New York wine has a new reason to celebrate. Gabriella Macari, a wine educator, independent consultant, and co-founder of Cab Franc Forward, has earned the Master of Wine designation, bringing one of the wine world’s most respected credentials to her work championing the state’s producers. She was formally welcomed into the Institute of Masters of Wine at its annual awards ceremony in London on October 27.
At the ceremony, Macari also received the 2026 Vintners’ Company Award, presented annually to a single recipient for the top performance in the business of wine theory paper. The distinction recognizes her understanding of the commercial forces shaping the global wine industry.
Raised at her family’s Macari Vineyards on Long Island’s North Fork, Macari was the only U.S. candidate among the seven new Masters of Wine announced this summer. She joins an international community of 427 active Masters of Wine across 31 countries.
“Earning the Master of Wine title is the culmination of years of study, persistence, and support from so many people,” said Gabriella Macari MW. “Having grown up in a New York vineyard, I’m especially proud to bring this achievement home. Working alongside producers across the state has deepened my appreciation for the quality of our wines and the talent behind them. I’m excited to use what I’ve learned to help more people discover what makes New York wine so compelling.”
One of the wine world’s most demanding professional qualifications, the Master of Wine requires candidates to pass three 12-wine blind tasting papers and five written theory papers spanning grape growing, winemaking and the wider industry. Candidates must also complete an original research paper.
For New York, the significance extends beyond the letters after her name. Macari’s career spans winery and vineyard operations, strategy, distribution, marketing and communications. Her work across global markets informs how she approaches New York wine today, combining firsthand knowledge of its producers with an understanding of how wines reach audiences worldwide.
“Gabriella’s achievement is a proud moment for the entire New York wine community,” said Sam Filler, executive director of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation. “She brings deep knowledge, a collaborative spirit, and a commitment to helping our wines earn the recognition they deserve. Having another champion for New York among the world’s Masters of Wine creates exciting opportunities to showcase the quality and diversity of our regions with a wider audience.”
The Vintners’ Company Award adds particular resonance to that work. The business of wine paper examines how wine is priced, distributed, marketed and sold internationally, subjects central to Macari’s professional experience.
“So much of my work has been about getting good wine to the people who will appreciate it, from distribution and pricing to how a brand tells its story,” said Macari. “Being recognized for that side of wine means a great deal, and it’s work I share with every New York producer trying to reach a wider audience.”
That statewide commitment is central to Cab Franc Forward, the winery-led nonprofit collective she co-founded to champion New York Cabernet Franc. By bringing producers together around a grape that thrives across several New York regions, the initiative creates opportunities to build greater appreciation for the quality, diversity and innovation of the state’s wines.
Her academic work also addresses questions that matter to winegrowers and consumers. For her Master of Wine research paper, Macari examined U.S. wine consumers’ awareness, perspectives and attitudes toward herbicides in viticulture, connecting her interest in environmental stewardship with the industry’s need to understand how people interpret farming practices.
“I’d love to see more open conversations about how grapes are grown, so consumers can understand the choices each producer makes,” said Macari. “Wine education should encourage people to ask questions and discover how farming and place shape what’s in their glass.”
Her recognition in London marks a personal milestone with significance close to home. For New York wine, it is an opportunity to celebrate an accomplished advocate whose work connects the state’s vineyards with the wider wine world.
