“From the point of harvest and through fermentation, aging, blending and bottling, we knew this was a special wine and a standout for the vintage,” says Patrick Caserta, winemaker at Rose Hill Vineyards on the North Fork of Long Island, recipient of the New York Wine Classic’s 2025 Governor’s Cup and Best Red Wine for the 2019 Clarity Cabernet Sauvignon.
“To win the Governor’s Cup and to be recognized in this special way is a tremendous honor for us,” Caserta says. “This represents the ultimate achievement in viticulture and winemaking in New York.”
Indeed, Cabernet Sauvignon is more associated with California viticulture than New York, but Rose Hill’s auspicious location, commitment to sustainability, and dedication to classic winemaking techniques clearly pay off in the glass. The 2019 vintage was also special, Caserta notes.
Pride of Place, and Purpose
The team at Rose Hill oversees 28 acres under vine, with 13 varieties planted, and 72,000 bottles in annual production, via alternative energy.
“We have 20 acres planted to vinifera at Rose Hill, including Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Pinot Blanc,” Caserta says. “We also manage and have the exclusive rights to a vineyard also located on Oregon Road, which was planted in 1982 to Chardonnay and Riesling.”
In 2020, they planted additional acres consisting of Albarino, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Noir. The soil series at Rose Hill is named Haven. It’s deep, well-draining, and primarily composed of loam, sand, and gravel, with glacial deposits of sediment and rocks.
Rose Hill is focused on sustainable farming, and the vineyard was one of the founding members and is certified with the Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing program.
The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are hand-harvested and fermented with native yeasts. No sulfur dioxide is added until the fermentation process is over. Caserta says they let the grapes hang as long as they can to achieve maximum flavor.
“Our Cabernet Sauvignon is typically the second-to-last varietal that we harvest, just prior to Petit Verdot during the last week of October, through the first week of November,” he says, adding that the Brix at harvest for the 2019 Clarity was 24.6, with a pH of 3.5.
After harvest, the grapes are destemmed and transferred to stainless steel tanks by gravity, where fermentation and extended maceration take place over six weeks.
The 2019 was then drained off the skins and transferred to 100% new French Oak barrels for a 20-month rest prior to blending and bottling. The Clarity is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot.
While Caserta believes Cabernet Sauvignon will be foundational to Rose Hill’s success, he says that the 2019 vintage was particularly sensational.
“The growing season allowed our Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to achieve a new level of ripeness and concentration,” he says. “In these vintages, we are able to exploit it in this way and produce a wine that is the pinnacle, the crown jewel of our vineyard.”
“This was our first time submitting wine, and I’m thrilled that our team received this recognition,” says Chelsea Frankel, General Manager at Rose Hill Vineyards. “It’s a testament to Patrick and our vineyard crew. Their experience and passion are second to none, and we’re truly lucky to have them. We’ve also just planted 45 more acres, and with that growth, we’re excited to expand our presence and continue crafting wines under the Croteaux, Rose Hill, and Main & Mill labels for years to come.”
The New York Wine Classic was created and is annually hosted by The New York Wine & Grape Foundation. The contest is open to all Empire State wineries, with categories spanning vinifera, hybrid, labrusca, fruit, and honey wines.
Best of Category awards are given for the highest-scoring red, white, pink, sparkling, and dessert wines. The Governor’s Cup recognized the “Best of Show” in the Classic, and “Winery of the Year” is given to the winery with the highest scores for seven grape-based wines, with additional points available from other categories. This year, wine writer and expert Wanda Mann hosted a Virtual Awards Ceremony on Thursday, July 17, with top winners announced.
Winners are selected by the Beverage Tasting Institute, in an evaluation method developed in 1981 with Cornell University. After decades of refinement, it is now considered one of the fairest and most consistent alcohol beverage rating systems in the industry.
Stay tuned for other profiles of winners in the weeks to come. In the meantime, let’s celebrate Rose Hill’s incredible achievement—visit the winery, which is set in a 125-year-old barn, and taste the way that terroir, science, technology, folk wisdom, and craftsmanship come together to create winning wines like the 2019 Clarity.
