Winemaker
Matt Spaccarelli
- Discipline
- Winemaker
- Based in
- Marlboro, New York, United States
i. Biography
Matt Spaccarelli works across vineyard and cellar at Benmarl Winery in Marlboro, New York, where winemaking is treated as a sequence of linked decisions rather than a single act. As winemaker and vineyard manager, he handles both the material conditions of the fruit and the choices that follow it into the cellar. His focus there is natural winemaking across a range of wines, with vineyard responsibility and cellar work kept in the same frame. The result is a practice built on continuity: season by season, the vineyard informs the wine, and the wine reflects the discipline of the vineyard.
Coming Up
At Benmarl Winery and through Fjord Vineyards, Matt Spaccarelli occupies two roles that point to the same craft foundation. One is grounded in the daily management of an established Hudson Valley site; the other is tied to co-founding a separate project and helping define its direction. Together, those positions show how winemaking can require both stewardship and initiative. The work is agricultural before it is expressive, and the choices behind it depend on patience, observation, and consistency.
Where They Are Now
Benmarl Winery keeps Matt Spaccarelli close to the full span of production, from the needs of the vineyard to the decisions made after harvest. That dual responsibility matters in natural winemaking, where the condition of the fruit and the handling in cellar remain tightly connected. His role as co-founder of Fjord Vineyards extends that practice beyond a single address, while still keeping him tied to Benmarl’s winegrowing landscape. The position is defined less by division than by overlap: vineyard work, cellar work, and long-range project building held together in one career.
Signature
Matt's signature wines include 2015 Albarino, Estate Cabernet Franc, 2019 Estate Cabernet Franc, 2017 Seyval Blanc, and 2015 Baco Noir. Taken together, these wines sketch the breadth of his approach: a lineup that moves across styles and vintages, while remaining anchored in the character of the vineyard and the choices made in the cellar. The repeated presence of Estate Cabernet Franc signals the importance of place and consistency in his work, while the named vintages—2015, 2017, and 2019—mark the patient unfolding of a winemaker’s craft over time. Each bottle belongs to a larger story of natural winemaking, one in which the aim is not to force a uniform result, but to let careful stewardship and thoughtful decisions reveal the fruit’s own possibilities.
Honors
Matt's honors include Winery of the Year, Best Hudson Valley Wine made with Hudson Valley fruit, Best Hudson Valley Winery, Valerie Cup (best wine made with 100% Hudson Valley fruit), and Best in Show. The list reflects recognition across both winery-wide achievement and individual wine quality, with particular emphasis on Hudson Valley fruit and the region’s own identity. These honors also point to the range of the work: awards that recognize the overall operation, the best among wines made with local fruit, and the standout individual bottling. For a winemaker and vineyard manager working at Benmarl Winery and co-founding Fjord Vineyards, they register as evidence of sustained results across vineyard, cellar, and region.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Matt
What is Matt Spaccarelli's current role?
As of 2026, Matt Spaccarelli is Winemaker and Vineyard Manager.
What recognition has Matt Spaccarelli received?
Winery of the Year (2019).
What is Matt Spaccarelli known for?
Cabernet Franc.
