Recently I had the good luck and fortune to host a wine tasting on behalf of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation. Always a big thrill. One of the wines at the tasting was the Macari Vineyards Dos Aguas 2016 from the North Fork of Long Island region of New York.
I was lucky enough to work with Gabriella Macari for this presentation. Macari is very much a family business. The winery was founded by grandfather Joe Macari Sr, and has been over seen by Joe Macari Jr. , Alexandra, Joe M. Macari and Gabriella. Gabriella has worked with her family at Macari Vineyards since inception in 1995. As General Manager, she manages education, distribution, marketing, and assists in the cellar and vineyard. Formally an Account Manager at a boutique PR firm in Brooklyn, NY, she closely worked with Ribera del Duero, Rioja, Wines from Spain, and Moët Hennessy’s Estates & Wine. Gabriella continues to consult for wineries and regions across the globe. A graduate of Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, she holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a Concentration in Marketing, a Minor in English, and a specialization in International Business. Gabriella is a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and completed the Wine Executive Program at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management. She recently received the highest-level recognition from the WSET — Level 4 Diploma in Wine and Spirits — and is a second stage Master of Wine Candidate. Gabriella is a savvy, smart, knowledgeable, and very capable.
The Macari Family's waterfront farm, with sweeping views of the Long Island Sound, was established over 50 years ago. Since the first vines were planted in 1995, Macari Vineyards has been recognized as an industry leader in regenerative agriculture, with a focus on organic and biodynamic farming principles. The vineyard is home to a herd of Longhorn Cattle, used for composting, and grows grapes without the use of herbicides. All wines are made from estate grown fruit.
Byron Elemdorf is the head winemaker at Macari. Byron Elmendorf joined Macari Vineyards in the fall of 2020, after a decade working with and learning from pioneering winemakers and viticulturalists all over the globe. Byron spent his childhood abroad, which sparked an interest in the natural world and later helped set the stage for a career in wine. After studying plant biology and environmental sciences at Brown University, Byron worked as a climate change consultant in Washington, DC, before unearthing his true passion while working a harvest in New Zealand.
Byron then spent several years gaining critical hands-on experience on the seasonal harvest circuit prior to enrolling in the prestigious UC Davis Viticulture and Enology program, graduating with an MS in 2013. After Davis, he continued to learn through work in France, Italy, and Sonoma county, before assuming the role of Winemaker at Boeger Winery, a trailblazer of California’s Sierra Foothills, in 2015. During this time, Byron and his wife debuted their own label, CLIME Wines, a boutique wine brand focused on showcasing eclectic Italian varieties sourced from responsibly farmed vineyards throughout the Foothills. That effort caught the attention of the industry, earning him a “Winemaker to Watch” designation from the San Francisco Chronicle in 2019.
Now at Macari, Byron is thrilled to contribute to the Macari family’s legacy of craftsmanship in the cellar and stewardship in the vineyard. Byron brings his international expertise and creative vision to the North Fork, working alongside the Macari family to push innovation in winemaking and further champion the region.
Macari Dos Aguas 2016 is a blend that represents the “two waters” that surround Macari's vineyard on the North Fork of Long Island. To the south of our vines lies The Great Peconic Bay and to the north, the Long Island Sound. These two bodies of water create a unique climate that protects the vineyard and encourages a slow, steady ripening.
“Entre Dos Aguas” is also one of our favorite flamenco songs by the late Spanish guitarist, Paco de Lucia.
This red wine is a blend of 62% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. The wine is aged 24 months in 81% neutral 8% new oak, 92% neutral oak (225L)
This wine is remarkable. This is a juicy medium-bodied red. Think an Italian or Spanish red. Lovely dep fruit, cherries, plums, blackberries. There's big fruit up front on the nose and the palate. It's got solid tannins, but nowhere near what you might be expecting, given the weigh of the fruit up front. But the wine is not out of balance. Instead, the juiciness dissolves into a hint of tannins and some nice acidity, and then a soft, lingering finish, where the fruit just floats on the palate for a nice long time. This is a super approachable red wine, with all the building blocks of a bigger wine, but much more approachable. Perfect for all kinds of meat, or hard cheeses. A great, easy drinking red made with classic grapes. A fantastic bottle of wine. Delicious now yet you can easily age it for another 5-7 years without worry.
Fantastic!
