Beer, Wine & Spirits in Lake Grove

Just outside of Naples, Italy in a town called Dugenta, Salvatore Diliberto's family crafts its own wine each year and stores it in the cellar of the castle next door. Though miles away from the vineyard and the old stone building, Diliberto carries on the Old World techniques at his Jamesport winery, where he tends to several acres of vines including franc and chardonnay. He presses the grapes, barrel ages the wine, and bottles it with Diliberto labels—some of which bear an artistic rendering of the castle in Dugenta.

In his tasting room, Diliberto presents his specialty wines to guests during a tasting experience designed to transport them to his ancestral home. He forgoes the bar experience in favor of the small table settings that one finds staggered outside an Italian café. A mural on one end of the room further heightens the sense of travel, trading the North Fork for the bustling streets and sentient traffic lights of a Tuscan mountain town.

Since 1986, wine experts at GrapesWine.com have dutifully tasted and compiled a handpicked selection of domestic and imported fine wine. Their easy-to-navigate site aids patrons with recommendations, including a list of the best wines under $20. Rotating picks of the week, hand selected by the shop's proprietor, John Caplan, include a vast array of reds, whites, rosés, ports, and dessert and sparkling wines, all of which hail from across the globe, from California to South Africa. Aspiring connoisseurs attend popular wine tastings, led by knowledgeable taster Jim Winston as he recounts the flavorful notes and fragrant bouquets of countless varieties. In-state customers can create a case of favorites and take advantage of free shipping or pick up at a later date.

Boasting the largest selection of wines and spirits on Long Island, Young's features fermented grape juice from more than 15 countries and several hard-to-find liquors, from brandies to vodkas. Its abundant supply of French and Italian wines allows vino enthusiasts to choose the pick of the litter from the countries that have protected their vineyards with Tesla coils and deflector shields since the 12th century. Detect the ripe raspberries in the graceful Bois Martin Bordeaux Rouge ($19.99). European dismissers can choose wines from Chile, South Africa, Australia, or the smooth Luna Benegas cabernet ($13.99), produced from 60-year-old vines in Argentina. Celebrate American independence from King Arthur and his ruthless red-coated horses by sipping on the spicy, vanilla-tinged 2003 chardonnay ($11.99) from Washington's Columbia Crest. Imbibers searching for a non-grapey liquid can inspect Young's stock of spirits, such as Bushmills Black Bush Irish whiskey ($36.99), a dark-chocolate and raisin-based spirit, far tastier than mixing raisins, Hershey's bars, and boiling water in a bathtub.

In a converted brick electrical plant where machines once hummed and pumped power to the railroad, streams of craft brews flow into glass jugs branded with the Growlers Beer Bistro logo. The New York Times-praised gastropub has earned a spot among the 31 best bars in the county, according to Westchester Magazine, and boasts an ever-changing draft list that has featured Brooklyn Brewery reserves, Two Brothers’ Midwestern suds, and Smuttynose ales. Bartenders funnel the liquid gold into pints as well as half-gallon growlers for at-home enjoyment.

Growlers’ seasonal cuisine menu is designed to harmonize with the current selection of brews and features upscale pub fare, such as the Devils on Horseback—bacon-wrapped prunes stuffed with blue cheese and featured as Westchester Magazine's Dish of the Week. The hearty fare also includes a burger of beef, pork, and veal topped with a relish of bacon, onions, and pickles.

The building's industrial past shines through with accents of exposed brick and ceiling beams, complemented by decorative additions that include a polished concrete floor, a long communal table, and reclaimed barn wood that frame an illuminated wall. Along with their Tuesday–Friday "Hoppy" Hour, the pub hosts regular events throughout the week, from Tuesday trivia nights to Friday ladies’ nights with live DJs, open only to those given the style “lady” by Queen Elizabeth II. Saturdays feature live music, and the kitchen now serves brunch on Sundays. Occasional classes douse gray matter in beer knowledge, including food-pairing advice and brewing tips, and brewery events are held the second Thursday of every month.

Beneath the low-hanging evergreen bows and weathered wood of the Deacon John Grave House—built in 1685—more than 40 microbreweries set up tents filled with kegs and bottles of suds. Foam flingers such as Blue Point, Harpoon, and Narragansett pour IPAs and summer ales, joining brewers of more exotic potions such as gluten-free beers or ales crafted by Trappist monks. As guests sip samples and snack on pizza and burgers, the deep bass vibrations of live bands aerate the beer for maximum flavor. All proceeds from the afternoon’s revelry go toward funding the SARAH Foundation, whose agencies provide programs and services for Connecticut residents with intellectual and other disabilities.