WINE LIST

At The American Hotel, we take pride in offering our guests access to one of the most extensive wine cellars in the world. The Hotel is annually recognized by the Wine Spectator in receiving their highest award, the “Grand Award for One of the Greatest Wine lists in the World” — one of only 87 restaurants worldwide. The Hotel has been awarded this award for the past twenty years, since it´s inception in 1981. Only nine restaurants in New York State hold this prestigious award and the Hotel is the only one on the whole of Long Island. It takes extraordinary passion, dedication and financial commitment to build a wine list deserving of this award; in general, Grand Award-winning restaurants offer upwards of 1,000 selections, backed by cellars holding 10,000 bottles or more. They must also pass an on-site inspection by one of the editors of Wine Spectator.

Wine is one of owner Ted Conklin’s true passions and the wine cellar is an evolving selection of the world’s wine gems collected since 1972 with dedication and focus. In 2001 the wine list grew to a staggering 85 pages with approximately 1700 selections and 30 000 bottles in the cellar.

Our philosophy is to seek out the finest wines from the world’s top producers that are natural, without excessive handling or manipulation and are expressive of their “terroir.” Value is the primary concern to us, which is not solely a function of price but of delivering its flavor per dollar. An expensive wine should be worth its price tag.

We strive to present our guests with the best wines available from all price ranges. Our wine list includes many, many bottles priced at or below $35 together with the world´s best and rarest wines. The wine list rests on three legs: classic French, emerging American and eclectic Italian. It´s a star-studded, dynamic and high-priced list for a restaurant that shares the same dynamics.

Wine begins in the earth and ends at the table. When that table is in a restaurant, the combination of a pleasing ambience, great food and top-notch service can help bring out the best in the bottle.

WINE LIST CONTENTS

France:

Alsace:

The gorgeous Rieslings, Gewurztraminers, Tokay Pinot Gris and Muscats of this picturesque region are plentiful with Trimbach, Zind-Humbrecht, Josmeyer and Weinbach being the best represented producers.

Bordeaux:

On our wine list you will find vertical selections of the five Bordeaux First Growths, Second-, Third-, Fourth and Fifth growths and many selections from the Graves, Pomerol and St. Emilion. There are seventeen vintages of Chateau Petrus. Other smaller regions of Bordeaux are also well represented. Our cellar is also stocked with a superb selection of the top white wines from Bordeaux, many with vertical selections. See Dessert wines for Sauternes.

Burgundy:

The Burgundy section is world-class with all the best white and Red Burgundy producers from the various appellations represented. The Hotel has one of the best collections of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti imaginable.

Champagne:

The Hotel´s wine list has a great selection of Champagnes from the bigger as well as the smaller Champagne houses. Bollinger, Krug, Louis Roederer, Moet & Chandon, Perrier-Jouet and Veuve Cliquot are only some of the better known houses stocked in our cellar.

Loire:

The great whites of the Loire can be found in our selection of Pouilly-Fumes, Sancerres and Savennieres.

Rhone:

All the appellations of the Northern and Southern Rhone are represented –  Chateauneuf du Pape, Cornas, Cote-Rotie, Gigondas, Cotes-du-Rhone, Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, St. Joseph and Vacqueyras. A good selection of Rhone whites are also available for the connoisseur.

Other French regions and appelations: Bandol, Cahors, Corbieres, Languedoc, Madiran, Minervois and Roussillon are all well represented.

Austria:

In 1999 the great achievements of the Austrian wine industry over the past decade were celebrated by adding to the wine list a comprehensive selection of the best white and red wines Austria has to offer from her most talented wine producers. The 1997, 1998 and 1999 vintages were all very good and the wines are pungent but elegant, crisp and balanced. Be sure to try a bottle of Austrian wine – great food wines.

Germany:

The Hotel is proud to offer its valued guests one of the most comprehensive selections of German wines this side of the Atlantic, most from the great 1996 and 1997 vintages. Some selections go back to 1976. Wonderful fruit driven, crisp and complex wines — a great compliment to any meal.

Italy:

Italy is one of the pillars the wine list is built on and shows incredible depth and variety with the best producers from all the respected regions represented. Gaja Barbaresco 1997 and Paolo Scavino Barolo´s are a few of the gems for the cherry pickers.

United States:

California, Washington, Oregon, Long Island, Virginia

The Hotel is recognized by wine critics as having one of the finest collections of California Cabernet sauvignon and Chardonnay in the US, together with great Pinot noirs, Merlots, Meritages and other popular varietals. There are verticals of Bryant Family

Vineyards, Dalla Valle, Dominus, Dunn, Stag´s Leap and many other top producers.

Washington and Oregon are well represented.

We support and acknowledge the growing Long Island wine industry and believe that the region has huge potential in producing some of the world´s finest Merlots and Chardonnays. Vertical selections of various top wines from the top producers can be found.

We believe that Lenz Winery, Bedell Vineyards, Paumanok Vineyards, Pellegrini and Wolffer Estate are top-tier wineries. Try a bottle of one of these producers today.

New World – South Africa, Australia, New Zealand

South African

The American Hotel´s dedication to honoring world wine dynamics is reflected in the collection of New World wines in our cellar. We have one of the best selections of South African wines in the United States.

Australian:

The booming Australian wine industry is very well represented with a great vertical selection of Grange Hermitage and many others. A beautiful gem from South Australia is a 1895 Seppelt “Para” 100 year Old Tawny Port.

New Zealand:

New Zealand is hot, figuratively speaking, and our collection of New Zealand wines is growing rapidly. Some of the world´s best Sauvignon blancs can be found on our list together with very fine new world Pinot noirs, Chardonnays and Cabernets.

Portugal:

The best wines from the most respected producers in the various regions are stocked. Look for your favorite Duoro, Dao, Bairrada or Azeitao together with many wines from other well-known regions.

Spain:

The cellar is stocked with an incredible selection of the best and rarest Spanish Reds and Whites available. A vertical selection of Castello Ygay Reserva Especials that go back to 1959, together with other Riojas and a superb vertical selection of Vega

Sicilias are some of the gems to be found in this section. Spanish reds offer great value for money and are delightful food wines.

Dessert wines:

As a finale to a delicious meal, try one of the many superb dessert wines from Sauternes, the Loire, Barsac, Banyuls, Hungary, Italy, America, Long Island or Australia. Some of the gems include a Chateau Latour Blanche 1908, a Moulin Touchais

Anjou 1928, a Tokaji Essencia Oremus 1975 and a vertical selection of Chateau D´Yquem dating back to 1971.

Vintage Ports:

We have a truly incredible collection of Vintage Ports with Dow, Fonseca, Ferreira, Graham, Quinta do Noval and Cockburn the best represented port houses.

Spirits:

The 6 page spirits list includes the most complex Calvados, Eaux-de-Vies, Grappas, Single malt Scotch whiskies, Sherries and Armagnacs covering the past 100 years.

 

We look forward to seeing you soon.
Cheers! Saluté! Prost!

RESTAURANT HOURS

Breakfast Available Saturday and Sunday only 8am-10:45am

Lunch Daily 11:30am-4pm

Happy Hour Daily 4pm-6pm
Light Menu between Lunch and Dinner

Dinner Daily 4pm-9pm

With Reservation
Walk-ins Welcome by Availability

DINING RESERVATIONS

CONTACT

(631)725-3535
OR
(631)725-3555

LOCATION

The American Hotel

P. O. Box 1349
49 Main Street
Sag Harbor, NY 11963