Christopher Tracy may have started out life on the West Coast, but the Channing Daughters winemaker is as much a part of the terroir here as the vines from which he crafts his vibrant vino in Bridgehampton.
Innovative and forward-thinking, Tracy was the first to create orange wines and pétillant naturel-style sparkling wines here, and certainly one of the earlier adapters in the entire country. And while his wines are delicious to sip on their own, they also make you dream of food to accompany them. That’s no accident: Cooking was Tracy’s first love, and he left a thriving career as a chef to foot-stomp into the winemaking at Channing, crafting his first vintages of Vino Bianco and L’Enfant Sauvage in 2001.
“Winemaking is to me about problem-solving and storytelling,” he says, “and my goal is deliciousness and reflection of our place.”
Today, the winery founded by Walter Channing in 1998 is fueled by Tracy’s excitement and ability to embrace what’s around him.
“I think the East End of Long Island is just one of the most magical places on Earth — the beauty is as dramatic as California but it’s more about light than geography,” he says. “Water is something I absolutely adore and it defines our existence out here.”
Here are a few of Christopher Tracy’s favorite things:
Favorite farmstand
I have seven favorite regulars— one for every day of the week.
1. Marilee’s Farmstand (698 Sagg Main St., Sagaponack, 631-537-0070). She feeds our family.
2. Amber Waves (367 Main St., Amagansett, 631-267-5664). They feed our family, too.
3. The Milk Pail (1346 Montauk Highway, Water Mill, 631-537-2565). For apples, peaches, pears and apple cider donuts.
4. Balsam Farms (293 Town Lane, Amagansett, 631-267-5635). For corn, melons, veg.
5. North Sea Farms (1060 Noyac Road, Southampton, 631-283-0735). For eggs, chickens, and Tate’s stuff.
6. Quail Hill Farm (660 Old Stone Highway, Amagansett, 631-267-8492). The OG.
7. Mecox Bay Dairy (855 Mecox Road, Bridgehampton, 631-537-0335). For cheeses, pork and beef.
Favorite place for a casual bite
Estia’s Little Kitchen (1615 Sag Harbor Turnpike, Sag Harbor, 631-725-1045). Colin [Ambrose] and crew are amazing and everything is tasty and fresh.
Favorite place to buy cooking gear
Bar Boy Products East (218 Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays, 631-728-7100). It’s a commercial kitchen supply store and has the best stuff and the best prices. Plus you can shop as a business or a consumer—you can walk in the door and buy pots, pans, knives, glasses,
fryers, whatever you need.
Favorite market
Peter and Melissa at Haskell’s Seafood Market (4603 Middle Country Road, Calverton, 1-855-427-5355). If we didn’t catch it ourselves, Haskell’s is the best. They deliver and they only work
with local fish. They’ve even pioneered new species and were instrumental in the red shrimp coming out of Montauk. For meat, there’s Ray [Samot] at Cromer’s (3500 Noyack Road, Sag Harbor, 631-725-9004). Their meat department is awesome. And Steve [Colabella] at Peconic Prime Meats (235 North Sea Road, Southampton, 631-488-4687) — he’s great!
Favorite place to see a performance
Bay Street Theater (1 Long Wharf, Sag Harbor, 631-725-9500). Go see Nancy Atlas in the winter at The Fireside Sessions—awesome!
Favorite place to grab a drink
Sagaponack Farm Distillery (369 Sagg Road, Sagaponack, 631-537-7300). Marilee and Dean Foster and distiller Matt Beamer knock it out of the park. Killer cocktails and great vibes.
Favorite beach
Sagg Main (1200 Sagg Main St., Sagaponack, 631-728-8585) or Mecox Beach (535 Jobs Lane, Bridgehampton) or Flying Point (1055 Flying Point Road, Southampton, 631-728-8585). And I’ve gotta give props to our amazing lifeguards!
Favorite place to bring your kids
Out on a boat tubing! Or Grindstone Donuts in Sag Harbor (7A Main St., Sag Harbor, 631-808-3370), kids of every age love both those things.
Favorite back road
Get off Montauk Highway; take Scuttlehole Road and stop at the winery!
