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www.privateairny.com Private Air New York | Summer 2015 89 TIPPLE the production of half a million bottles of wine annually. Under his direction, the Wölffer collection ranges from their "entry- level" gold label table wines to their notable desert and sparkling wines to the impressive "white horse" vintage offerings. e winery has also veered from grapes to apples with the introduction of two varieties of dry cider bottled under the name No. 139. Over perfectly chilled flutes of sparkling Noblesse - the first of the day's many delightful tasting moments - Roth chatted about his own winemaking philosophy. "Every winemaker lives for the perfect weather, the perfect circumstances, the ideal combination of elements that will help make a 'dream wine'. But wishing takes as much effort as doing. When I began here in 1992, my goal was to create good wine. Only after mastering 'good', when the wines were consistently high quality did I begin to focus on 'great'… meaning the vintage bottles. e climate here on Long Island lends itself to this. We are only two and a half miles away from the ocean; we have this rich, loamy soil and a climate similar to that of Bordeaux. We are not only growing the grapes and the wine, we're building long term relationships with our buyers. ey know that every bottle from Wölffer from our gold label wines up to the best vintages held in our wine library will be as good as they remembered, as good as they expect them to be. We never compromise the quality of our non-vintage wines in our efforts to create a 'dream' bottle." While the vintage tail may not be wagging the winery dog, Wölffer certainly isn't experiencing any shortage of greatness. e wines regularly appear on lists curated by some of the most prestigious, five- star restaurants in the country. ey are staples at the toniest hotels and restaurants in the Hamptons, are exported around the world by distributors reaching from the United States to Japan, and have been served at some of the most coveted tables – including the White House where Wölffer's "Perle" Chardonnay was poured for President Obama and German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, earlier this year. Happily for Wölffer- though sadly for would-be consumers -some of the wineries most stellar standouts have sold out, available only to those fortunate enough to have access to a collector's cellar. Regardless, Wölffer still has an impressive selection of available, collector-worthy wines including the Perle that graced the White House, the Noblesse Oblige Extra Brut Sparkling Rosé 2011, the 2012 White Mischief Chardonnay, the 2011 Cassago Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2008 Grapes of Roth - a Merlot that was a labor of love for the winemaker himself - and of course, that Wölffer ode to summer in the Hamptons, the 2014 Summer in a Bottle. Late last year, the winery introduced Finca Wölffer - a label that would enlarge not only Wölffer's collection but expand its very footprint to mark new holdings in Spain and Argentina. Finca, translating to "farmhouse" in Spanish, refers to Marc Wölffer's home on the island of Mallorca. e first vintage released under the new label, Brau 2010, was a Petit Verdot/ Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend personally selected by Wölffer and Roth and crafted at the Can Feliu winery in Mallorca. e second offering is slated for release this summer, an Argentine rosé hailing from Mendoza where Marc Wölffer owns 20 acres within the Santa Maria de los Andes Vineyard. Regarding the new acquisitions Roth says, "It is a privilege to make wines from the beautiful fruit of these unique Latin properties. e key is to bring a fresh new style to these well-established wine regions, evoking the high quality, vibrancy, food-friendliness and longevity the wines of Wölffer Estate Vineyard are known for." Wölffer Estate Winery offers events including tastings, tours, Candlelight Fridays where the tasting room comes alive with live music, and seasonal Sundays on the Terrace featuring wines paired with locally prepared brunch items. Open all year round, the estate is particularly enchanting during the summer months where the grapes steal the show and the glory of the vineyard can be appreciated from the winery's stone patio. e estate is also available for private events including weddings and other social functions. For further information, to purchase wine or to arrange a tour please contact Wölffer at 631-537-5106 or visit the website at www.wolffer.com

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