Even though NYC is my mother (she raised me wild and chic), and the Hudson Valley is undeniably my father (strong, grounded, and just a little rugged), the Hamptons? Oh honey, the Hamptons is pure me. Think: barefoot luxury, sandy thighs, sun-kissed rosé, and a breezy confidence that only summer on Long Island can deliver. So naturally, I set off on a little gay vineyard pilgrimage to the North Fork—because if you haven’t sipped a Weekend Rosé under the Hamptons sun while nibbling brie like it’s a love affair, are you even living?
Long Island Rosé, Hudson Valley Cheese & That Gay Summer Glow: My Afternoon at Palmer Vineyards – Luxury Travel with Maxwell Alexander – Luxury Travel – Wellness Travel – Presented by Alluvion Vacations
Welcome to Palmer Vineyards: A Queer Love Letter to Long Island Wine Culture
Tucked between rows of sun-drenched vines and blue sky so crisp it felt like Photoshop IRL, Palmer Vineyards is a dreamscape of rustic elegance. The moment I stepped onto the patio, the air changed—notes of ripe grapes, sea breeze, and something softer, like freedom, or maybe just the quiet hum of “you made it.”
My camera was working overtime—the vineyards flirted with the light, each glass of wine caught the sun like it was auditioning for a perfume ad, and the cheese? Darling, the cheese deserves its own OnlyFans.
Tasting Notes & Gay Fantasies
Palmer’s tasting flight was a tight, curated chorus of summer’s best songs—starting with the 2023 Dry Rosé, which kissed the tongue with the kind of elegance you only find at 3 p.m. on a Tuesday when the rest of the world is stuck in traffic. Then came the Weekend Rosé, a juicier number with strawberry undertones and pure Sunday brunch energy. Both wines wore their blush like a well-moisturized muscle guy at the beach: soft, sexy, and ready for attention.
To complement the vibe (and my borderline hedonistic lifestyle), Palmer served a wheel of Hudson Valley’s own triple cream brie and paired it with a Dalmatia fig spread and crunchy little golden toasts. Imagine this: a bite of creamy, salty brie, hit with that jammy fig tang, a sip of chilled rosé—and the sound of bees buzzing somewhere in the vineyard behind you. This wasn’t a snack. This was a moment. This was gay luxury.
Bringing the Hamptons to the Catskills (Because Why Not Both?)
As someone who believes in regional polyamory when it comes to New York’s treasures, I’m not about choosing between the Hudson Valley and the Hamptons. I take the Long Island rosé with me to the Catskills, along with that same fig spread and maybe a few daisies picked along the way. The full story of that Catskills escapade is here: Master the Art of Rustic Charcuterie for Your Cozy Catskills Cabin Getaway, and yes, the brie made an encore appearance.
The Verdict? Palmer Vineyards Is One of the Best Wineries in the Hamptons
If you’re searching Google for the best wineries in the Hamptons or Long Island vineyards with rosé, stop right here. Palmer Vineyards is where flavor meets fantasy. It’s a place where my fellow wine-loving gays, cheese lovers, and wine snobs alike can bask in the glow of a late summer sun with a glass of pink magic in hand.
And as the afternoon light danced across my camera lens, capturing the curves of wine glasses, the glisten of fig jam, and the flirtation of vineyard shadows, I realized—this isn’t just a winery. It’s a love story.
One glass, one bite, one glorious, sun-soaked frame at a time.
