Date: October 15, 2002
Periodical: The Leader Online
Emmys to serve local wine
By Mary Perham
PENN YAN- When international television stars raise a glass at their Emmy Awards banquet Nov. 23, the wine they’ll be drinking will come straight from the cellars of Anthony Road Wine Co.
And according to winery owner John Martini, its not who you know, it’s when you serve ‘em.
"Oh, we were down at some fancy food stop I know in New York City, and this guy I was talking to asked for some wines to try," Martini said.
A dry Riesling, cabernet franc and chardonnay later, Anthony Road was asked to provide the chardonnay and cabernet for a modest little gathering for 1000 international TV stars in Manhattan.
Tongue-in-cheek, Martini is sure he’ll blend right in at the star-studded gala.
"Well, I do own a tux," he said, "I mean, I’ve got three daughters, so that was an investment."
Being selected to provide the vino for an international event that will be televised across the world is also an investment for the Finger Lakes wine industry at large, Martini said.
"It will build a name for the region with the people in (New York) City," Martini said. "Bring us some recognition for our wines."
New York State Grape and Wine Foundation Executive Director James Trezise agreed.
"This isn’t just an honor for John and Ann Martini," "This is a feather in the cap for the whole region."
Not only does it take years of careful cultivation for vineyards to mature, it takes time for regions to develop their own particular identity, Martini said.
"For a long time we were trying to make our Rieslings taste like German Rieslings," Martini said.
"Well now, we learned to back off and let the grapes make the wine. Now we say, ‘This is a Finger Lakes Riesling,’ and guess what? It’s pretty darn good."
This region is noted for the healthy competition between the 42 wineries spread out on four Finger Lakes and their willingness to work together to make a better product.
By the time Anthony Road wines go to the awards ceremony tables in late November, this year’s grape harvest will be completed.
Martini said the rains in September gave local vineyards’ early harvest grapes a little too much water after an exceptionally dry August.
"So we’ll have some good wines in the tank and some very good vines," Martini said.
Maybe also some autographs to add to the cellar walls.
"It’s little things that start to chip away," Martini said. "Any opportunity we have to promote Finger Lakes wines will help us gain attention. We’re winning a lot of awards, now. Really, it’s just a mental process. It just takes time."
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