Wölffer Wines, And Paired Cuisine, Turn Eatery Into Hot Spot

“Good food should complement sophisticated wine” was the idea behind the creation of Wölffer Kitchen in Sag Harbor this summer—and it appears to be working.

Meant to give customers the entire experience, the trendy restaurant walks hand-in-hand with Wölffer Estate Vineyards in Sagaponack by boasting many of its wines on the menu and showcasing the brand’s confidence, according to Wölffer partner and winemaker Roman Roth.

But the wine list is not strictly Wölffer, and this was a conscious call, Mr. Roth noted. They wanted to demonstrate that Wölffer can stand up to other wines.

“We are proud and not shy, and we feel embracing,” Mr. Roth said. “We serve other Long Island wines because we feel very strong because of our brand.”

Mr. Roth said roughly 80 percent of diners thus-far have chosen Wölffer offerings over the others because of their loyalty to the brand, which he said he thinks is unique. Ultimately, Wölffer Kitchen has made the Wölffer brand stronger, he explained.

Opening the restaurant was a risk that its two owners, Joey and Marc Wölffer, decided to take, Mr. Roth said. Many corporate wine companies would not jump at an opportunity to open a restaurant due to possible failure, but Wölffer Estate Vineyards is not just about business. It’s about family and growing a legacy. This was an opportunity to show off their wines by pairing the right food with them, Mr. Roth said.

“Something that comes from the heart and from the family, that has led to this opening of the restaurant,” he said. “It has been such a wonderful addition to what we are doing at Wölffer Estate: you eat, you write, you come and taste wine. All of it has worked very well.”

The restaurant is an open, airy space inspired by the method of making wine itself. Steel, glass, cork and weathered wood make up the aesthetic, juxtaposed against a big pop of color: the Summer in a Bottle floral mural painted on the restaurant’s front wall, dotted with antique mirrors and shelves of Wölffer wines.

“The goal was to make something that is open and friendly, and that is not a dark hole, for example,” Mr. Roth said.

These characteristics translate to the cuisine—local, modern American with a Mediterranean influence—which is not outrageous or too complicated, Mr. Roth explained. “We wanted to make food that is not over the top, that is balanced, well done and fresh,” he said, adding that extremely fancy dishes can complicate eating.

“The goal was to make something wonderful, vibrant and elegant, and let the food and wine make the whole experience,” he said.

Wölffer Kitchen is located at 29 Main Street in Sag Harbor. Daily hours are 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.; closed Mondays. For more information, call (631) 725-0101, or visit wolfferkitchen.com.