Merliance (formerly known as the Long Island Merlot Alliance) has named offers for a new two-year term — ending in June 2015 — based on a vote of members.
Roman Roth, partner, winemaker and technical director at Wolffer Estate is the group’s new president. Roth is also one of the founders of the organization. He said in a press release “The Merliance has come a long way since we started in 2005. With collective reviews of our merlots and merlot-based blends in national publications, annual consultations with international oenologists and elegant wine-focused events like HARVEST EAST END to our credit, we are spreading the word that Long Island is home to world-class wines, and that merlot is king among them. I am proud to work alongside some of our region’s top quality producers to keep this drumbeat going!”
Anthony Nappa, who joined Raphael as winemaker early this year, is Merliance’s new vice president. His focus will be overseeing initiatives that advance the quality of our region’s merlot, both in the vineyard and in the winery.
Clovis Point owner and managing partner Hal Ginsburg was elected treasurer for a second term.
Gilles Martin, a winemaking consultant who makes wines for a handful of local labels, will continue in his non-elected role of Technical Advisor, where he will “continue to ensure quality production of our cooperative blend and maintains dialogue with consultants and research partners, both in our own community and abroad.”