Kareem Massoud

Kareem Massoud was born in Bahrain in 1972. By the late 1970s his parents, Charles and Ursula Massoud, had moved to Connecticut where they began a search for a site to plant a vineyard. In 1983 they founded Paumanok Vineyards in Aquebogue, NY, on the North Fork of Long Island.

After earning a BS in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1996, Kareem had a brief career in New York as a private equity analyst at a private investment firm. He decided to move on and ended up back at his family's estate winery.

Although he has been working full time at Paumanok for the last 28 years, Kareem Massoud has been actively involved in the family business since its inception. Kareem is a second-generation winemaker, having learned the trade under his father's tutelage. His international travels to South Africa, Germany, France, New Zealand and Chile have given him a wide range of experience in the art of winemaking. Kareem has a Diploma in Wines and Spirits from WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust).

Kareem is the winemaker at both Paumanok Vineyards and Palmer Vineyards. Kareem is a past President of Long Island Wine Country. He currently serves on the Community Advisory Board of Peconic Bay Medical Center, a Northwell Health hospital. Kareem has previously served on the Board of Long Island Farm Bureau, on the Town of Riverhead Farmland Preservation Committee and as Chairman of the New York State Wine Grape Task Force.

About Paumanok & Palmer Vineyards
Established in 1983, Paumanok is an estate winery located on the North Fork of Long Island owned and operated by the Massoud Family. Paumanok's focus has been to grow the highest quality wines. Paumanok's guiding philosophy is that only the healthiest, ripest grapes will produce great wine - there is no substitute. Paumanok produces several varietal and blended wines with fruit originating from its 80 acres of vineyards. Paumanok produces Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlo, and Petit Verdot. Paumanok is Certified Sustainable by Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing. Paumanok is 100% solar-powered since 2017. Paumanok was also the first on Long Island to use screw caps starting with the 2007 vintage and Paumanok was the first farm on Long Island to deploy electric tractors in 2024.

Paumanok has been recognized with numerous accolades over the years including wine service at The White House, NY Wine Classic's "Governor's Cup" and "Winery of the Year" awards, "outstanding" reviews by major wine critics such as Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and James Suckling, and a nomination for Wine Enthusiast's "American Winery of the Year".