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Bruce
Schneider of Schneider Vineyards is third generation in the wine business (he comes from a family
of importers) but a first-generation vintner. Since the first
vintage, in 1994, the wines have received favorable reviews
in The New York Times, the Wine Spectator, and Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, among others.
 click here for the Wine Advocate's reviews of Schneider wines, June 2006
"We
always thought we would make wine in Napa," he says,
but he and his wife, Christiane Baker Schneider, became enamored
of Long Island and its potential.
In December 2005, Howard Goldberg of the New York Times praised the first wine from the property: "Schneider's 2003 Roanoke Point Cabernet Franc is first-class.. . A lovely dark ruby color, it is fresh, supple, and tinted with cocoa-chocolate aromas and flavors. A light woodiness from barrels hovers in the background.
In 2007, Bruce sold one of his vineyards, located on Roanoke Avenue in Riverhead. His other vineyards, the estate vineyard in Mattituck that Schneider Vineyards planted and has maintained since 2002, will become the sole vineyard source for the limited production Schneider wines. The Mattituck vineyard has 11 acres planted, including 8 acres of red Bordeaux varieties, predominantly Cabernet Franc, and an additional 3 acres of Syrah.
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Mr. Schneider believes his vineyard is well-suited for Cabernet Franc. "Cabernet Franc is the best of both worlds," Bruce says. "It has the nice up-front fruit of Merlot, and the structure and backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon. And I love the aromatics."
Aside from producing their proprietary red wines from estate-grown fruit, the Schneiders have, since 1994, produced wines sourced from other North Fork vineyards. They are sold in such leading Long Island restaurants as the American Hotel in Sag Harbor; Della Femina, Nick & Toni's and the Maidstone Arms in East Hampton; and Mirabelle in St. James. In Manhattan, the placements include Chanterelle, Jean-Georges, Le Bernardin and Le Cirque 2000.
They
are sold in such leading Long Island restaurants as the American
Hotel in Sag Harbor; Della Femina, Nick & Toni's and the
Maidstone Arms, in East Hampton; and Mirabelle in St. James.
In Manhattan, the placements include Chanterelle, Jean-Georges,
Le Bernardin and Le Cirque 2000.
Bruce
works in a Manhattan-based public relations company of which
he is part owner.
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