Date: October 21, 2002
Periodical: Finger Lake Times
From vine to wine
Anthony Road’s wines picked for awards ceremony
All those years of hawking wine outdoors at the Manhattan Green Market has paid off for Anthony Road Wine Co.
Thanks to fans made in the Big Apple, Anthony Road Wine Co. is moving indoors the night of Nov. 25 for the 30th annual International Emmy Awards Gala at the New York Sheraton Hotel.
Two Anthony Road wines-2001 Cabernet Franc and 2001 Dry Chardonnay- were selected as the official wines for the black-tie event.
Although the statuette looks the same, this is not the same Emmy ceremony of "The Sopranos," "CSI," and "West Wing." These are the International Emmys, honoring quality global television programming. Past winners included the BBC’s "Absolutely Fabulous" and Japan’s "Iron Chief." Nominees include television broadcasts from Brazil, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
While lower profile, the International Emmy ceremony is no less glamorous. And when the 1000 assembled from around the world raise a glass that night, they’ll be toasting with Finger Lakes wine.
"A very cosmopolitan group of people from around the world will be there," said Anthony Road owner John Martini. "It’s rare to have such a group try our wines."
Anthony Road- on the west side of Seneca Lake off Route 14 in Yates County- found a place at the International Emmys tables through its stand at the Green Market. For years, winery employees have been trucking downstate to sell wines at the Manhattan farmer’s market. Earlier this year, Martini turned a particular New Yorker on to Anthony Road wines, and the new fan happened to know George Leclere, executive director of The International Academy of Arts & Sciences.
One of Leclere's duties is to select the wine for the annual gala. On his friend’s urging, he agreed to try Anthony Road wines. Martini sent him dry Riesling, cabernet franc, and chardonnay. Leclere was impressed and selected the chardonnay and cabernet franc.
The question is why he passed on the Riesling, but it may have something to do with the food being served at the event. Also, as a Frenchman, Martini said Leclere might not be as familiar with Riesling as he is with cab franc and chardonnay- both native to France.
Cabernet franc, a Bordeaux grape sometimes vinified by itself to make Chinon, has settled in comfortably along the shores of the Finger Lakes and has emerged as the region’s best red. Chardonnay is native to Burgundy where it is the grape used to make Chablis, Meursault and Montrachet. Martini said Anthony Road wine-maker Johannes Reinhardt tries to make the wines in French style, fruit forward with little oak. That may be what caught Leclere's attention.
"Each year, I have the much coveted responsibility of seeking out the highest quality wines to be served at the International Emmy’s," Leclere said. "As a enophile who grew up in France, I see Anthony Road wines easily bridging the old and new world tastes of our members and guests."
Another plus for Anthony Road is that the International Emmys bought the wine- 46 cases of it- rather than asking for a "donation."
"So many groups out there have events, that most wineries can give all their wines away in any given year," Martini said. "This event had a budget for the meal and they selected us."
More valuable than the sale, is the outside confirmation that Anthony Road wines are worthy of such an elegant international event.
"This is support for what we always hope for and believe for our wines," Mr. Martini said.
The International Emmy Awards ceremony is telecast around the world and will once again be the focus of an episode of the E! Channel’s popular television series, "FYE!" Look for John and Ann Martini. They’ve been invited and expect to attend.
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