Can anyone
truthfully say they did not have wild dreams when they were young
of what they would be when they grew up? Jim Waters almost achieved
one of young Americans' favorite dreams when, after college, he
tried out for the NY Jets as a punter and even appeared in two
pre-season games but like many hopeful aspirants he was cut at
the final stage and that dream had to be put behind him and he
went into the more mundane world of hotel management. Business
life continued with a number of companies and between work and
raising a young family, over the years Jim continued making wine
at home, a hobby he dates back to the time he spent as a youngster
in Europe where he first came under the spell of the "wine bug".
Home wine making went from 5 gallons to 10 then a garage building
was converted. Because he got a lot of compliments about his wine,
even though still just an amateur, he entered competitions and
did well.
Now when
9/11 struck, Jim, as well as being a guy with a regular business
career was also a volunteer fireman with the Manorville, Long
Island Company and the day after the terrorist attack, Jim found
himself down at Ground Zero. He confided that this experience
changed his outlook on life as it did for so many. He and his
wife, Linda discussed their future and Jim felt very strongly
that he wanted a career where he could create something tangible
and even make a legacy for their two daughters. ŒOut of terrible
things, good things do happen' he told me.
Now virtually
all the people starting out in the wine business on Long Island
have dome it by first buying or leasing land and growing grapes
that, after harvesting, many take to other wineries or specialist
crush houses for the actual wine making, again with most opting
for a local experienced wine maker to perform the magical transformation
process. Not so Jim. He decided that his forte is to make wine
so he rented a store in Cutchogue on Sound Avenue installed all
of the equipment from crusher to fermentation tanks to the best
new French oak barrels and in 2001 he proudly presented his first
vintage.
Last year
Linda had the idea to turn the storefront into a picturesque bijou
tasting room where visitors are able to taste and buy Waters Crest
wines. Then this year, in partnership with Ray Blum they took
their wares to the South Fork when they opened the Hampton Wine
Boutique on Main Street in Westhampton Beach. Jim told with relish
of customers who walk in and in apparent disdain exclaim, "Oh
you only stock Long Island wines!", taste them and end up walking
out with several bottles or a case! Here they stock not only wines
from Waters Crest and from Ray Blum' Ackerly Pond but also wines
from Castello di Borghese, Cutchogue Cellars and Wolffer and Red
Fern, a Kosher wine made in Connecticut from Long Island grapes
This year
Jim expects to bottle just under 200 cases of his Meritage, Merlot
and Cabernet Franc reds and Chardonnay, Riesling and Gewürztraminer
whites. The future almost certainly will bring further expansion
and almost certainly relocation as he runs out of room.
Jim Waters'
enthusiasm for Long Island wines is infective, he loves to spend
time with customers and he is a great advocate for the Long Island
industry. He also is a prime example of someone who has come into
this very difficult profession not as a hobby but determined to
make it his living. His motto is to spend wisely but only to buy
the best. Apart from sales though the Tasting Rooms his sales
are primarily focused on ŒZagat type' restaurants and select wine
stores. His wines continue to receive favorable reviews and have
been put on the wine lists at notable restaurants such as Piccolo
and Indigo in Huntington, La Plage in Wading River, The Chequit
Inn on Shelter Island, the Jamesport Country Kitchen and the Sea
Food Barge in Southold.
Waters Crest
Winery
22355 Rte. 48, Unit 6
Cutchogue, NY 11935
Tel. 631-734-5065
Fax. 631-878-7222
www.waterscrestwinery.com
RB
