Our parents, John and Ann Martini, moved to Anthony Road in Penn Yan in 1973.
They loaded up their two young children, Peter and Sarah, and left their home in Baltimore to establish their farming life on the west side of Seneca Lake. Neither Ann nor John had an agricultural background, unless you count John’s youthful summers at his grandparents’ farm in Illinois.
Together, with the help of family and friends, they planted their first 5 acres in the summer of 1973.
The vineyard grew to 30-acres, and the family grew to four children: Peter, Sarah, Maeve and Elizabeth. It was quickly realized that an outside job was needed to support their endeavors.
Dad joined the staff at the Cornell Experiment Station in Geneva while mom took over the day to day operations.
She managed both the household and the vineyard.
Demand for the grapes shifted and by the late 80’s our parents were faced with the uncertainty of grape sales at time of harvest. It was back to the drawing board.
Over a couple of cold beers the decision was made to partner with Derek Wilber and begin making wine.
It is this decision that leads us to where we are today at Anthony Road Wine Company.
Eventually, we kids all ventured onward –
Peter moved to Wyoming after earning a degree from Clarkson. He was a mechanic in Jackson Hole for 10 years before moving back to the Finger Lakes. Sarah studied Nutrition Science in Boston and worked as a dietitian for over 10 years. Maeve knew she wanted to become a nurse when she was in middle school and spent more than 20 years in the medical field. Liz received an Agronomy degree from UC Davis before returning to the Finger Lakes.
While we were out sowing our wild oats, the business continued to evolve. Our friend and winemaker, Derek Wilber, moved on to further his career.
Mom and Dad hired Johannes Reindhardt as head winemaker in 2000.
In 2006, Peter Becraft interned in the vineyard and began an apprenticeship under Johannes. The wines of Anthony Road began receiving regional and national recognition.
In 2013, Peter transitioned to head winemaker, and Johannes started his own winery.
In that same year, we gathered for dinner at our parents’ home to discuss the future of the vineyard and winery.
We fondly recalled our upbringing on the farm, where we spent spring breaks tying vines, managing suckers, and thinning clusters in the summer. Autumn afternoons were devoted to collecting picker’s tickets and arranging boxes, while harvest weekends were occupied with washing boxes and pressing juice, and clearing brush during winter months.
Ultimately, we resolved to expand upon the foundation established by John and Ann.
John and Ann are still active in the vineyard and winery operations, but they have passed the reins on to us.
Peter manages the vineyards, Sarah is the Director of Operations, Maeve is our Office Manager, and Liz manages the tasting room. Our spouses have joined in our endeavors: Peter’s wife, Margot, works in the tasting room when she isn’t teaching. Sarah’s husband, Mike, is our VP of Sales. Maeve’s husband, Peter, does screen printing for the winery when he isn’t refereeing hockey. Liz’s husband, Sam, assists in the landscaping, and his custom metal artwork can be found throughout the property and the greater Finger Lakes area.
The smells of each season and the orderly cane-tied rows remind us of our history with this land. Like us, our children have learned that earwigs aren’t as scary as they look, and they know firsthand how wet you can get from dew and grape juice. All the grapes still taste good, seeds and all, and there are many stained and cracked hands come harvest time. There continue to be early mornings for picking, late night dinners, and the development of a family much larger than our own.
This is not just a job for us; it is a labor of love and our home, so welcome!
-Peter, Sarah, Maeve, and Liz
