Episode 211 with Peter & Deborah Carroll, Owners of Lenz Winery

Today I’m joined by Peter and Deborah Carroll, the longtime owners of Lenz Winery in Peconic. Their story on the North Fork begins in the late 1980s, when the region’s wine industry was still young and full of possibility. In 1988 they purchased Lenz, taking a leap of faith at a time when only a handful of vineyards existed.

Over the years, they built a team rooted in consistency and craft, from the arrival of winemaker Eric Fry in 1989 to the decades-long dedication of vineyard manager Sam McCullough. That continuity, along with a shared philosophy of low-intervention winemaking and patience in the cellar, helped shape Lenz into one of the region’s most enduring and quietly influential wineries.

In our conversation, we talk about the early days, the breakthroughs that defined their approach, and the deep archive of wines they’ve curated over nearly four decades. We also discuss the next generation, with winemaker Thomas Spotteck carrying the torch, and reflect on how the North Fork’s wine community has evolved from a pioneering experiment to a vibrant, interconnected landscape.

And of course, we explore what Peter and Deborah hope for the future, for Lenz, for the region, and for the place they’ve called home for so many years.