Macari Vineyards and Winery is a scenic spot of more than 300 acres of rich land in Mattituck on the North Fork of Eastern Long Island. It is a family-owned and operated enterprise led by Joseph Macari Sr. His son, Joseph Jr. controls the new winery.

Although the Macaris have owned property in the North Fork area, it was only in 1994 when they purchased an area they found suitable for growing grapes, largely through organic farming. The winery was opened in 1998 with a 180-acre vineyard and a building designed by architect Carol DiCicco-Vinci, who has designed several restaurants in New York.

Planting & Operations
Macari Vineyards is one of the largest on Long Island. They are the only winemaker in Long Island who plant over-grafted vines successfully, growing a new variety of grapes from the rootstock of another plant. This is done by splicing a new vine to a full-grown root, instead of planting a new plant directly. Their varietals include Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Viognier, Savignon Blanc and Syrah.

Harvest time is in the fall and lasts about a month. After the harvest, grapes are processed through cold-stabilization and bottled. Macari has an hourly capacity of 2,500-bottles.

True to their choice to use organic farming methods, Macari Vineyards maintains their own compost system which is integrated into their farming process. They use this natural fertilizer to maintain their soil, decreasing their need for pesticides and chemical fertilizers and encouraging a friendly environment for wildlife as well.

Tasting Room
Macari’s tasting room is open to the public daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., although the winery itself is open all year round. It is housed in an elegant building with vaulted ceilings and an interior finished in pale earth tones, marble, metal and wood fixtures. The tasting room provides a great view of the vineyards.

Macari has taken some efforts to display their wine more attractively, opting to display wine bottles arranged in small tables, instead of stacking them in large cases. This arrangement allows visitors more space to move around and check the wines, without overwhelming them with the selection.

One of their signature wines is Bergen Road, a popular east coast red. Along with Bergen, there’s their 2003 100% Cabernet Franc red, perfect for pairing with cheese, chicken or pork. A late harvest wine is Block E, a fruity but not too sweet blend of honey, apple, apricot and melon. A noteworthy white is the 2003 Sauvignon Blanc.

Event Hosting
Macari Vineyards hosts private parties and corporate events only one at a time, ensuring guests enough privacy and full attention of its staff. It’s quite popular for weddings because of its panoramic view where events can either end or begin with a spectacular sunset. Tours are available by appointment only.

To give a gift of Macari Wine
Macari Vineyards offers gift baskets, platters, wine buckets and wine coolers for the holidays and other special occasions. Packages include bottles of wine, accessories and gourmet tidbits. For suggestions on which gift is best, visit their tasting room or call them at 631-298-0100.

While Macari’s award-winning wines are available from many NYC retailers, orders are also accepted online (www.macariwines.com), although shipment is limited to only 10 states: New York, Washington D.C., New Mexico, Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois and Alaska. Bottles cost from about $16 to about $40 plus shipping.

To join the family
Macari offers memberships to wine enthusiasts. Each member will receive two bottles shipped automatically in March, June, September and December, along with wine information, recipes and food suggestions from their in-house chef, all to match the month’s wine selections

Membership also includes 20% discount on wine purchases and tasting room merchandise, along with 10% off venue rentals and invitations to winery and winetasting events. Members are also given complimentary tasting and are notified regularly of upcoming events and sales.

Directions to Macari
From New York, take the LIE to exit 71 at Edwards Avenue and turn left towards north to Sound Avenue. At Route 48, turn right to head east. Macari vineyards will be on the left at the corners of Bergen and Sound Avenue.