Channing Daughters

Channing Daughters Winery, located in Bridgehampton on the South Fork of Long Island, is a compelling story of a winery that has defined its own path in a region often associated with more conventional styles. Under the guidance of winemaker and partner Christopher Tracy, Channing Daughters has become a beacon for experimentation, diversity, and a deep commitment to sustainable, artisanal practices. Their technical approach is a deliberate and multifaceted one, blending traditional methods with an experimental spirit to create a portfolio of wines that is both unique and a profound expression of their specific terroir.

Terroir: Long Island's Coastal Influence

The Long Island AVA, particularly the Hamptons and North Fork, is a cool-climate region with a strong maritime influence that is a critical factor in the wines' character.

• Atlantic Ocean Influence: The vineyards are cooled by breezes from the Atlantic, which moderates temperatures and extends the growing season. This is crucial for preserving the natural acidity of the grapes, which is a hallmark of Channing Daughters' wines. The result is a portfolio of wines with a vibrant freshness that makes them exceptionally food-friendly.

• Diverse Soils: The winery's estate vineyards and those they source from are characterized by a variety of soils, including Bridgehampton silt loam with some blue clay and Haven loam with some Riverhead sandy loam. This geological diversity contributes to the complexity and unique character of the wines, and Channing Daughters often highlights these differences through single-vineyard bottlings.

• Sustainable Viticulture: Channing Daughters is a founding member of the Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing (LISW) program. This commitment goes beyond simply organic practices. It's a holistic approach that includes recycling grape pomace for compost, avoiding synthetic fertilizers to protect groundwater, and using cover crops to promote biodiversity and soil health. They see the vineyard as a complete ecological system, and their practices are designed to ensure its long-term health.

Winemaking: An Artisanal and Experimental Approach

Channing Daughters' winemaking is anything but dogmatic. They embrace a range of traditional and modern techniques, all with the goal of creating wines that are delicious and true to their place.

• Grape Diversity: The winery is known for its wide-ranging collection of grape varieties, growing over two dozen on their estate and sourced vineyards. This includes classics like Chardonnay and Merlot, but also less common varieties like Blaufränkisch, Dornfelder, Ribolla Gialla, and Tocai Friulano, all of which are well-suited to the cool, maritime climate.

• Hand-Crafted Methods: Winemaking at Channing Daughters is a hands-on, artisanal process. Grapes are all hand-picked, white fruit is gently whole-cluster pressed, and red grapes are foot-stomped with hand punch-downs. This gentle handling ensures that the natural flavors and character of the grapes are preserved.

• Diverse Fermentation Techniques: They are known for their innovative and experimental use of fermentation methods. This includes:

  • Native Yeast Fermentation: Many of their wines are fermented with indigenous, wild yeasts, which add complexity and a unique expression of the vineyard's microbial life.

  • Skin Contact Whites ("Ramato" & "Orange" Wines): Channing Daughters was a pioneer in the United States for producing skin-fermented white wines (a style often referred to as "orange wine"). Their Ramato, made in the Friulian style from Pinot Grigio, is a prime example of their dedication to ancient winemaking traditions.

  • Co-Fermentation: They are not afraid to co-ferment white and red grapes, a traditional practice that can create unique blends with integrated flavors and textures.

• Blending and Vineyard Designation: With a portfolio of nearly three dozen wines, Channing Daughters has a keen focus on blending and vineyard-designated bottlings. This allows them to showcase the unique characteristics of a specific site while also creating complex, balanced blends like their "Vino Bianco" and "Rosso Fresco."

• Aging Vessels: They utilize a wide array of aging vessels, including stainless steel, concrete, and French, Slovenian, American, and Hungarian oak barrels of various sizes and ages. This allows them to carefully control the influence of oxygen and wood, ensuring the wine's character is not overwhelmed.

Channing Daughters is a testament to the power of a thoughtful, unconventional, and quality-driven approach. By combining a deep-seated respect for their terroir with an adventurous spirit in the cellar, they have established themselves as a leader in Long Island winemaking and a producer of some of the most dynamic and delicious wines on the East Coast.