Athleisure Mag #60 Dec 2020 | For the Love of Wine

We enjoy a great glass of wine whether sipping it alone, happy hour Zooms or friends and family. When we think about one of our favorites, Wölffer Estate comes to mind. Whether we have sipped at their winery in the Hamptons or had a few bottles on hand for celebrations, it's one that we always gravitate towards. Joey Wölffer is continuing the tradition of great wine making for this family owned brand. She's also known for her sense of style and her boutique. We caught up with Joey to talk about the winery, innovations, their properties and more.

JOEY WÖLFFER: Wölffer was founded by my father, Christian Wölffer, over 30 years ago in 1988. The land used to be all potato farms, but he had a crazy dream of growing grapes which miraculously worked out very well. Our - first plantings were Chardonnay, but now we grow a wide variety of different grapes on site. Our Tasting Room and Wine Stand offer one-of-a-kind experiences in the Hamptons. Our signature style of food friendly, elegant wines paired with the most beautiful setting makes for an unforgettable visit!

JW: I actually never thought that I would end up working at the Vineyard. I was always so passionate about my fashion business, but when my father passed unexpectedly, my brother and I took over the business. Between us and Roman Roth, winemaker and partner, we make a great team and have built this amazing company and products that exists today.

JW: Day to day is always different depending on what's going on in terms of new product releases, team meetings, and joggling my clothing brand. It can be crazy at times but I love that every day is different and I get to work with my family and a super creative team constantly innovating and pushing ourselves to be the best winery!

JW: The Estate sprawls 170 acres including the Estate Tasting Room and Wine Stand where our guests can enjoy tastings and tours of the vineyard. The Wine Stand is super popular for families in the summer to relax and have a drink with a beautiful view of the vines. Wölffer Kitchen is the first winery-owned restaurant out here and we offer fresh local produce for brunch and dinner options paired with our incredible wines and ciders. The Stables are special to me as I grew up riding and continue to compete. Our staff and trainers are highly experienced for lessons as well as offering facilities for boarding. We also book private events and weddings on the winery property in the vines/ terrace/inside at the estate – they really are so beautiful and picturesque!

JW: The Soppressata pizza with hot honey is so good and perfect with one of our ciders, like the original Dry Rose Cider! The Pan Roasted Scallops with truffle corn puree would go really well with our Perle Chardonnay. And lastly, the Filet Mignon is a perfect pairing with our flagship wine, Christian’s Cuvee Merlot made from our most pristine grapes on site.

JW: Yes! We are open for reservations at the Estate Tasting Room daily. We also have a drive-thru for guest to swing by and restock for wines to go!

JW: We made our first Rosés back in 1990s when it was unpopular, my father and Roman really pushed for making the best Rosé in the US. Our Estate Rose nickname used to be Summer in a Bottle and we thought why not make a Summer in a Bottle Rosé! The bottle is inspired by the heritage of Hampton’s bohemia and our love for summertime here. The wine was first release in 2014 and has become an iconic wine ever since.

JW: It’s extremely important to me that the winery continues to innovate and set new trends. Cider was definitely one of those passion projects back in 2013. Growing up Roman used to make apple juice for my sister and I, before we could drink the wine of course. Over the years, he continued to produce the apple wine and later turned into our hard ciders. Working with all NY Apple farms we’ve produced the most delicious, dry ciders that are playful yet sophisticated. Our newest creation the LoRo, a low calorie low alcohol cider is my favorite at the moment. The Gin and Brandy are both really fun spirits projects for us. We make Pink Gin using juniper berries and natural extracts. Everything Roman touches turns to Pink! Great for making cocktails, like adding a splash of Pink Gin to the Dry Rosé Cider is actually one of my favorites!

JW: We constantly have new innovations and this past year we actually released the Cellar Series which is specially created and curated by our winemaker Roman Roth. We’ll be expanding upon that collection this year.

JW: I went on to pursue a career in fashion and debuted the Styleliner idea back in 2010. It was essentially a luxury accessories boutique on wheels. The truck evolved into the Joey Wölffer store which features an eclectic array of clothing and jewelry, all inspired by the creative spirit of the Hamptons. I love discovering new and hard to find designers that are unique and being able to share those with our guests.

JW: Since the Styleliner evolved into what is now the Joey Wölffer store, we do not have any stops planned.

JW: I think mental health is so important, especially in these times. Sometimes it’s nice to just pause and really reflect on how wonderful life truly is. I also like to ensure I’m taking care of my physical health by doing things I love that keep me active, like playing with my kids or riding.