Raphael Winery: Past, Present, Future

The East Finish continues to be house to many household companies which have stood the take a look at of time, pandemic and on-line buying, and one particularly shining instance amongst them is Raphael Vineyard, a part of a household of companies owned and operated by the Petrocelli clan—together with Preston Home & Lodge, Atlantis Banquets, Lengthy Island Aquarium and J. Petrocelli Building.

Based by common contractors John and Joan Petrocelli within the early Nineteen Nineties, Raphael will get its title from John’s father, an oenophile and residential winemaker. After buying 50 acres of farmland and agreeing to completely protect 40 acres as such, the Italian monastery-esque vineyard was constructed on the remaining 10 acres whereas the soil was allowed to relaxation after the earlier proprietor had rented it out for the rising of potatoes and different greens.

“It gave us time to analysis and discover folks to assist us create what we needed to do,” says Raphael Wine Membership Supervisor, Particular Occasions Coordinator and daughter of the founders Julie Petrocelli Vergari. “We labored with Steve Mudd’s father, David, and Steve as effectively, and we determined that, due to our terroir, we needed to go together with a Bordeaux-style farming plan.”

Pink varietals chosen included merlot, cabernet franc, petit Verdot, malbec and cabernet sauvignon, and white varietals included sauvignon blanc and Riesling. The preliminary planting passed off in 1996 with two-year-old vines bought from a nursery upstate. Situated in Peconic, the vineyard’s authentic winemaker Richard Olsen-Harbich helped the household join with Paul Pontallier from Chateau Margaux in France to seek the advice of and assist design the winemaking space. The vineyard design, beginning 12 toes underground, makes use of gravity stream and pure temperature regulation for optimum power effectivity.

By 2006, the Petrocelli household had bought an extra 20 acres from a neighboring farm and planted their first pinot noir. This sizeable addition made the vineyard crew’s dedication to nurturing and selecting grapes by hand a fair higher labor of affection.

“The place does the wine develop? We would like it to develop in a contented place and create good fruit for us,” Petrocelli Vergari says. “We get probably the most out of the winery as we are able to, however we additionally drop some fruit throughout sure instances of the yr if it’s an excessive amount of on the plant. We don’t wish to overstress the plant—we’d fairly get extra high quality than amount.”

In 2012, common East Finish vintner Anthony Nappa took the reins of Raphael’s wine manufacturing after Olsen-Harbich left, although John Petrocelli initially had slight reservations concerning the hiring resolution. “When Wealthy determined to depart, Anthony had interviewed for the job, and my father, a stern Italian, was a bit upset as a result of he knew that Anthony had his personal label,” Petrocelli Vergari explains. “However we appreciated the truth that he’s a businessman himself and is aware of that now we have to generate profits on the finish of the day. We’re actually fortunate to have him, plus his [label’s] wines are completely completely different than our wines.”

By 2016, the crew realized that they had an overabundance of merlot and, at Nappa’s request, grafted clippings of Steve Mudd’s pinot grigio onto six acres of merlot. The younger crops are anticipated to start producing the brand new varietal by 2026.

All through Raphael’s historical past, many Petrocelli members of the family have contributed to the thriving enterprise—together with Petrocelli Vergari’s kids, her sister JoAnn, nephew Jerome, nieces Jill and Jennifer and Diandra Petrocelli-Schultz. “All of us work collectively, all pay attention to one another and all respect one another,” Petrocelli Vergari says of the winemaking and administration groups.

“I like a member of the family right here once we’re open. I’ve nice workers and an incredible crew, however I do really feel it’s good for folks to see a member of the family right here each time once we’re open,” Petrocelli Vergari says. “I’ve just about been concerned since day one, as a result of my husband (Basic Supervisor Joseph Vergari) is a chef, and I’m a marriage planner, so my father was like, ‘Oh, you are able to do occasions right here!’”

Whereas her father and mom, now 90 and 88, based the vineyard, they “by no means actually had something to do with” the day-to-day administration and winemaking. “My dad and mom drink Johnnie Walker Black—they’re scotch drinkers,” she jokes.

The lineup of just lately launched wines is as engaging as will be, although it comes after a time of nice problem on Lengthy Island. “The final couple of years have been fairly difficult for the area—the 2017, ’18, ’19—however the 2020 goes to be phenomenal, so we’re actually excited concerning the 2020 classic,” Petrocelli Vergari shares. “We did an property malbec with the 2017 classic; that’s a brand new launch for us that’s so scrumptious. I did a tasting the opposite day, and it’s bought blueberry, blackberry, such nice taste to it. Our 2020 classic has simply been launched, and that’s the cab blanc, pinot grigio and rosé of pinot noir. These are our three new white releases, they usually’re simply so scrumptious and a bit completely different. That’s the fantastic thing about our area, it’s not going to be the identical each classic; there’s at all times going be a slight little nuance that’s going to vary the flavors or the profile.”

Those that visited Raphael in the course of the pandemic could discover a number of the new procedures nonetheless in place, as many of those adjustments created advantages past the realm of well being. “We do just like the seated tasting,” she says. “It’s been good to have folks sit and benefit from the flight. And we type of just like the reservation factor, as a result of you may handle what now we have. Workers is a matter, so we’re higher capable of management that. (With the outdated manner) you may pack the folks in, however are you able to maintain them?”

Wanting ahead, Raphael hopes to restart vineyard excursions, host personal occasions year-round and produce again the winter cabin fever sequence. The crew can also be striving so as to add extra membership members and educate them on the fascinating winemaking course of. “Our wine membership is so supportive of us,” says Petrocelli Vergari. “They arrive in they usually really feel like they’re coming house—that’s the purpose that we wish to make, in order that our guests come again.”

Petrocelli Vergari’s affect within the Lengthy Island wine scene stretches past Raphael, nonetheless, as she is on the board of the Lengthy Island Wine Council and is working together with her fellow members to “rebrand the entire wine area.” She continues,” We’re engaged on doing regional occasions with Stony Brook College, and that’s hopefully going to be taking place this fall, possibly November. We’re additionally engaged on a [program] the place if eating places carry like at the very least 50% of Lengthy Island wines, they get a particular medallion on their wine listing and free entry to Lengthy Island Wine’s web site. In 2023, it’ll be 50 years that we’ve been making wine within the area, so we’re preparing for an enormous anniversary.”

Raphael Vineyard is positioned at 39390 NY-25, Peconic. To be taught extra, name 631-765-1100 or go to raphaelwine.com.