Roman Roth is the winemaker for Wölffer Estate on Long Island, N.Y. He’s a celebrated winemaker with over 30 years of global experience. His winemaking journey began at 16 in Germany’s Black Forest and led him across three continents, with key roles in California, Australia, and Germany before settling in Long Island.
Roman earned his Master Winemaker and Cellar Master’s degree in Weinsberg, Germany. At Wölffer, he has shaped the estate’s signature style and championed the region, including serving as President of the Long Island Wine Council.
Media Inquiries: Coco Fath cfath@wolffer.com | https://www.wolffer.com/
What’s the ONE THING most unique, authentic, & memorable about your brand?
At Wölffer Estate, our most defining attribute is our unwavering commitment to quality and consistency. This is not just a goal, it has become a guiding principle in our winemaking process. From the very beginning, our vision has been to produce wines of elegance, balance, and longevity that not only reflect the character of our unique terroir here in the Hamptons but also stand confidently among the greatest wines in the world. Each vintage is an opportunity to refine, to listen to the vineyard more closely, and to push ourselves creatively. That reputation for consistent quality didn’t happen overnight, it was earned over decades, bottle by bottle, season by season. That pursuit is what keeps our wines memorable, authentic, and unmistakably ours.
Describe how and what you’d do with your winemaking career or winery business if you were not constrained.
At Wölffer, we’ve achieved something rare: we have created one of the most iconic and sought after rosés in America with Summer in a Bottle, while also crafting world-class whites and reds under our “Reserve” White Horse series.
If there were no limits, I would separate and distinguish these successful lines by building a dedicated winery and visitor center to fully showcase each series. Each would focus entirely on celebrating the strengths and technicality of each line, allowing visitors to better understand the quality and innovation necessary to create multiple, successful wines.
What is the One Wine most emblematic of your brand and/or winemaking style? Tell us its story.
I would have to say our Summer in a Bottle Rosé Long Island AVA. This wine captures the lifestyle of the Hamptons while promoting our commitment to winemaking out East. We have made our dry Estate Rosé since 1992, long before it was fashionable, but its popularity inspired a rise in appreciation for rosé all over the world. I felt we had to build on that momentum and combine top Long Island fruit, beautiful design, and precision winemaking to create the third-best-selling rosé in the U.S. over $20. It is food-friendly, approachable, and simply put, makes people smile. I completely agree, and was so impressed with this Rose’. Read the review here.
Bonus Question: Why Winemaking?
Wine has been an integral part of my childhood and beyond. My father was both a winemaker and a cooper in Germany, and later my parents ran a large wine merchant business. I was always intrigued by the revered wine, and developed a deep respect for wine’s craft and culture. I remember thinking: Wouldn’t it be incredible to actually create wine? I feel very fortunate that I was able to follow my passion and share interviews like this one with others that also feel connected to the subject of wine.