Winemaker Notes
For over 30 years, Wölffer Estate Vineyard has been known as one of the finest producers on the East Coast and a center for innovation and hospitality. They are committed to producing premium, distinctive wines, ciders and spirits through a dedication to quality, penchant for style and celebration of place.
Wölffer Estate was founded in 1988 by Christian Wölffer, a man with great creative vision and a huge passion for life. The estate today is owned and operated by his children, Marc and Joey Wölffer and Winemaker/Partner Roman Roth. The estate spans approximately 170 acres including the acclaimed 55 acre sustainably farmed vineyard located in Sagaponack, NY. They also own 28 acres on the North Fork of Long Island, 200 acres in Mendoza, Argentina and 2.5 acres in Mallorca, Spain. Finally, they partner with carefully selected growers on 338 acres on the North Fork of Long Island as well as 1,750 acres in Côtes de Provence, France.
The unique combination of Bridgehampton loam soil and breezes from the Atlantic Ocean, located 2.6 miles from the estate, provide maritime conditions perfect for achieving the balance of ripeness and acidity that has come to define Wölffer’s signature style: food friendly, elegant and built for longevity. Their dry ciders and gin have extended Wölffer quality into new categories, exemplifying their drive for innovation and excellence.
Representing the topmost expression of a Champagne house, a vintage Champagne is one made from the produce of a single, superior harvest year. Vintage Champagnes account for a mere 5% of total Champagne production and are produced about three times in a decade. Champagne is typically made as a blend of multiple years in order to preserve the house style; these will have non-vintage, or simply, NV on the label. The term, "vintage," as it applies to all wine, simply means a single harvest year.
A far-reaching peninsula extending into the Atlantic Ocean from the city of New York, the Long Island appellation includes The Hamptons and North Fork AVAs. With a maritime climate and conditions not unlike that in Bordeaux, the region excels in the production of Bordeaux varieties, namely Merlot and Cabernet Franc.