Opinion

Bishop responds to L.I. wine criticism on ‘House of Cards’

Kevin Spacey stars in ‘House of Cards’ (Netflix promotional photo).
Kevin Spacey stars in ‘House of Cards’ (Netflix promotional photo).

Even if his counterpart on the popular Netflix series “House of Cards” didn’t have much to say in defense of a swipe taken at Long Island wines in a recent episode, Congressman Tim Bishop says he takes exception to the line. 

Asked for his thoughts on the comment made in the fourth episode of the second season of the series, which featured a congresswoman from California telling a Long Island congressman that L.I. wine “tastes like piss,” the real-life Congressman offered a challenge for the creators of the political thriller.

“On behalf of East End vitners, growers, their employees and customers, I take exception to anyone criticizing Long Island wines,” Mr. Bishop wrote. “We have exceptional wines produced by skilled, dedicated and hard-working owners and their employees of vineyards on both forks of our East End, which is why wine production is one of the fastest growing industries on Long Island. I invite the individuals involved in the show to visit New York’s First Congressional district to join me at some of our vineyards.”

The New York City playwright who wrote the episode did not respond to a request for comment.

The series was first-district heavy this season with a major plot point also involving legislation to build a bridge from Port Jefferson to Connecticut.

But it was the Wine Country-specific dialogue that really caught our attention at the 27-minute mark of the fourth episode, which began streaming Friday.

The new House Whip is attempting to secure votes from a pair of holdout Democrats on a bill to raise the age of entitlement in the scene. A lobbyist suggests she attempt to secure their votes by offering to deliver approval of measures in their home districts.

She begins by bringing up the one Congressman’s desire to see a wastewater treatment plant constructed in his district.

She then suggests to the other Congressman, who is from Long Island, that she can help bring a winery museum to his district.

“We are making great wines on Long Island these days,” the Congressman says.

“That’s awesome,” says the Whip, who is from California. “It tastes like piss compared to what we have in Napa. The sort of piss that belongs in Paul’s wastewater plant.”

See the brief scene for yourself  below: