Bedell Wine Picked by American Airlines

Filed in archive Wine Awards on April 2, 2007

This isn't necessarily a wine award but it might as well be since it will bring a lot of attention to wine many people (including myself, shame on me) have never heard about. Bedell Cellars' Merlot was recently selected by American Airlines for inclusion on their first class and business class flights. This is a big deal for what seems like a fairly small winery.

From SKY-HIGH WINE FILM EXEC'S L.I. VINO WINS PLACE ON AA FLIGHTS:

Diane Tietelbaum, a former wine consultant for J.P. Morgan Private Banking and, since February, the person who chooses which wines will be among the 260,000 cases the airline serves each year, said American had originally considered Bedell for just flights out of and into New York - but was surprised at the quality.

"So we decided to serve it on all transcon flights," she said.

Having the wine served to the airlines' first- and business-class passengers will introduce the Bedell name to a wider assortment of movers and shakers and could get the Bedell brand into a wider selection of stores and restaurants.

An influential wine trade publication recently named Bedell one of the 10 hottest small brands in the country, the first time a Long Island wine was named on the list.

"It's a confirmation of what we have been doing," said Lynne, who bought his 30-acre piece of heaven in 2000 for $5 million. All together, Lynne owns three vineyards covering about 90 acres, stretching across Southold and Cutchogue villages. They produce about 10,000 cases a year.