BY: Joey Wölffer
When my brother Marc, chief strategy officer, and I took over the reins of Wölffer Estate Vineyard after our father died in an accident in 2008, we had no idea where our partnership would take us. Shortly thereafter, Roman, our winemaker of 32 years, became a partner, and my husband, Max, became CEO.
When we first sat down to discuss ideas and opportunities, the concept of “Summer in a Bottle” was one of those ideas. My friends have always said that Wölffer is synonymous with summer.
The name was used for an ad campaign, and the design proposal blew us all away. Florals, fauna, and butterflies danced around the page, it was at that moment that Roman said, “Why not make a rosé and actually call it Summer in a Bottle?”
We all loved it and made our first vintage in 2014. We made 1,500 cases and sold out in three weeks. Each year, we grew production. I remember an article coming out in The New York Post, “Rosé running dangerously low in the Hamptons.”
This was the year our Summer in a Bottle Rosé sold out in August, and we knew we were onto something huge. Now having produced rosé on three continents, distributing in 36 states and nine countries, we’re proud to have become one of the world’s leading quality wine producers.
Our father was an entrepreneur, a risk taker who loved to travel and had a vision for growing grapes and making rosé here in the Hamptons when most people laughed and said it was impossible.
I was more of a rebellious teenager, with an eye for fashion and marketing, so I worked in different corporate positions before opening my own business in 2010. I never thought I’d end up in the wine business, but when my father tragically passed, and the family estate had settled, I couldn’t imagine not being a part of continuing this legacy.
Now 10 years later, the four of us have taken the vineyard from a small, local business to a national and international brand.
In celebration of the 10-year anniversary, we couldn’t think of a better time to introduce Summer in a Bottle Sauvignon Blanc—a clean, crisp, and bright wine that perfectly reflects our roots. Inspired by the natural beauty of the Hamptons, the bottle design mirrors the landscape surrounding the vineyard.
From my favorite sunset beach walks with my girls, to hikes in Hither Hills, there’s so much beauty to appreciate, and every element of the label reflects the winery’s dedication to sustainable winemaking.
We’re constantly looking ahead and believe in this wine that we’ve invested in, so we’re planting more Sauv Blanc with partnering vineyards to ensure we can continue this path for years to come.
With the many summer holidays and our Wine Stand sunsets ahead, this Sauvignon Blanc is going to be my drink of choice for summer! Whether I’m going to a friend’s home for dinner, spending a day at the beach, or simply lounging around the pool or patio, it’s the perfect companion and pairs well with just about anything from oysters, scallops, fish ceviche to fresh vegetables, and delivers sophistication with every sip.
Not to mention, the bottle is beautiful. I’d suggest picking up a few bottles for yourself or giving them as gifts. Cheers!
