CUTCHOGUE, NY — May 29, 2013 — Merliance, has invited noted oenologist Stéphane Toutoundji to visit the region, June 3 to 5. Mr. Toutoundji will spend time in the wineries and laboratories of each member of the Merliance, and provide feedback and guidance on viniculture and vinification for both individual wineries and the region as a whole.
Mr. Toutoundji will spend a half-day at each Merliance member’s location: Clovis Point(Jamesport), McCall Wines (Cutchogue), Raphael (Peconic), Sherwood House Vineyards(Jamesport), T’Jara Vineyards (Mattituck) and Wölffer Estate Vineyard (Sagaponack). He also will participate in a comprehensive tasting of the merlot-based wines of the East End of Long Island, and will present his findings to the group at the end of his three-day consultation.
An early student of the famous oenologist, Michel Rolland, Stéphane Toutoundji has been making wine since 1988. In 2002, he became a partner in the Gilles Pauquet Laboratory in Libourne, France, now known as Oenoteam, which currently serves 250 to 300 wine estates. Two thirds of these customers rely on the lab for wine analysis services, and the remaining third calls on Mr. Toutoundji for winemaking advice. He thus consults for 55 to 60 châteaux across Bordeaux, many in St. Emilion and Pomerol, including great growths and up-and-coming brands.
