Episode 92 with Kip Bedell, Winemaker/Artist

In this episode, we sit down with winemaker and artist, Kip Bedell. Kip takes us back to his roots, sharing stories of his ancestry and growing up in West Hempstead, New York. From his time in college to being drafted into the Army in 1968. He recounts his time stationed at Fort Bragg as an accident investigator, his return to the family business in West Hempstead, and the decision to purchase land in Cutchogue in 1979. What began as a hobby making wine in his Garden City basement grew into something much larger, as Kip planted his first vines in Cutchogue and navigated the challenges of the emerging North Fork wine scene. By the mid-90s, Bedell Cellars earned the prestigious title of 'Merlot of the Year' from Wine Spectator magazine. Kip reflects on the evolution of the wine industry locally and the changes he’s witnessed in the North Fork region over the decades. After selling Bedell Cellars, Kip continued as the winemaker for 17 more years, but today, he’s returned to another passion—painting and drawing, a love he discovered in high school. Kip shares what he finds fulfilling about life on the North Fork today and his hopes for the future of this special place.