Schumer: LI wines to be featured at U.S. Open in Bethpage

Long Island's wine industry, struggling through the recession with flat sales last year, received a boost from the U.S. Golf Association, which has agreed to feature wines from the East End at the U.S. Open in Bethpage next month.

The agreement was announced Monday by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) at a news conference at Bethpage State Park that included Long Island wine and farm industry executives and local politicians, some of whom had discussions with the USGA in the past few months about featuring Long Island wine and other products at the Open.

Under the agreement with USGA, Bridge Vineyards, a winery in Mattituck, has been selected to feature its 2007 estate chardonnay and 2003 estate merlot. The wines will be offered at corporate tents during the Open. At other locations at the Open, other brands will be offered.

"I've been working on this a while," said an obviously pleased Greg Sandor, a co-owner of Bridge Vineyards, who said he had applied to the USGA months ago to feature wine from his 9-year-old winery.

Sandor said he and others wrote letters and sent samples of wine from Bridge to USGA officials.

"We were bothering them a lot at a time when other [wineries] were there," asking to have their wine featured at the Open, Sandor said. Bridge recently opened a tasting room in Brooklyn which features wine from all over New York State.

"This is going to be great for the Long Island economy," said Schumer. "It's going to be a shot in the arm."

Schumer said the USGA is also working with several other Long Island vendors, including J. King Food Distributors of Holtsville.

Nassau County Legis. David Mejias (D-Farmingdale) said the agreement was "a victory" for Long Island at a time of deep recession. "We must take advantage of every opportunity" to promote the region's economy, he said.

In 2002, the first time the Open was played at Bethpage - and the first time the tournament was held at a public golf course - wine from the Palmer Vineyards in Aquebogue was featured.

Chris Baiz, the wine council's president, said that the selection of Bridge Vineyards was good for the industry on the Island.

"When one of us wins, we all win," he said.