Del Vino Vineyard Stirs Controversy in Northport

A meeting at Huntington Town Hall on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. will discuss the new vineyard in Northport that will be built right next to an elementary school.

The public is invited to attend to learn about the project and to voice their opinions.

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The Del Vino Vineyard, which is set to be built at 21 Norwood Road, has already laid the groundwork to plant 6,000 grape vines this coming season and has plans to renovate the property’s old farmhouse and turn it into a wine tasting room.

While some residents feel that this vineyard would put Northport “on the map,” other residents strongly oppose the idea of alcohol being distributed and consumed so close to a school.

Del Vino Vineyard sits next door to Norwood Avenue Elementary School, located at 25 Norwood Road.

The new vineyard is owned by attorney Frederick Giachetti, who lives nearby in Northport. “My wife’s family in Italy are wine and silk manufacturers,” Giachetti told Patch. He looks to continue the family legacy with this vineyard/winery that will sit on 10 acres of Northport land.

Giachetti says the Del Vino Vineyard would be a “showpiece within the community” and would add to Northport’s character.

Some parents and residents are upset with the idea of a winery being located so close to a school. Hundreds of people have signed a petition citing that they do not want the vineyard to include the consumption and distribution of alcohol. Others are opposed to the potential effects this vineyard could have on the environment. Read the petition here.

One Norwood Elementary parent has many concerns regarding the vineyard:

• Traffic issues
• The fact that schools are a drug-free zones
• The possibility of “hundreds of people” coming to the community for the “sole purpose of consuming alcohol.”

“I’m not a lawyer, but building a winery next to an elementary school in a residential neighborhood doesn’t make sense,” Nicole Mulholland told Patch.

Many residents are against the vineyard’s “application that is seeking approval to become a commercial property,” Mulholland said.

She explained residents were first led to believe the location would be used to simply manufacture wine, but over time, the idea of a vineyard progressed into a place where people could drink and consume alcohol.

“Consuming alcohol next to a school has everyone up in arms,” Mulholland said.

Giachetti told Patch there have been ”misreported” comments that have many people against his business venture.

“The plan has always been that we were going to have the winery and vineyard,” he said.

Giachetti also dismissed the rumor of a catering hall at the vineyard.

Del Vino Vineyard has plans for 50-80 parking spaces and once the lot is filled up, all cars will be turned away, Giachetti said.

If the property was to hold an event in the future, it would require further discussion with Huntington’s planning board. Giachetti said these future events would be tented.

As long as the property is at least 200 feet from the school building, the Del Vino Vineyard is legally allowed to serve alcohol, according to the New York State Liquor Authority.

Giachetti also mentioned other Long Island establishments that serve alcohol close to schools:

• Huntington Crescent Club and Washington Avenue Primary School in Centerport
• Whisper Vineyards and Nesaquake Middle School in Saint James

Del Vino Vineyards also reportedly belongs to the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Sustainable Farming Program, which uses organic compounds. When spraying the grapevines, a special machine will be used to contain 99.9 percent of the overspray, said Giachetti, who described the program as “basically green.” He hopes this program will ease residents’ fears that the vineyard would negatively impact the environment.

The Northport School District also conducted their own study on the environmental and community effects the vineyard will have on the school and the findings will be presented at Wednesday’s meeting.

Residents have complained about the lack of transparency in this project and feel that it was pushed forward too quickly, but Giachetti says he has kept the Town involved in every stage of development.

Who do you agree with? Sound off below.