Dornfelder
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed within 1–5 years of the vintage to fully appreciate its vibrant fruit character and fresh acidity.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Grilled sausages, roasted duck, pork loin with plum sauce
✨ wine.spec_sheet
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.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Established in 1982 by Walter Channing on the South Fork of Long Island in Bridgehampton, New York, Channing Daughters Winery is a pioneering estate renowned for its artisanal, small-batch approach to winemaking. Under the guidance of winemaker and partner Christopher Tracy, the winery manages over twenty-five acres of vines, focusing on sustainable viticulture, hand-harvesting, and wild-yeast fermentations. Channing Daughters is celebrated for its experimental spirit, championing unique varietals like Tocai Friulano, Lagrein, and Teroldego alongside traditional grapes, and crafting highly acclaimed skin-contact orange wines, field blends, and site-specific Chardonnays. Signature expressions such as the skin-fermented Meditazione, the wild-yeast L'Enfant Sauvage Chardonnay, and the crisp Scuttlehole Chardonnay exemplify their commitment to expressing the distinct maritime terroir of the East End.