‘Wine U Design’ Getting Better With Age

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‘Wine U Design’ Getting Better With Age

Written by Cory Twibell Friday, 21 September 2012 15:31

From crushing grapes to bottling, patrons are promised the best in ‘fermentertainment’

Normally, Long Islanders pack up their cars and head eastbound on the LIE for a winemaking or tasting experience, but Wine U Design gives aspiring local sommeliers the freedom to create and bottle personalized wines right here in Hicksville.

The winery opened its doors at 156 Engineers Drive three years ago when co-owners Vincenzo Saulle and Gianni Fabrizi envisioned bringing several generations worth of family tradition to the contemporary corporate world.

Wine U Design co-owner Gianni Fabrizi (far right) instructs local winemakers on Sept. 13. “Gianni and I, this is the kind of thing that we would do as kids. Our fathers and grandfathers got us involved in the winemaking process. As the world is getting busier, especially in these parts, these traditions are dying out. We find a lot of people are doing home winemaking kits and the quality is poor, so we kind of wanted to bring this tradition back to the market place,” said Saulle.

The building’s industrial façade is far removed from the vast green acreage of Suffolk County’s renowned vineyards, but once inside, the sounds of jazz and aroma of uncorked spirits dismiss any notion that good wine can’t be made – and enjoyed – close to home.

In the early evening hours on Sept. 13, patrons poured in to the Wine U Design winery to complete the final phase (bottling) of the personalized winemaking process, one that began nearly one year ago with the grape selection and a hands-on crash course in crushing.

“They come into our place, ask us about different varietals and what we think might work for them or their group and we order them grapes based on what their taste profile is. Then they come in and it’s time to get dirty,” Saulle explained.

One week after crushing, winemakers came back to press the “must” (the grapes’ new state following crushing and fermenting) in order to squeeze and funnel the liquid into barrels, where the aging process begins. Throughout the next several months, the wine matures and stabilizes during the “rack” phase, during which the barrels are eventually emptied, cleaned and then refilled.

“There is nobody else doing it on Long Island. What we provide is a place where state of the art equipment and the best grapes we can get our hands on are waiting for the customer that wants to make high quality wine,” said Saulle.

The wine is also tested throughout the phases – and before the final phase, where bottles are filled, corked and sealed, winemakers are provided the materials to design their labels.

Patrons can take home to up 240 bottles of their own vintage or as little as one case. Specialty barrels are also available, as is the Wine U Design venue for everything from birthday to engagement parties.

“They learn about what they’re doing; they learn about fermentation and they learn about the process. At the end, it’s a yearlong term after aging and all that. When they do give that bottle to somebody, there’s a sense of pride and a smile on their face because they can actually say, ‘I made this,’” Saulle said.

For more information, call (516) 939-9463, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or find Wine U Design on Facebook.

News

Hicksville Native Wins FIT Award

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Hicksville native Jae Lee recently rose to the top of his senior class at New York Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), winning the Critic Award for sportswear. But fashion wasn’t the path that Lee originally chose.

In high school, Lee excelled in art classes and thought that he wanted to go to college and major in fine arts. However, he said, it was while watching an episode of “Project Runway” that he had a revelation. “All of a sudden I was thinking that it was something I could/should do and that’s what kind of led to it,” he said. He made up his mind that he was going to apply to fashion school and enlisted the help of one of his art teachers in school to help him. “We really scrambled and put together this presentation in about two weeks, where other people, I’m sure, worked on theirs for months,” he said. Lee said that when he went to present his portfolio, he didn’t think the meeting went well at all. “Everyone was really well prepared,” he said. But, he admitted, it must have gone better than he thought, because he was accepted to FIT.

WWII Armor Museum Opens

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

In the face of cancelled air shows and the downgrading of NYC’s Fleet Week, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano announced on May 9, that American soldiers will be forever honored on Long Island through the creation of the Museum of American Armor to be built at Old Bethpage Village Restoration thanks, in part, to a million dollar gift from Lawrence Kadish.

“We are watching powerful tributes to our American military reduced or eliminated across the nation and its just plain wrong,” stated County Executive Mangano. “Fortunately, the Memorial Day weekend air show at Jones Beach will be held regardless of the loss of the Thunderbirds, but Fleet Week in New York City will be greatly diminished and across the country air shows are being cancelled weekly. Nassau County is moving in another direction. An armor museum that honors every American soldier will be created on county property this year which will not only pay tribute to those who have defended our nation but will also strengthen the county’s tourism and destination industry and provide a new source of revenue.”

Sports

For The Love Of Tennis

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Hicksville residents honored by tennis association

The U.S. Tennis Association Long Island Region has recognized several Hicksville residents for their tennis playing or volunteering achievements. The group was honored at the USTA Long Island Region’s 23rd Annual Awards Dinner, which recognizes superior efforts both on and off the tennis court.

Terry Fontana received the Vitas Gerulaitis for the Love of Tennis award. She has been a longtime fixture in the Hicksville tennis community and is the driving force behind the Hicksville Community Tennis Association (CTA), which, since 1995, has been promoting the development of tennis as a means of healthy recreation and physical fitness and to create a community resource for physical activity throughout the area.

Lady Comets Honor Departing Seniors

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

It was a cold season for softball this year, colder than usual. Anyone who knows the sport recognizes that the weather can be changeable, but this softball season was fraught with snow, pouring rain, cancelled games, frigid temperatures, and blowing winds that would cause any team to crave the warmth of indoors.

That wasn’t the case with the Hicksville High School Lady Comets Varsity Softball team. They played through it all like champions, and endured the rough weather like superstars.