Howard G. Goldberg wrote in the June 11, 2006 New York Times, "Bruce and Christiane Schneider are selling their Roanoke Point Vineyard and popular Potato Barn label but will continue to make small quantities of cabernet franc and syrah wine under their Schneider Vineyards brand."
Accoding to Goldberg, "Mr. Schneider said last week that he intended to devote more time to his wine-marketing consulting practice at RF/Binder Partners in New York City, where he is involved with Wines of Germany and Wines of Chile, both clients."
"For 12 years, Christiane and I have worked other full-time jobs in addition to running Schneider Vineyards," he said. "Our daughter is now 4, and we want to have more free time for our family."
The sale of the Potato Barn label and the 21-acre vineyard property, at 2248 Roanoke Avenue in Riverhead, where 14.5 acres are planted to red grapes, is being handled by Brown Harris Stevens in Cutchogue. The total asking price is $1.8 million.
The site contains a potato barn, which could become a winery, as have other such barns. The vineyard can yield about 2,500 cases of wine, with 500 more possible from added plantings, Mr. Schneider said.
"Although several East End producers farm cabernet franc, a relative of cabernet sauvignon, the Schneiders have been perhaps the most conspicuous champions of the wine. They have maintained that it has a more promising future locally than merlot, the region's signature red," Goldberg continued.
Anyone want to front me a winery?