Long Island Merlot Alliance
The Merliance is an annual collaboration of Long Island's top Merlot producers — a single bottling that showcases what the region does best.
The Long Island Merlot Alliance (Merliance) is not a winery in the conventional sense — it's an annual cooperative bottling produced collaboratively by the region's best Merlot houses since 2005. Founding and rotating members have included Bedell, Lenz, Macari, Pellegrini, Raphael, Sherwood House, Shinn Estate, and Wölffer Estate. Each contributes barrels of their best Merlot lots, which are blended and bottled as a single Merliance cuvée under a shared label. It's a rare cooperative project in American wine and the clearest statement the region makes about its flagship grape; bottles are sold through member tasting rooms and at the annual release event.
Merliance Merlot
What the alliance is
The Long Island Merlot Alliance (LIMA) is a trade organization, not a winery with its own tasting room. It was formed to promote Merlot and Merlot-based blends as the North Fork's signature red and to fund shared research into improving the quality of the region's Merlot. Dan's Papers, "Martha Clara Joins Long Island Merlot Alliance"
Members and history
The alliance launched its Merliance Wine Trail in 2014 with seven founding participants: Sherwood House Vineyards, Clovis Point, T'Jara Vineyards, McCall Wines, Lieb Cellars, Raphael and Wölffer Estate Vineyard. Dan's Papers, "Long Island Merlot Alliance Announces the Merliance Wine Trail" Martha Clara Vineyards joined as the alliance's eighth member in January 2015. Dan's Papers, "Martha Clara Joins Long Island Merlot Alliance" Roman Roth, winemaker and partner at Wölffer Estate, served as the alliance's president during this period. Dan's Papers, "Long Island Merlot Alliance Announces the Merliance Wine Trail"
Merliance, the cooperative wine
The alliance funds its activities — including research and events — through sales of Merliance, a cooperative 100% Merlot blend combining wine from each member vineyard; it is described as the only cooperative wine made on Long Island. On the original Merliance Wine Trail, visitors collected a stamp at each of the seven member wineries and received a bottle of Merliance after completing the trail; outside that promotion, Merliance sold for $35 a bottle at the time. Dan's Papers, "Long Island Merlot Alliance Announces the Merliance Wine Trail"
Where to taste the wines
Because the alliance is not itself a tasting-room destination, its wines are found at member wineries' own tasting rooms rather than at a shared address. Several producers named as founding or early members — including Raphael and Wölffer Estate Vineyard — remain open, working North Fork and Hamptons wineries; visitors interested in Merliance or member Merlot bottlings should check directly with those individual tasting rooms for current availability, since membership and participation in the alliance have changed over time. No current, independently verifiable member roster or pricing for the alliance itself was found at the time of research, so no pricing block is included here.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
- What are Long Island Merlot Alliance's tasting room hours?
- Long Island Merlot Alliance's tasting room hours vary by season — typically Friday through Sunday during the off-season and daily in summer and harvest. Always check the winery's website before driving out, especially mid-week.
- Do I need a reservation to taste at Long Island Merlot Alliance?
- Reservations are strongly recommended at Long Island Merlot Alliance on weekends and during harvest season (September–November). Walk-ins are sometimes accepted on weekdays. Booking ahead also locks in your group size for seated tastings.
- Where is Long Island Merlot Alliance located?
- Long Island Merlot Alliance is in Long Island, NY, on the North Fork of Long Island. It's an easy stop on most North Fork or Hamptons wine-tasting day trips.
- What wines is Long Island Merlot Alliance known for?
- Long Island Merlot Alliance is known for merliance merlot. On the tasting menu, ask about their Merliance Merlot.
- When was Long Island Merlot Alliance founded?
- Long Island Merlot Alliance was founded in 2005, making it one of the more established producers on Long Island's North Fork.
- How do I get to Long Island Merlot Alliance from NYC?
- From Manhattan, Long Island Merlot Alliance is about a 2–2.5 hour drive via the LIE (I-495) to the North Fork. The LIRR reaches nearby Ronkonkoma and Greenport; from there you'll need a car, taxi, or a booked wine tour to reach the tasting room.
- What's the best time of year to visit Long Island Merlot Alliance?
- Late spring through fall is peak on the North Fork — May and June are quietest with the vines leafing out, July–August is busiest, and September–October harvest brings the best energy in the tasting room. Winter weekends are lower-key with shorter hours; always confirm before making the drive.