Macari Vineyards- Long Island Wine Country

- November 30, 2015

Imagine this: 60 degree weather just a few days before December 1st. We hop into a Classic Chevrolet Station Wagon; windows down with Jimi Hendrix streaming through the speakers. And we're off, driving down rows of a vineyard cascading over 500 acres, with blue skies overhead. Maybe not your typical day at the vineyard, but this is a snapshot of our unforgettable experience at Macari Vineyards in Mattituck, Long Island.

The Macari Family welcomed us with open arms for a tour and wine tasting at their vineyards nestled in North Fork's Long Island Wine Country. For those less familiar, Long Island Wine Country is the Sonoma Valley of the east coast. It is a premier location for wine lovers, with 60 vineyards and 30 wineries set in a picturesque countryside setting.

Macari Vineyards being family-owned, creates a very friendly and easygoing atmosphere for the visitor’s experience. Each family member is actively involved in the day-to-day operations. Gabriella Macari, our awesome tour guide for the day, is the daughter of Joseph Macari Jr. and wife Alexandra. Gabriella handles the Macari’s public relations, as well as a number of other key responsibilities for the vineyards.

Upon our arrival at the breathtaking vineyards estate, we sampled many of their amazing wines. Of course our favorite being their “Best in Class” 2010 Cabernet Franc awarded at the New York Wine & Food Class 2014, where Macari was also named “Winery of the Year.”

Macari is also first of the Long Island vineyards to use concrete eggs in their fermentation process, adding new flavors to their wine spectrum such as their Sauvignon Blanc‘14 and Cabernet Franc’13. The aroma and fruitful flavors of the Early Wine, inspired by Austrian wine-making, was another favorite on our list. The flagship, a Bordeaux blend, also left a lasting impression.

Aside from the wonderful wines, what truly made this visit unforgettable was our tour of the actual vineyards. Gabriella drove us through the 500 acre property in her father's classic station wagon. The ride itself was a great experience!

The Macari family's passions extend beyond just the grape cultivation and fermentation process. Their love for animals and the environment has also embedded itself into the operations. The vineyard property is home to their many cows, horses, goats, ducks and rabbits, to name a few. Biodiversity plays an important role in their composting and fertilization efforts, as they refuse to pollute their land with herbicides and other chemicals. Macari Vineyards is also the only vineyard whose property borders the Long Island Sound. As you can envision the views are breathtaking, especially during sunset.

This has easily been our best vineyard experience yet. It is no surprise Macari Vineyards has made its way to the top of the list among Long Island Wine Country's many vineyards and wineries. We cannot wait to visit again!