir of Long Island.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1982 when venture capitalist and sculptor Walter Channing planted his first Chardonnay vines in Bridgehampton, Channing Daughters Winery has evolved into one of the most daring and innovative producers on Long Island's East End. Set on 28 estate acres within the maritime climate of the South Fork, the vineyards thrive in well-drained Bridgehampton silt loam cooled by Atlantic sea breezes and buffered by Peconic Bay. Helmed by partner and winemaker Christopher Tracy alongside partners Larry Perrine and Allison Dubin, the estate is a founding member of Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing. Channing Daughters is celebrated for its polycultural repertoire spanning over two dozen grape varieties and an avant-garde cellar program marked by native fermentations, extensive skin contact, and field blends. Benchmark bottlings include their pioneering Ramato skin-fermented Pinot Grigio, Friulian-inspired whites such as Tocai Friulano and Ribolla Gialla, and intricate cuvées like Meditazione and Envelope.
🍇 Grapes
Dornfelder
🍷 ABV
11.5-12.5%