News about our Vineyard & Winery
Fortune 52: Quarterly Networking Event
More than 600 Long Island business professionals came together Monday, January 25th to honor and acknowledge the most recent group of extraordinary Long Island women who are highlighted each week in Beverly Fortune’s column. As a past honoree, Ann Marie Borghese attended this wonderful event at the newly appointed and elegant Inn at New Hyde Park. Ann Marie is seen here with Beverly Fortune, Associate Publisher, of Fortune 52 which honors local women who lead multiple lives, making significant and unique contributions in their community or workplace: women from all walks of life. The lives and work of these women who inspire by their example are honored in print and online at fortune52.com. Every calendar quarter Beverly hosts an extraordinary, invitation-only networking gathering to celebrate the women of Fortune 52.
Castello di Borghese Joins the Long Island Merlot Alliance -
Long Island’s Oldest Vineyard Affirms Commitment to Quality Merlot
CUTCHOGUE, NY—July 22, 2009—The Long Island Merliance is pleased to welcome Castello di Borghese Vineyard and Winery as the newest member of the Alliance.
Castello di Borghese contributed two barrels of 2007 vintage merlot to the production of 2007 Merliance, the Long Island Merlot Alliance’s cooperative blend of member-wineries’ merlot. Now with Castello di Borghese on board, the Long Island Merlot Alliance includes seven quality wine producers
Planted in 1973, Castello di Borghese is the site of the oldest merlot and other vinifera plantings on Long Island. Marco and Ann Marie Borghese purchased the property in 1999 and have continued producing high-quality wines, earning numerous awards, including most recently, a Double Gold “Best of Appellation” award from Appellation America for its 2003 merlot. “In addition to making great wine, we have always believed in the importance of working together with other producers to improve the quality and stature of the Long Island wine region,” said Mr. Borghese, who has served as president (2005-2007) and vice president (2002-2005) of the Long Island Wine Council. “Because it’s so well-suited to our terroir, merlot is the common denominator for the vineyards of Long Island. Joining the Merlot Alliance is a good way to continue to advance the vineyard and winery practices for merlot and the red wines it enriches.”
Read more...
From an Alliance, an ’06 Merlot
Howard Goldberg reviewed our 2006 Merliance in 12/09/2009 New York Times. Here are some excerpts:
- The merlot displays aroma and flavor characteristics that lend credence to the group’s position that merlot is and should remain the East End’s signature red grape and wine.
- The 2006, the alliance’s third release since its founding in 2005 (the first was the 2004), tilts toward graceful, restrained Bordeaux and away from a plush California style.
- On uncorking the dark-ruby light-bodied 2006, I found hints of roses and licorice in the aroma and berry-compote and tobacco flavors. The refreshing acidity makes this well-balanced red a versatile food wine. It also holds the promise of complexities that are likely to blossom in a year or two.
New York Times - On the Street,
June 7th, 2009
Yard Party
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Ann Marie Borghese at the Old Westbury Gardens anniversary party.
The party season has moved out of the chandeliered ballroom and into the sumptuous garden.
A week ago, hills of huge 100-year-old rhododendrons were in spectacular bloom for the 50th anniversary of the opening to the public of Old Westbury Gardens, the former Phipps estate. Guests were asked to dress in 60's style.
During the Gilded Age, more than 1000 country houses with elaborate grounds were built on the North Shore of Long Island, 30 minutes from Manhattan. Completed in 1906, the 200 acre estate is a reminder of that halcyon age and is one of the few that remains intact -- including the furnishings in the mansion, today a house museum.
View the New York Times Slideshow
Castello di Borghese Raises the (Gold) Bar Again –
Another Double Gold for the North Fork of Long Island Appellation
North Fork of Long Island Wine Estate Castello di Borghese receives another “Best of Appellation” (BOA) from Appellation America’s Tasting Panel in Napa.
Castello di Borghese Vineyard and Winery clinched an additional Double Gold Medal, a 3rd in 2009, for its 2007 Castello di Borghese Chardonnay from Appellation America’s Evaluation Sessions conducted in early March. Appellation America’s mission is to advance the public’s knowledge and appreciation of the many diverse wine growing regions of North America, while their Best-of-Appellation Program is an on-going process of identifying wines in each appellation which best express the character of the appellation and the quality of wine craftsmanship in the region.
In total, the following five Castello di Borghese wines have been recognized by Appellation America’s Tasting Panel in February and March, 2009:
2007 Castello di Borghese Chardonnay – Double Gold Medal
2003 Castello di Borghese Merlot – Double Gold Medal
2004 Castello di Borghese Cabernet Franc – Gold Medal
2005 Castello di Borghese Pinot Noir – Gold Medal
2007 Castello di Borghese Sauvignon Blanc – Gold Medal
Marco and Anne-Marie Borghese, the proprietors of Castello di Borghese, are owners of the first vineyard and winery established on Long Island in 1973. Under their stewardship since 1999, their estate wines have been continuously recognized for excellence at the regional, state and national level.
The Castello di Borghese Vineyard and Winery is positioned within the North Fork of Long Island Appellation. One of three Long Island-designated wine appellations, or regions, it is located on New York’s still agricultural-based North Fork, approximately 80 miles east of Manhattan. Considered among the United States’ finest wine-producing areas due to its geography, soil composition, weather and rainfall, the North Fork of Long Island Appellation encompasses the majority of vineyards on Long Island.
Interview with Ann Marie Borghese
THE HOME SHOW with Natalie Weinstein, 5/31/2009
Part I
Part II
New York Times - October 8, 2008
Borghese Delivers - Long Island Vines
Excerpts By Howard G. Goldberg
After buying the Hargrave Vineyard in 1999, Marco and Ann Marie Borghese prominently featured
the estate’s new name, Castello di Borghese, on their early labels. Today the front of the bottle
says just Borghese, though the princely crest remains, a reminder that Mr. Borghese’s family traces
itself to 12th-century Siena.
A tasting of seven Borghese wines indicates that the estate, in Cutchogue, need not rely on Old
World symbolism to attract New World consumers.
The peppy, light, creamy 2007 estate sauvignon blanc ($19.99) is a standout. It relies on a grapefruity
acidity to wash the palate; its on-and-off smoky flavor conveys hints of pear and herbs. Fans of
chardonnay reared in stainless steel rather than oak barrels will find traits to like in Borghese’s
lively 2006 edition ($16.99). This white thrives on its spicy green-apple and pear flavors and
benefits from a long fruity aftertaste.
The densely meaty 2005 reserve cabernet sauvignon ($39) outshone the rest of the reds. This big,
rich wine delivered an assortment of nuances: herbs, tobacco and mint. It draws you back for a
second glass. The regular 2003 cabernet franc ($24.99) and its sibling, the smoky, more complex
2004 reserve franc ($39), captured the earthiness and sour cherry flavors common to this cousin of
cabernet sauvignon.
When the Borgheses bought the property from Louisa and Alex Hargrave, who founded the Long
Island wine industry in 1973, they inherited an unenviable tradition of making pinot noir. Although
this hard-to-manage Burgundian grape does not seem well suited to its East End maritime agriculture
habitat, the Hargraves made successful pinots periodically.
Eight hours’ decanting suggests that the steel-fermented, barrel-aged 2005 estate pinot noir ($28.99)
and 2005 fully barrel-reared version ($44) will make the grade. Both seemed sleepy and inhibited
when first tasted, but their promise became clear.
New York Times - August 3, 2008
WINERIES
On Winemakers’ Tours, Refining Tasters’ Palates
By NICOLE COTRONEO
THE prince was wearing orange rubber clogs, a faded T-shirt and shorts. In a soft baritone, Marco Borghese greeted each person who walked into the tasting room at his vineyard, Castello di Borghese, on a recent Sunday afternoon.
His wife, Ann Marie, a princess by marriage, was the picture of breezy elegance in a light blue skirt and pink clogs. The Borgheses — Marco Borghese can trace his family’s lineage to ninth-century Tuscany — nurture the former Hargrave Vineyard, the oldest estate on the East End.
They’re among the Long Island winemakers stepping out to lead tours. While some wineries draw visitors by filling their calendars with events like Shakespeare performances and cooking demonstrations, they offer a chance to focus on the winemaking process.
Educating the taster’s palate is also the primary goal of Ms. Borghese’s Winemaker’s Walk. She told visitors on a recent walk that her “mission is for everyone to leave with three to five tasting notes” — for instance, how a white fermented in French oak tastes versus a white fermented in the tank.
The tour begins in a caravan of cars across Castello di Borghese’s dusty fields. The destination is a pinot noir vineyard outside the Borgheses’ house and near the winery, a converted 1840s barn that houses a dark, cool tank room and subterranean barrel cellar.
In front of the pinot noir field, Ms. Borghese playfully discussed the pinot noir versus merlot controversy raised by the 2004 indie film “Sideways.” Borghese makes both, and she served both at the tasting later.
Exploring Wine Country
Castello di Borghese, Route 48 and Alvah’s Lane; (631) 734-5111; www.castellodiborghese.com. Winemaker’s Walk, 90 minutes, Thursday and Sunday at 1 p.m., through October; Saturday at 1 p.m. November through June. $15, includes tasting. Reservations recommended.
Castello di Borghese 2005 Pinot Noir
Long Island wines sometimes have it rough. A fair amount of locals don’t even know what they taste like, they struggle for respect in the world arena, and they are often decried as being overpriced. But there are some real gems out there that could not only stand up to wines from other celebrated regions, but are well worth every penny.
Today’s example: Castello Di Borghese’s 2005 Estate Pinot Noir.
When you visit the Cutchogue winery your sure to hear two things at the tasting bar. First, that Borghese’s vines are the oldest in the region, planted when it was Hargrave Winery, LI’s first.
And the second thing the pourer will surely tell you: Borghese manages to do what few vineyards on Long Island can, grow the finicky, thin-skinned pinot noir grapes to perfection.
Read more
Castello di Borghese’s pinot jewel on LI LIVING.
The National Association of Professional Women has invited Ann Marie Borghese, co-owner of Castello di Borghese Vineyard, to join its membership. The NAPW highlights and profiles the country's most accomplished professional women. Ann Marie stated, "Inclusion in the NAPW is an honor and a privilege".
LISTEN to Ann Marie Borghese Radio Interview by Debbie Mandel author of the book Addicted to Stress and host of radio show Turn on Your Light. This mind/body wellness show airs every Tuesday evening from 7:00pm to 7:30pm on WGBB 1240AM in Long Island, New York.
Note: In order to listen using efficient "streaming" (no download delay time) you will need the RealOne Player a free version is available from Real Networks.
Newsday
Drinks - Pinot Noir Challenges
By PETER M. GIANOTTI
"Pinot noir challenges vineyards and winemakers. On Long Island, it has yielded some excellent wines, among them the consistently fine pinots of Castello di Borghese in Cutchogue and its predecessor. Try the 2005 Castello di Borghese Pinot Noir ($29), a supple, harmonious wine with fine fruit and black cherry notes. There's more than a hint of Burgundy here. It's an ideal way to welcome autumn."
Borghese Vineyard & Winery is chosen as the BEST OF LONG ISLAND - WINERY & VINEYARD
Castello di Borghese was chosen as 2006 Winery of the Year. After polling readers, the editors at the L.I. Press chose Borghese Vineyard as 2006 Winery of the Year with a special feature as Editors Choice.
Castello di Borghese Vineyard is 1 of the 1000 places you must see before you die
According to the best selling travel author's new book 1000 Places to See Before You Die, USA and Canada, a New York Times bestseller. There is also a popular television show on the Discovery Channel featuring the first published, international version of this wildly popular travel book.
The North Fork of Long Island, NY is one of the 1000 places and our winery,
Castello di Borghese Vineyard and Winery , Cutchogue, North Fork Long Island is featured specially.
From Italy to Long
Island
For
another local winemaker, Prince Marco Borghese, wine was simply a way
of life. He grew up in Scarperia , Italy , outside of Florence , where
everyone made their own wine-that was just what families did. In 1999,
Borghese bought the region's oldest winery, Hargrave, and began Castello
di Borghese Vineyard & Winery.
"It's
a very Italian thing to do," laughs Borghese, who runs the winery with
his wife, Princess Ann Marie Borghese.
In
his first years in business, Borghese was still selling the remaining
Hargrave stock while devising a strategy to market his own label. Since
then, Borghese has become a recognized grower and maker of good wines
in the industry. But Borghese believes they have found a niche: growing
the very fragile and trendy pinot noir grape.
Long
before the movie Sideways enlightened the everyman
to this wine, sommeliers, growers and serious wine geeks worshipped
pinot noir for its delicate nature but unforgettable, explosive taste.
Borghese is now selling pinot noir, something most vineyards cannot
claim. The grape takes a great deal of love and care, something Borghese
says is found throughout most of the area's wineries and vineyards.
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Calendar Dog Benefits Animal Rescue Organizations
Borghese Family featured in National Rescue Pet Calendar
Ann Marie Borghese of Borghese Vineyard was featured with her dog in the 2007 CSU Winery Pet Calendar benefiting animal rescue organizations across the country. She was pleased to join the calendar submissions this year with her recent addition to the family, Brix, a one-year-old Bracco Italiano rescue dog.
Cork Supply USA –one of the nation's leading supplier of natural cork and packaging products to the wine industry joined efforts with Vineyard and Winery owners across the United States to create the 2007 CSU Winery Pet Calendar. Dogs, cats and even parrots are featured in this year’s edition. Local photographer Natasha Beccaria photographed Brix & Ann Marie last summer. Jake the German shepherd, rescued by one of CSU’s executives ten years ago, was CSU’s greatest inspiration for the calendar.
This is the calendar’s second edition and continues to build popularity. The calendar photograph submissions include a $10.00 donation which will benefit animal rescue organizations throughout the United States. Flip to the month of February and you will find Ann Marie and Brix enjoying the gardens overlooking the vineyard.
Brix and his long, soft, floppy ears and expressive eyes can light up a roomful of people in an heartbeat. “He’s a little shy at first”, Marco Borghese explains, “but once he gets to know you, he’ll be the first to greet you at the door with his wagging tail and a nudge of his nose”.
Rescued
One-year-old Brix – Borghese’s newest ambassador - joined the Borghese family during an unexpected rescue mission last summer organized by Marco and Ann Marie Borghese and their two children. “We were delighted to welcome Brix to our home,” says Ann Marie Borghese, “We knew he was special from the moment we saw him”. Several months ago, Ann Marie heard ‘through the grape-vine’ of several Bracco Italiano dogs who were in need of immediate rescue in South Carolina. The Borghese Family didn’t think twice about jumping in their car for the long drive to the Carolinas.
Winemaking Name
The Borghese’s love of wine inspired the newest family member’s name. Brix was named after a well-established wine term for measuring sugar levels in grapes. One look into this dog’s eyes and you can see he is off the charts in sweetness levels. The Brix scale is named in honor of its inventor, Adolf F. Brix, who calibrated it in 1870.
Noble Breed
The Bracco Italiano, also called the Italian Pointer, is a classic and ancient pointer and one of the only native Italian Gundog breeds. The Bracco is an ancient breed dating back to the fourth and fifth centuries B.C. They are considered an antecedent of many of todays modern sporting dogs. The breed belongs to the Hunt, Point and Retrieve Group of dogs.
The breed has been present since the Middle Ages and became widespread in the Renaissance period. It was held in very high regard by the nobility. In fact, feathered game hunting was an exclusive appendage of the aristocracy. It was bred by the Gonzaga and Medici families. The subjects born in those kennels were sought out by nobles and royal families, such as the Borgheses.
The vineyards aren’t the only nice scenery on Long Island
Eye-catching bachelor Giovanni Borghese was featured in Frommers Budget Travel supplement – Girlfriend Getaway magazine – as one of NY’s youngest and most eligible men among the highlighted group.
Gioanni is the son of Prince Marco Borghese who owns Castello di Borghese Vineyard & Winery in Cutchogue, Long Island, NY.
Borghese Supports Charity
Ann Marie Borghese, of Castello di Borghese in Cutchogue, can be found at many prestigious charitable events across the region promoting Long Island Wine Country. She has contributed Tasting Certificates for Borghese Vineyard in take-home “goodie bags” for the Arthritis Foundation, and Borghese wines were poured at the Pajama Program luncheon at the Pierre Hotel, in NYC. This charitable foundation provides new pajamas and books to children, nationwide.
Celebration for Mother Earth Concert
Ann Marie Borghese, the first Long Island Press’ Fortune 52, honoring LI women who make significant contributions to their community, attended the Celebration for Mother Earth Concert, on the 25th anniversary of Earth Day. Proceeds from the Concert, featuring music talents such as Joan Osborne, Kevin Bacon with his brother Michael, and Jen Chapin, daughter of the legendary Harry Chapin, benefited Grassroots Environmental Education, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about the links between common environmental exposures and human health. Concert attendees enjoyed the goodie bags with Borghese Wine Tasting certificates.
Ann Marie and Marco Borghese with The Bacon Brothers, Kevin and Michael
Borghese on Celebrity Chef Tour
Celebrity Chef Tour, featuring Food Network star Guy Fieri, was in town recently and invited Ann Marie Borghese, spokesperson for Borghese Vineyard, to speak about Long Island Wine Country and its special Wines, to increase awareness of this relatively new, yet prestigious region.
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