A gifted winemaker, Roman Roth can often be heard singing in an enviable tenor voice amid the barrels in the winery. But most of all, he gives “voice” to his wines, produced by experience that covers three continents and stems from the dream of a 16-year-old boy in Rottweil in Germany’s Black Forest.
Roman began a three-year apprenticeship at the Kaiserstuhl Wine Cooperative Oberrotweil while attending technical school as a teenager. Following that, he traveled to the United States, working at the Saintsbury Estate in California, then to New South Wales, Australia, at Rosemount Estate. Returning to Germany, he became a winemaker at Winzerkeller Wiesloch near Heidelberg and earned his Master Winemaker and Cellar Master Degree from the College for Oenology and Viticulture in Weinsberg.
In 1992, Roman became the first winemaker at Wölffer Estate Vineyard. He established the estate’s distinctive character —European elegance combined with the typicity of Long Island terroir. He has dedicated himself to promoting not only the wines of Wölffer Estate but of Long Island, where he has consulted with numerous vineyards.
Roman’s contribution to quality winemaking on Long Island was recognized at the 2003 East End Food & Wine Awards (judged by the American Sommelier Society), where he was named Winemaker of the Year. Recent honors include Wine Advocate rating Diosa Late Harvest 2018 and Grandioso Rosé 2018 92 Points, Caya Cabernet Franc 2017 90 Points, and Fatalis Fatum 2017 91 Points. Caya Caberney Franc 2017 also received 92 Points from James Suckling and 90 Points from Wine Enthusiast. Our top Chardonnay Perle 2017 rated 92 Points from James Suckling.