Red Newt Cellars has close relationships with all of its growers, and our winemaking team has an intimate relationship with the vineyards themselves. Read first hand accounts about our wines, how we make them and how they are grown.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Anthony moved to Hector as an infant in 1963. Raised in a farm house on Rte 414, he helped his older brother, Paul, plant the first vineyard on family land in the mid 70’s. Later, he and his brother Lou began Damiani Vineyards in 1998. A graduate of Cornell’s Agricultural and Life Sciences College, Anthony holds a full-time position at Cornell while managing his vineyard with his wife, Anne.
Anthony’s 8 acre vineyard is located on his 30 acre farm and produces Glacier Ridge wines through Red Newt. It is a perfect example of the extraordinary variation in soil types within one vineyard which is so common in the Finger Lakes. His vineyard consists of three blocks of grapes, each of which has very different soil. He and his wife have been active in area environmental causes and have made strides towards eliminating the use of herbicides in the vineyard for the health of the grapes as well as the environment. Anthony has focused on producing mostly red varietals including Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir.
Everyone loves Harvest and Anthony is no exception but he also notes that early Spring is another really exciting time when you can experience the unfolding of the new growth and the challenge of trimming and training the vines to produce the best grapes possible.
In addition to the vineyard, Anthony & Anne Damiani also run an Airbnb from the family homestead where Anthony grew up. In the summer months, when his college age son, Bryce is home to help out, Anthony can sneak away for a few hours to sail his Hobe Cat on beautiful Seneca Lake
This week both Wine Stories and Aged Wines examine rosé. What better way to prepare for rosé than to learn a bit about the man who manages all the Cabernet Franc grapes that make the wine!
Peter Martini may not be FLX born, but he was raised in the Finger Lakes and lived all but 10 years post college here. His parents, Ann and John, planted grapes for Taylor Wine Co. in 1972. After the demise of that market in the 1980s they decided to start Anthony Road Winery, in 1989. They began planting some vinifera at that time and maintained some of the hybrids that were already established.
Peter graduated from Clarkson University in the spring of 1990 with a B.S. in Business Management (he says he failed at his attempt at an engineering degree). He then moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming after college, not willing to become an equities trader right away, fell in love with the place and spent the next 10 years there as an automotive technician at a small repair shop. Peter comments, “towards the end of my stay in Jackson Hole, I met and got engaged to my wife, Margot, who was from Long Island. We decided to move back East and I would help my parents with the vineyards/winery. I have been the vineyard manager since 2000. This despite hating the vineyards in my youth, now I cannot think of anything I would rather do.”
Peter says, “I currently manage a total of close to 100 acres of primarily vinifera grapes. Our home farm has 35 acres and the Nutt Road Farm is 65 acres. Both are on the north west side of Seneca Lake. We manage the Nutt Road farm for its outside owners. While each season in the vineyard has its bright spots, my favorite time is post-harvest. The crop is in, the work is done, and I can take a break from the vineyards and not worry too much.” Peter approaches each day and harvest with the same work ethic his parents instilled in him. He constantly and consistently works hard to grow the best possible grapes he can grow and believes in balance in the vineyards.
Peter lives on Seneca Lake and loves looking at the water, seeing how it changes daily. Peter says, “What I like most about the wine industry here is the great sense of cooperation versus competition. It says so much about the type of community we are. I enjoy golfing, but it looks like I may have to wait a bit as golf courses are not open just yet.”
Here at Red Newt we can’t help ourselves – we bottle a bunch of unique wines every vintage. The downside? The arduous, quarterly-task of inventory day. From ceiling to cellar, we search the entire building and count every last case and bottle of wine. This task serves as a great reminder of the beautiful wines we have in stock.
Today in particular we reminisce over the magnums of Riesling: the hand-filling, the hand-leveling, the hand-corking, the hand-labeling, and the hand-waxing. All in all, a lot of extra labor worth every minute of the cellar team’s effort. Plus, magnums hold two bottles, so they make an impressive display.
We are pleased to be able to present these age-worthy bottles that always end up being the center of attention when they are opened. Let’s be honest, we are pleased we get to enjoy them ourselves as well!
So, the next time you drop by Red Newt Cellars Winery and Bistro, have a look at the magnums. They are stunning, a conversation starter and a celebration in a bottle. We look forward to showing off these wines to you!
Eric Hazlitt is Finger Lakes born and bred. He was born into a family of farmers that started working the Hector land in 1852. Eric is a 6th generation farmer, who grew up right on the farm learning the ins and outs of grape farming. He graduated from Cobleskill College and returned to Hector to work the family farm. 
Eric and his team work hybrid and vinifera grape blocks. Their grapes have produced many quality bottles of wine for nearly two dozen different wineries through the years and decades. As a dedicated grape growing farm, their blocks of grapes have also produced numerous award winning Single Vineyard wines for the most prominent Finger Lakes Wineries.
After years of working alongside his father Jim, Eric and his wife Tina now run the farm. Sawmill Creek Vineyards is still a family affair as both of Eric’s children also work full time on the farm. The next generation works hard every day learning to mesh tried and true practices with the new techniques of the industry. 
Do not worry though, it is not business all the time. Eric and his family are also Seneca Lake lovers. As much as they love the land they work with, they also revere the beauty of the lake. Eric and Tina seize every opportunity to be down by the lake or on the lake. If it’s a nice day, get the work done, head to the lake, take a deep breath and exhale. The best way to relax in Hector? Take a boat ride! Make it a family affair!
Many of you have heard of Lahoma Vineyards. This vineyard produces the grapes that become Riesling ‘The Knoll,’ Riesling Lahoma and Riesling ‘The Big H.’ But, the majority of you probably know little to nothing about Lahoma Vineyard’s owner Ken Fulkerson. Ken, a Finger Lakes native, is the son of Harlan Fulkerson, a 6th generation farmer. He was raised in and around Dundee, NY and at one point lived in the farmhouse that is now Fulkerson’s Winery. Ken was born into a grape growing family and grew up in the business and on the farm.
This didn’t stop him from doing other things. In 199, Ken entered the Air Force in telecommunications and remained in that field until he retired in 2017. Ken’s work in telecommunications did not stop him from establishing foundations at home. Ken has a 70 acre farm, with 40 acres currently in grape production and will expand that to 45 acres over the next two years.
Ken says he is blessed on the Lahoma farm. The Lahoma Vineyard is not just unique because of well drained soils and its rolling knolls. Every day, we put generations of experience and attention to detail into how we guide it. The result is a pristine vineyard that delivers the highest quality fruit for the production of world class wines.
When asked when his favorite time of year is, he speaks of a time between the seasons. Once pruning is completed the vines must be tied. This can start as early as February and is completed no later than the end of April. Ken says, “Right after the grapes have been tied. They just have a clean look and you can give a little smile knowing you’re ready for spring to kick off.”
The Finger Lakes is home for Ken. He loves the beauty of our region, the stunning state parks and all the outdoor activities available at each of them. More importantly, he loves the nature of the people of the Finger Lakes, they are generally kindhearted and friendly folks.
