Roman Roth
Roanoke Vineyards' winemaker is Roman Roth, a North Fork star if ever there was one. The creative force behind the Grapes of Roth as well as Wolffer Estates, his training and experience are a blend of several wine cultures spanning three continents.
Born in Rottweil , Germany to a winemaking family, his appreciation for good wine began at an early age. In 1982, he began a three-year apprenticeship in winemaking, which involved practical work at the Kaiserstuhl Wine Cooperative in Oberrotweil and theoretical studies at the “Berufsfachschule” in Heilbron.
Turning 20, and looking for fresh influences, Roth traveled to the United States in the summer of 1986, ending up in the heart of Carneros, California to work at the respected Saintsbury Estate, a winery known for its impressive Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines.
Next, he traveled around the world to Australia , to work at Rosemount Estate, famous for its Chardonnays and Shiraz , and to take part in the harvest of 1988.
Roth returned to Germany in 1988, working at the Winzerkeller Wiesloch in Baden . During his tenure there, the winery earned wide acclaim for its award-winning releases, notably the Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Méthode Champenoise wines.
1992 was a significant year in Roth's career. He received his Master Winemaker and Cellar Master degrees from the College for Oenology and Viticulture in Weinsberg. In August, he made his move to the “New World”, accepting the position of winemaker at Sag Pond vineyards, then a start-up winery in the Hamptons , Long Island . This was a winemaker's dream- to be part of a new and growing wine region with the chance to create something new, to leave a footprint at the grassroots level.
Roman and Richie began working together at Wolffer Estates, Richie as Vineyard Manager, and Roman as Winemaker, and from very early on, the two began laying plans for what would be Roanoke Vineyards; a small, boutique producer that specialized in limited-production, full-flavored Reds modeled on the great wines of Bordeaux.
A pinnacle of Roth's career came in April 2003, when he received the award of “Winemaker of the Year” presented by the East End Food & Wine Awards (judged by the American Sommelier Society). This reflected the excellence of the wines he produced as a Winemaker and as a consultant, and was a recognition of his contribution to quality winemaking on Long Island as a whole.
Roanoke Vineyards is proud to have Roman as our Winemaker, and we look very forward to a long and fruitful partnership.
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