The Winemakers
The Winemakers from L to R
Roman Roth; Anthony Nappa; Russell Hearn; John Leo
Anthony Nappa of Anthony Nappa Wines
Anthony studied botany at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and completed a degree in
'Fruit and Vegetable Agriculture' from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture. Anthony went to New Zealand to receive his formal training in winemaking from Lincoln University in Christchurch where he received degrees in Viticulture and Oenology. Anthony has extensive experience particularly in cool climate farming and winemaking. He has worked as a winemaker in New Zealand, Southern Italy, California, Massachusetts and New York where he was Head Winemaker for Shinn Estate Vineyards from 2007 - 2011. Anthony joined the winemaking community on the east end of Long Island in 2007, in the same year establishing his own wine brand Anthony Nappa Wines with the production of 200 cases of Long Island Pinot Noir, aptly named Nemesis.
Russell Hearn of Suhru Wines and Winemaker for Pellegrini Vineyards
With 30 years of winemaking experience, in Australia, New Zealand,
France and the USA, Russell Hearn has taken his Australian
training with him throughout the journey. During the last 20
years on the North Fork of Long Island, Russell has established
himself as an industry veteran who has helped forge our region
one known for producing World Class Wines. As winemaker for
Pellegrini Vineyards since 1991, Russell has consulted for a
number of wineries on the North Fork. Russell is the founding
partner of Premium Wine Group (est. 2000), a Custom Crush
facility in Mattituck. Over the last decade, Premium has
intertwined itself as a critical factor in the Long Island wine
industry, encouraging small, and finer quality wine producers
like Suhru Wines to flourish. As the winemaker of Suhru Wines,
Russell brings his vast experience and knowledge, derived from
two decades in the New York wine industry. He has developed
relationships with quality growers from around the State, which
factor into the quality fruit selection that goes into Suhru
Wines. He thoroughly enjoys bringing his wine experience and
passion to the creation of wines of unique distinction and
style.
Roman Roth of The Grapes of Roth and Winemaker for Wolffer Estate
The son of a winemaker and
cooper, Roth started his winemaking career in 1982 with formal
training in Germany. After an intense apprenticeship and hands
on experience at California’s Saintsbury Estate and Australia’s
Rosemount Estate, he graduated with the title of Master
Winemaker and Cellar master from The School of Oenology in
Weinsberg, Germany. Roth came to Long Island in 1992 to fulfill
his passion to craft fine wines as the winemaker for Wolffer
Estate, where today Roth is the winemaker and technical
director. At Wolffer, Roth oversees every detail of the
production. He is also the winemaker/consultant to several other
high quality producers, including Roanoke, Scarola and Gramercy
Vineyard. Roth launched his own label “The Grapes Roth” with the
stunning 2001 vintage. In order to create the finest product,
only limited quantities are made in select vintages. Currently
production is limited to 200 cases Merlot, 350 cases Dry
Riesling and a very limited Late Harvest Botrytis Riesling
called Nobel Roth. Roth aims to source the best fruit on the
East End, working with growers to produce only the highest
quality wines.
John Leo of Leo Family and Winemaker for Clovis Point
A native of the Hudson Valley,
New York, John graduated with a journalism degree and
immediately proceeded to wander slowly around the world. He
started working in wine in 1982 and joined the East End wine
growing community in the early 1990s, becoming winemaker for
Clovis Point, in Jamesport in 2004. John works full-time at
Premium Wine Group where he makes the Clovis Point wines as well
as Leo Family Red. A journalist by training, traveler by
inclination, and grape grower by preference, John believes in
honest hard work, natural transformation and the pleasure of
sharing a bottle with friends.
