Jacqui Goodale at Terra Vite Enoteca. (Photo credit: Lee Meyer)
In 2021, owner Jacqui Goodale told Northforker that Terra Vite Winery and Vineyard (250 Manor Lane, Jamesport) is “Italy meets North Fork.” That’s certainly true of the Italian name, which means “earth” and “vine,” and the Italian influence is even more pronounced now with the opening of a retail store on the premises, the Enoteca.
The Enoteca was part of Goodale’s vision for Terra Vite from the beginning. The store sells bottles of wine, as well as fine Italian food, gifts and even clothing.
“We have all our wines here and I’ve started adding food components. We started with pasta packs, most of which are imported from Italy,” says Goodale. “Everything gets stuck at customs! But now we’re pretty well supplied.”
There are also ingredients for making charcuterie platters, including items found on the tasting room boards, such as taralli, a traditional Southern Italian crunchy snack that resembles a mini bread stick bent into a circle, and pistachio butter. Guests can also purchase “build your own sausage” packages or ask Goodale and the staff to help them build their own sausage.
Other products offered include fedora hats, candles, soaps, body oils and diffusers. The linen clothing is made by Beachwood Baby, which sources all materials from Italy.
“I wanted this to feel like a real Italian boutique,” says Goodale. “We wanted it to feel like a real ‘enoteca.’ In Italian, that means wine shop, but when you go in, you can always buy little knick-knacks.”
Goodale, who has visited Italy several times, did a lot of research to stock the enoteca. The soaps, for example, come from Positano, as do a selection of pretty soap dishes, which Goodale says are very popular with customers.
“People come in and say, ‘Oh my God, I’ve been to Positano or Ischia and I want to take this home with me!’ It’s so nice to hear.”
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And I don’t mean to be disparaging, but the jewelry is adorable—especially the pasta-themed necklaces from Delicacies Jewelry, a brand that donates a portion of the proceeds from each sale to food banks and homeless shelters.
“Her inspiration is that pasta and meals bring everyone together, and I love that,” says Goodale.
The Enoteca maintains Terra Vite’s rustic design and was designed by the folks at Lumber and Salt, who also designed the tasting room.
“They wanted it to be rustic but classy,” says Goodale. “They brought in mushroom wood, the (ceiling) lamps come from a monastery… there’s always a story behind everything!”
There is also a cabinet by Goodale’s father, the architect Carl Fusco, which he is delighted to exhibit at Terra Vite.
For Goodale, the Enoteca is a dream come true.
“It’s so much fun. I love it,” she says. “It adds another experience to the tasting room and brings everything full circle for everyone here. (Guests) come in with their glass of wine and make a purchase.”
The Enoteca is open when Terra Vite is open. Click here to learn more about the winery’s opening hours and offers.
