In the U.S. no regulation stipulates what can be labeled as a reserve wine. But a winery that’s focused on quality and authenticity will bottle a reserve wine only when it’s truly warranted.
“It’s not every year we can do the reserve wines, but when the vintage is spectacular we will,” says Julia Petrocelli-Vergari, owner-operator of Raphael Wine in Peconic. “The 2019 vintage was perfect. The stars were aligned. I believe it was one of the best vintages for the whole area.”
From the 2019 vintage, Raphael Wine’s vintner Anthony Nappa bottled several reserve varietals including a Cabernet Franc Reserve. Made from all estate grapes on their Long Island farm, the “beautiful wine,” as Petrocelli-Vergari refers to it, won Best Red Wine in the 2024 New York Wine Classic. The annual event is organized by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation and celebrates a diverse selection of world-class wines from producers within the state.
It’s the first time the winery, which opened its doors in 2001, has taken home an award in the New York Wine Classic.
It Started With a Grandfather
The winery is named for Petrocelli-Vergari’s grandfather. Her father, John Petrocelli, honored his father Raphael in name and family legacy. Italian winemaking goes back hundreds of years in the family, but the family’s winemaking history on Long Island goes back to John Petrocelli’s winemaking in the family’s backyard with his buddies.
“It was an Italian thing,” says Petrocelli-Vergari. “But my mom told him he had to get it out of the house, and the next year he bought a farm.”
The family bought 50 acres and worked with renowned Long Island vineyard manager Steve Mudd who still manages the vineyards. For the production area, they worked with the late Paul Pontallier, director of Château Margaux in Bordeaux. They planted the classic Bordeaux five—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc, plus Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Riesling.
The vineyards have grown an additional 20 acres since that original planting, but those classic grapes are still the backbone of Raphael Wine’s offerings. In a year like 2019, those classic grapes shine.
That vintage produced a Cabernet Franc with a rich, full body that’s “beautifully balanced, earthy, and a little fruity,” according to Petrocelli-Vergari, who believes the wine has a long life left in it.
She says it’s very food-friendly and goes with “everything” from hard Italian cheese like Grana Padana to a steak to oysters. And, she says it’s “delicious with pasta.”
Gratitude for the Help Getting Where They Are
“We’re just so proud,” says Petrocelli-Vergari about what the win means for the winery. “My dad started this kind of legacy in his dreams in the 90s, and I’m just so proud that something like this has happened for us.” She noted that they often don’t put wines in for judging or competition, but they “knew this wine was so special.”
“There’s been a lot of buzz,” she says. “A lot of the local wineries are sending their congratulations, which is awesome. We’re all happy competition around here. If one of the wineries do well, we all do well. So it’s great for Long Island.”
Petrocelli-Vergari says her mom is over the moon about the win and that her dad, who passed away a few years ago, never needed the accolades. He would have insisted the win was not about him. He raised his kids to leave their egos at the door, and he did the same.
“It’s all about everyone that does the job,” she says. “We have a family, the staff, a lot of who have been with us since day one,” noting that the winemaker Anthony Nappa has been with them for over 10 years. “Kudos to them for getting us here.”
Raphael Wine produced 443 cases of the award-winning Cabernet Franc, and it’s available direct-to-consumers from the winery for $60 a bottle.
