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Business & Tech

Wineries See Mixed Results on Black Friday

With many people out and about on Black Friday, North Fork wineries were hoping to fill up their tasting rooms — and Martha Clara did just that, offering Black Friday discounts.

in Riverhead was one of the few wineries on the North Fork to advertise a special Black Friday sale during the first of many holiday shopping days until Christmas.

And the results were spectacular, said tasting room manager Lori Riley.

"We've been open since 9 a.m. and we've had people in here buying merchandise since then," she said Friday afternoon.

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The active vineyard advertised early bird specials starting at 9 a.m. until closing at 6 p.m. All day, the winery offered 25 percent off all wine and merchandise purchases and 30 percent off any case. And when the tasting room opened for business at 11 a.m., Martha Clara offered a free flight tasting and 20 percent off merchandise and wine, and continued offering cases at 30 percent off.

"It was absolutely packed in here earlier," Riley said as more shoppers filed into the tasting room — already decorated with a Christmas tree and lights — for an afternoon glass of wine around 4 p.m. "We had eight tables in the pavilion for lunch. Sales were about 50 percent better than last year because of the specials. And I think the decor helps."

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On weekends, Martha Clara often has music and other events to bring in the customers. Riley credits Black Friday with bringing more people to the tasting room than on a typical Friday even without live music or other entertainment.

"Our tasting room was full all day, and people keep coming in," she said.

Even without advertised Black Friday sales, in Peconic was also busy.  

"The tasting room is extremely busy today," said Jenna Fabian, tasting room employee.

Further east, in Peconic was not seeing a great uptick in business early in the day. Tasting room employee Shannon Carrig said that there were quite a few people in the bar, but she did not feel the vineyard was busier than a typical Friday afternoon.

Samantha Markel echoed Carrig's sentiments.

"We've had some people come in and out since the morning," she said. "We did not expect to be super swamped today, and we did not put any additional staff on."

With Raphael's Southold location, Markel said she expected business to pick up later in the day as tasting customers head further east.

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