Lieb Tasting Room Enters New Chapter With New Owners, Modern Design

CUTCHOGUE, NY — After a three-month wait, the highly anticipated reopening of the Lieb Tasting Room in Cutchogue will take place under new ownership with a newly renovated, modern tasting room design on April 17.

"The new tasting room embraces a modern design focused on natural materials, a modern color palette, and a blend of sleek and rustic fixtures to create a cozy, inviting, and relaxed atmosphere with a touch of sophistication," said Renee Fondacaro, Lieb Cellars brand manager and owner.

After closing for renovation in January under its new ownership, the Lieb Cellars Tasting Room, located at 13050 Oregon Road in Cutchogue, will reopen with a newly renovated tasting room, considerable improvements to the infrastructure of the building and surrounding vineyards, and a brand-new menu featuring the full portfolio of winemaker Russell Hearn including Lieb Cellars and Suhru Wines, owners said.

The opening marks a momentous moment in a family' s journey: In October, it was announced that longtime winemaker Russell Hearn of Lieb, along with business partners John and Renee Fondacaro, his wife Susan Hearn, and his daughter Shelby Hearn Ulrich and her husband Brad Ulrich, had purchased the Lieb Cellars brand, tasting room and 54-acre vineyard.

The tasting room features all-new interior seating, including tufted leather banquettes, a private tasting space, ample bar seating, and table seating for groups of 1 to 8, the new owners said.

The Lieb patio, "one of the most picturesque tasting locations on the North Fork", will reopen with comfortable, lounge style seating, picnic tables, and Adirondack chairs, owners added.

“The renovation to the tasting room focused on integrating the tasting room space with our surrounding vineyards and picturesque agricultural setting," said John V. Fondacaro, director of viticulture and owner. "Whether sitting on the patio or within the tasting room, guests can enjoy the beauty of the vineyards."

In addition to the tasting room, over the past few months significant upgrades have been made to the vineyard. Most notably, deer fencing was installed around both Oregon Road vineyards and the parking lot has been expanded at the tasting room. Ample parking with natural hardscape with boulders and native plantings, "create a seamless transition from the tasting room to the vines," owners said.

Improvements are slated to continue later this spring with more than 1000 new vines to be planted on the property. they added.

Beginning on Wednesday, April 17, the Lieb Tasting Room will be open seven days a week from noon to 6 p.m., and until 7 p.m. on Friday evenings. Reservations are now available here.

Founded in 1992, Lieb Cellars is a 54-acre sustainably farmed vineyard and winery. The company produces hand-crafted estate grown wines under the Lieb Cellars label.

Hearn and his business partners purchased Lieb Cellars after his more than 30 years as Lieb’s head winemaker.

“I first met Mark and Kathy Lieb three decades ago. They were passionate about wine and looking to showcase the best Long Island had to offer, which continues to be the goal of Lieb Cellars to this day," said Hearn. "Lieb focuses on Pinot Blanc, Sparkling Cuvees and a selection of strong red varietals, all wines I have been proud to make for the Lieb brand for the past 30 years. I look forward to continuing to make for many years to come."

One of Long Island's pioneer wine veterans, Hearn's wines have long garnered critical acclaim.

Australian-born, Hearn started his career in Western Australia and has worked in New Zealand, France, and regions across the United States. During his tenure on Long Island, Hearn’s"innovative winemaking style" has influenced the quality of many wineries across the region, the most notable being Pellegrini Vineyards (1990 to 2012), Lieb Cellars (1993 to present), T’Jara Vineyards (2002 to 2018), Bridge Lane (2004 to present), and Suhru Wines (2008 to present), a release said.

An active member of the Long Island Wine Region, Hearn founded Premium Wine Group, a custom crush facility, in 2000, bringing the first winery of its kind to the East Coast and resulting in an "explosion of new wine brands and tasting rooms opening across the region," a release said.

The goal, Hearn said, is to continue to grow both Suhru and Lieb Cellars, accentuating the best of both brands while introducing new ideas.

"Partnership to me is always stimulating," said Hearn, last fall. "It brings differing views to the table to hopefully drive the best direction forward. This unification of Suhru and Lieb is a blending of two family owned brands as well as the blending of two families, the Fondacaros and our own. The future is clearly defined. Our ultimate goal is to lean on our varied skill sets and experience, both from within and outside the wine industry, to make both Suhru and Lieb better and better for our current and future guests."