Gabriella Macari

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Welcome to #SommChat everyone! Tell your friends to join us to learn from Gabriella Macari @MacariVineyards!

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: We’d like to introduce you to Gabriella Macari @MacariVineyards !

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: We're about ready to dive in w/questions, so shout out to Gabriella Macari @MacariVineyards to say hello & so she knows you're here! #WineWednesday #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: SommChat Don't forget that EVERY tweet during this chat should include the #SommChat hashtag in order for everyone to see it!

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: As we ask our Qs, you can ask Gabriella your Qs as well! She'll do his best to answer all Qs in the order they come #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: W so many participants lots of gr8 Q's R asked! Even if u dont ask 1--give a S/O 2 @MacariVineyards & @keepercoll 2 let us know u R here! #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Let's start talking #wine with Gabriella Macari @@MacariVineyards ! #WineWednesday #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: @MacariVineyards Gabriella can you tell us what was like 4 UR #Wine to be in @texsomiwa competition and what your inspiration was for entering? #SommChat

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: We think @texsomiwa is one of the most, if not the most important wine competition in the world. Judges are incredibly qualified. It was such an honor to hear we won 2 #goldmedals this year #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm how many #wines do U make @MacariVineyards and how did you decide on the varietals that you grow, Gabriella?

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: We focus on #SauvBlanc #CabernetFranc #Merlot #redblends and #sparkling, when we planted in '95, @CornellEnology helped us decide on what grapes worked for our climate/soils. Today, we have other fun grapes growing such as #friulano + #gruner #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm where are your #wines sold in the #US and what are UR biggest markets? Do U see Ur @MacariVineyards more in restos or in retail or both Gabriella?

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: We sell mainly in #NY but can ship to ~15 states. Currently wholesale only in #NY #NJ #CT. Wines can be found in restaurants and retail but main orders come from tasting room and our amazing, enthusiastic #wineclub #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: @WineFlair nice to see you today on #SommChat with @MacariVineyards

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Gabriella, we read that @MacariVineyards uses #biodynamic farming methods. how did the winery move in this direction and what benefits have been seen from this in the wines? Is it with all #wines? #SommChat

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: Yes, we have over 30 cows and manage our own composting program. My father and brother work as bio as possible in the vineyard but we are not certified. We do the most we can to increase biodiversity including beekeeping for over 10 yrs #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm Can you share about the climate and Soils of #LongIsland #LIwines - have you seen changes in weather and if so how?

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: We have a #maritime climate on LI as we are surronded by the Long Island Sound and Great Peconic Bay. Excellent diurnal temps. Soils are sandy and very well draining. Our vineyard in particular is planted very close to the #LISound - will post a photo #SommChat

Fabian Laine @fabienlaine: how sandy? can you work with ungrafted plants? #sommchat

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: Would love to experiment w/ ungrafted vines but too risky considering #phylloxera threat--sandy but not sandy enough to persuade us #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm Grabriella, what is the style of your @texsomiwa award winning @MacariVineyards #CabFranc ie more #bordeaux or #loire or #newworld? Is it made to age & if so how long? saw that the winner was 2015?

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: For years we were comparing to #Loire + #BDX but we now think our #CF is very unique. Med body, fine-grained tannins, a lot of red fruit, herbs -- blown away with how long it can age, acid is naturally high. 10-15 year old wines still showing balance, fruit, intensity. #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm what is your role @MacariVineyards and did you always know you wanted to work with the family business? what is the most difficult part and most rewarding of working with family?

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: Could write a book as a response! We all wear many hats--family owned but also family operated. I manage sales, distribution + education of our team + help a lot in cellar and vineyard. Making wine was my grandfathers dream, it is rewarding to make him proud #SommChat

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: I started working at the winery when I was 6 planting vines with my brother and in the tasting room when I was 10. Always knew I wanted to work in #wine @WSETglobal education helped solidify my passion #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm which of your @MacariVineyards #wines are selling best as BTG in resto programs and can you share why you think this is so?

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: Our #SauvignonBlanc + #Rose are top BTG. Rose because it's so popular and because we had praise last year from @nytimes -- SB because it is refreshing, delicious and #LOCAL - the support for local wine is enormous in #NY and we couldn't be more thankful #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm @MacariVineyards I don’t hear a lot about #wines fr #longIsland - is this a growing #wine region? Why should someone consider growing grapes in the area?

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: Not a tremendous amount of growth in region as real estate barrier to entry is high on #Northfork + #Southfork -- very lucky my grandfather found our farm in the 60's (old potato farm). A lot of consumption is local but hopefully you will start to see more #LIwine soon #SommChat

Fabian Laine @fabienlaine: Oh :) would love to taste this! never tasted so far and not sure I can find it in France #sommchat

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: Hope you can visit us soon in #NY -- if I get to #FR, will let you know! #SommChat

Fabian Laine @fabienlaine: Ok :) thanks a lot

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm @MacariVineyards what would be some of the top #food pairings with your @texsomiwa award winning #CabFranc and how much of it do you make and about what is the retail cost?

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: I love #CF + pizza (...or anything with cheese)! Many consider LI duck as a classic pairing. We made 450 cases of the '15 CF and it is $38 retail macariwines.com/wine/2015-cabe… #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Gabriella @MacariVineyards Congrats on your achievements in the @WSETglobal program– tell us about why you have chose this study path towards the @mastersofwine and what your next steps are?

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: I love academia +challenges--can never stop learning about wine. #WSET +#MW programs are incredible for anyone looking for further wine education. Tasting w/ an excellent group in #NYC + studying 24/7 -- helps bring perspective to what we do at #MacariWines #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm what made your grandfather purchase this land so long ago and how long did it take to transition the land from Potatoes to #vineyards that were making good #wine @MacariVineyards

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: Great Q! My grandfather grew up in poverty in #Queens and worked very hard in real estate. Found farm and loved the waterfront view. Made wine in basement (very Italian!) always wanted to plant vines....(1/2) #SommChat

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: The first thing my father did was #compost, soils were poor from years of potato farming. He also hired the amazing bio-d experts Alvaro Espinoza + Alan York to help us with #BD500 + manure #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm does @MacariVineyards ever hold back #wines to age and sell when mature or is all inventory sold upon release?

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: Yes! We are secretly holding inventory of reds that we feel have the capacity to age, ie: pouring our 2010 #BDX blend, Bergen Road in tasting room for #WineClub right now. We will hold back at least 20 cases of award-winning #CF #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm saw that your brother also works in the vineyards and cellar with your father - do they have similar philosophies in #winemaking @MacariVineyards

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: Yes, my brother Joe works with my father (also Joe!) -- collaborate often as main priority is healthy, balanced vines. My fathers main concern has always been soil health and my brother has learned a lot from his practices #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm was this your 1st time to enter @texsomiwa and how do you decide on the #wine fr @MacariVineyards to enter?

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: We've been entering the competition since before it was @texsomiwa (Dallas Morning News)-won many silvers but never #GOLD and never #JudgesSelection until now-entered because we respect the work @winejames has done in finding the best industry professionals to judge #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm can you describe the topography of @MacariVineyards #LIwines ie Flat vs elevation, etc

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: Long Island is fairly flat. As our vines are close to the bulffs/sand dunes of the #LongIslandSound, we have some contour/elevation which we are very lucky for--helps with drainage during wet weather. #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Q fr #SommChat #Somm saw that your Mother also works in the biz, can you describe her role @MacariVineyards? Does your winery market direct in NY area or do you have distributor?

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: My mom wears many hats as well, mainly manages tasting room, hosts VIP tours/tastings, works on blends etc #SommChat

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: We are honored to work with the amazing @wilsondanielsNY in #NYC and also sell some wines direct on #LI + #NYC #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: @MacariVineyards what advice would you give to a #winery that is considering entering #wine in @texsomiwa competition? #SommChat

MACARI VINEYARDS @MacariVineyards: Absolutely enter. Advice would be to make sure the wine is drinking well at the time of entry. Our #CF, for example, needed a few years in bottle. It was tight + tannins were grippy upon bottling. Today, it is much different. Be patient with your wines! #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Time to wrap up! Hope you enjoyed this hour of #longisland #wine talk with Gabriella Macari talking about @MacariVineyards she will finish answering Qs that have been asked thus far #WineWednesday #SommChat

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: It was great to have Gabriella of @MacariVineyards join us today for #SommChat. We hope everyone learned as much as we did! #WineWednesday

Keeper Collection @keepercoll: Please join us in thanking Gabriella Macari for her time and for talking about @MacariVineyards #LongIsland #LIwines !! #SommChat