Date: October 4, 2002
Periodical: The Chronicle-Express
Anthony Road nominated for Emmys
By Tanya Cornell-Kestler
Penn Yan- Potential fans from around the world will tune into Anthony Road wine during the 30th Annual International Emmy Awards on Nov. 25. Anthony Road Wine Company’s Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay varieties are serving as the official wines of the awards this year. About 1000 television executives, celebrities, performers and guests from around the globe are expected to attend the awards, which is telecast worldwide.
For John Martini, co-owner of Anthony Road Wine Company (ARWC) with his wife Ann, just having his wines selected for the large-scale, star-studded event is an honor. Martini is also looking forward to attending the Gala at the New York Sheraton Hotel in Manhattan. He is going "tuxedo and all" with his wife, and winemaker for Anthony Road Wine Company Johannes Reinhardt. Reinhardt, a native of Germany whose family has been in the winemaking business since 1438, joined ARWC in August 2000.
The ARWC products were chosen by George Leclere, Executive Director for The International Academy of Arts & Sciences in charge of wine selection for the event. Leclere received bottles of the selected varieties from Martini, who sent them after a mutual friend of Lecleres and Martini’s suggested Martini do so. According to Martini, Leclere was very pleased with the two French grape varieties.
Martini chose the Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay to send to Leclere they are both dry and "very nice food wines," he said. Additionally, they are varieties "a lot of people are used to," Martini said. "They’re ones we like to drink," said Martini.
Martini is particularly excited about a lot of people from the New York Metropolitan area being there, as he aspired to serve more customers from there. A good 80 percent of Martini’s customer base comes from within the Binghamton, Rochester, Syracuse and Corning Square, he said. Sales have spilled into Buffalo recently, and quite a few bottles of ARWC wines have poured into New York City already.
Forty-two cases, which contain 12 bottles of wine each, of ARWC’s Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay have been set-aside for the Awards. All 500 plus bottles will be purchased, and that’s good for business, too, said Martini, who is obviously very happy about the work he does and takes great pride in his product.
"It’s a neat job in a lot of ways," Martini said. Martini is involved in every aspect of the business from growing the grapes, to making the wine, to selling and marketing it. Martini admits the work is hard, as he is required to assume the roles of chemist, biologist, botanist, accountant, and more. His favorite part of the job, by far, is working in the vineyard, he said. Martini took a break from grape picking to speak about his involvement with the upcoming International Emmy Awards.
Anthony Road Wine Company, as well as Glenora Wine Cellar, will receive recognition beyond its most popular selling regions this month, too, as it is the sight of a major showcase of food and wine across New York State hosted by the New York Wine and Grape Association. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will join with prominent New York restauranteurs, retailers, food critics and chefs for the event scheduled for next Tuesday.
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