Dan's Harvest East End Countdown: Macari Vineyards Winemaker Kelly Urbanik Koch

Dan’s Harvest East End is almost here! As she looks forward to joining more that 50 other local winemakers, chefs and purveyors—and all the guests sipping and sampling the bounty of wine and food—at Dan’s Harvest East End on August 23, Kelly Urbanik Koch, Winemaker at Macari Vineyards & Winery, talks about why she loves Long Island Wine Country, shares tips for vineyard visiting and more.

What will you be pouring at Dan’s Harvest East End?
We will be pouring our Sauvignon Blanc, Rose, Chardonnay Estate, and Dos Aguas.

What are some wine tasting tips you can offer to people coming to your winery?
Don’t forget to ask lots of questions and learn as much as you can about the wines and wineries you are visiting. We are eager to teach people about our unique and beautiful little corner of the wine world. If you enjoy the wines, please help spread the word about our wines and our region.

What drew you to work in the Long Island Wine industry?
The Long Island Wine industry is a young, up-and-coming region, with a rich history behind it and a bright future ahead. I am very excited for the opportunity to make wine in this region during such a pivotal time of growth, development and experimentation.

What are some of your favorite things about Long Island Wine Country?
I love the proximity to the water. Nothing is more satisfying than enjoying a crisp stainless steel chardonnay made from Macari fruit paired with fresh blackfish that my husband caught just an hour or two earlier.

Describe the relationship between LI Wine and the agriculture, aquaculture and overall East End culinary culture.
I love the local bounty of fresh foods which pair so well with Long Island wines. Peconic Bay oysters with local sauvignon blanc is the classic example, but there are plenty of other types of seafood, meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, and more which are grown or made locally. We are lucky to have many talented chefs on the East End who are able to create a beautiful marriage of these ingredients.

It is also exciting to see the growth in the craft beer and cider scene out here. As most winemakers agree, “it takes lots of good beer…or cider… and especially coffee…to make great wine.”

What was the moment that made you a true wine lover?
Working in Burgundy, France changed my perspective on wine forever. The history and tradition is so deep-rooted, there is a very special energy there. That experience will always continue to inspire me in my winemaking.

If you weren’t making wine, you would be…a photographer

Make a toast to Long Island Wine:  Raise a glass to our land, our sea, and the wine whose soul captures them both!.

Dan’s Harvest East End is Saturday, August 23, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at McCall Vineyard & Ranch in Cutchogue. To purchase tickets, including Vin-IP entry (starting at 6:30 p.m.), and for more info, visit HarvestEastEnd.com.

Macari Vineyard is located at 150 Bergen Avenue, Mattituck. For more information call 631-298-0100 or visit macariwines.com.