5. Sannino Bella Vita Vineyard – Peconic, NY

Located on the North Fork and sharing a tasting room with another vineyard in a barn built at the turn of the 20th century, Sannino Bella Vita Vineyard offers exceptional hands-on experiences to its guests ranging from single day events to a $4,500 annual membership which nets the member an entire barrel (275 bottles) of their own handmade wine.

For the less extreme wine enthusiast looking to get some hands-on experience the vineyards are hosting a Winemaker for a Day: VIP Blending Session this harvest season. The day-long session includes a tour given by Sannino Bella Vita’s owner and winemaker while sampling local wines. After the tour guests get to make their own custom blend while enjoying a provided lunch. This experience is offered only by reservation on October 20, November 18, and December 16. The all included tour is priced at $150 per couple. Contact (631) 734-8282 to place a reservation.

For more off the beaten path wine adventures, check out:

• Off Season Activities in America’s Vineyards
• Wine Boot Camp Chronicles
• Suzy Gershaman’s First Bottle Blog: The Napa Wine Train
• Yountville, California An Ideal Starting Point for Seeing Napa

By Steven D. Knight for PeterGreenberg.com