The other day I had a letter addressed to Louisa Hargrave incorrectly placed in my PO Box. Turns out her box number is one digit off from mine. But it got me thinking about her, and how she inspired and ignited our east end wine industry. Almost 50 years ago Louisa and Alex Hargrave – a smart young couple from Harvard - took a leap of faith in the Grape Gods and planted the first vines on the North Fork. They set out to do the unheard of, growing grapes and making wine clear across the country from the renowned Napa Valley.
Through the sneers and jeers the pair did their homework, and made mistakes along the way, but soon enough the sowing of their seeds paid off. Long Island wine country is now one of the most respected viniculture regions on the globe.
Here is a photo of the couple, courtesy of the Hargrave family.
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