With a mission to carry on the innovative legacy of her father, Joey and her brother Marc took over the winery in early 2013. That same year, they introduced the brand’s iconic Summer in a Bottle Rosé, which traditionally sells out each summer and is the number one fastest-growing rosé in New York City.
In addition to the vineyard, Joey and Marc also took over The Tasting Room, Wine Stand, and Wölffer Estate Stables, which are all located on the 170-acre estate in the heart of the Hamptons. As an elite equestrian, Joey oversees the world-class stable facility, which combines heritage, beauty, and a passion for excellence.
Prior to joining the family business, Joey founded the Styleliner Truck, a luxury accessories boutique on wheels, and in 2015 she opened her eponymous boutique in Sag Harbor, NY. Specializing in limited luxe jewelry, clothing, and accessories for women, the concept boutique was a carefully curated treasure trove of extraordinary pieces by hard-to-find designers mixed with worldly vintage finds. Additionally, Joey established an environmentally conscious “Re-Worked” collection featuring one-of-kind, reimagined womenswear pieces. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, Joey began her career as a jewelry designer for Meems LTC, providing accessories for several High Street stores in the UK and later became a jewelry designer for Nine West as well as Trend Director for The Jones Group. Outside of the myriad of businesses, Joey is passionately involved with The Bridgehampton Center, Robin Hood, Southampton Hospital, Every Mother Counts, and The Parrish Art Museum. She is a mother of two with her husband and the Wolffer CEO, Max Rohn.
There is currently a (much needed) shift happening among vineyards and wineries towards creating more environmentally sustainable ventures. Beyond organic labels and basic regenerative farming tactics, it is becoming increasingly apparent that there must be a push to conserve within viticulture and wine branding itself. Whether that is implementing drip irrigation practices or simply eliminating single use plastics within the tasting room, a lot can be done with little effort to decrease our carbon footprint. Some winemakers have reverted back to antiquated winemaking practices or unique procedures that will inevitably change the way grapes are grown and harvested, thus changing the wine itself. We have taken action in this regard by applying our own sustainability tactics, such as adding solar panels to our warehouse roofs, which allows us to harness 20% of our energy needs. I feel taking actions like this gives us a sustainable edge while not having to compromise the integrity of our wine.
Maintain your authenticity. As a company, we have never strayed from our core values regarding winemaking, horses, and family. Personally, I feel that my own, albeit unique, personality has highlighted the brand and supported these wonderful values. Even as we grow and evolve, perpetuating our core principles and identity as a Hamptons-based, family-owned operation automatically delivers a sense of authenticity to our consumers, no matter the demographic. Ultimately, it is not wise to let power or money drive you to alter your values or yourself. Let your genuine passion and voice guide your brand.
The wine industry is experiencing a shift at the moment– demand from the younger generations for wine is just not matching those of the older generations that we have catered to for years. Instead, RTDs are growing in popularity among Gen Z and Millennial demographics. But that doesn’t mean wine is not a potential target for these consumers. Rebranding into a lifestyle-based wine company that showcases wine as a drink for everyone, not just the elite, while branching out into more casual areas, like ciders, allows vineyards like us to be more versatile and attract a broader audience. We want everyone to be able to enjoy our products, no matter one’s age or circumstance.
No! In my opinion there is no single secret that leads to success. Rather, a culmination of good, driven people working beside you, a strong and innovative brand platform that you believe in, and a little bit of luck is bound to bring you success in some capacity.
Michelle Obama. She is a powerful and inspiring woman who stands firmly by her own beliefs and values. I admire that she has carved out her own identity and refuses to remain in the shadow of her husband, despite him being arguably the most powerful person in the world at one time. Her intelligence, poise, and genuine commitment to advocacy makes her my role model and someone that deserves the utmost respect.
My family. Without the unwavering support and grounding presence of my anchors (the Wolffer-Rohn clan), I would not be able to live the full life that I do. I feel extremely lucky to be surrounded by such love and guidance. They have been instrumental in my growth– not only as a mother and wife, but also in developing my identity as an equestrian and female winemaker. I would be lost without them!
One trend I’m excited for this year is the return of intentional, outdoor living. We live in a world where our eyes are glued to our phones, and I am no exception to this bad habit. But at the very least for my kids’ sake, I think valuing time spent together, technology free, is imperative to raising decent humans. Social media and screen time almost undoubtedly provides anxiety and undue stress as we constantly have access to a device that allows us to compare ourselves to anyone– this can be exhausting! That said, doing something as simple (and perhaps childish) as adding a coloring book to your routine can be a useful tool in brain relaxation. I think my father’s addition of the vineyard and bringing horses into our lives has allowed us the privilege of outliving this “trend” of intentionality, and truly immersing ourselves into a lifetime of valuable, in-person moments.
Widow Clicquot and Big Little Farm.
I found Big Little Farm to be incredibly inspiring and authentic in its portrayal of both the challenges and rewarding moments within sustainable agriculture. Protagonists John and Molly offer resilience and passion when demonstrating the long-term vision required to build a farm from the ground up. Those values deeply resonate with me and the work we do at Wolffer.
The recently-released film Widow Clicquot also resonated with me by showcasing a woman who defied the social norms of the time, while simultaneously transforming the champagne industry. Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin challenged a male dominated industry and won, speaking to the power of fema
