I often refer to Louisa Thomas Hargrave as the "founding mother" of Long Island wine. She was the co-founder of Long Island's first vineyard, Hargrave Vineyards, and planted the first wine grapes on the North Fork in 1973. She is also a founder and a member emeritus of the Long Island Wine Council and is one of the most respected and influential people in the Long Island wine region.

After 26 years running Hargrave Vineyard, she sold her winery in 1999 (now known as Castello di Borghese Vineyard and Winery) and became a writer, columnist, wine judge and consultant. Currently, she is the wine writer for the Suffolk Times and The News Review, and a columnist for the Wine Press. In 1986, she authored “The History of Wine Grapes on Long Island” for the Long Island Historical Journal. Her memoir, The Vineyard, was published by Viking Penguin in May, 2003.

In October, 2004, Louisa was also named Interim Director of the Stony Brook University Center for Wine, Food and Culture, which is how our paths crossed. I was invited to attend one of the many lectures the center holds and we met there. She is an extremely warm, knowledgeable woman with an intense drive and passion for wine.