Sacramento, Calif.—The Richard Smith Distinguished Service Award for research and major contributions to the American grape and wine industry was presented to John Martini, owner of Martini Vineyards and Anthony Road Winery in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

Martini received the award at the Winegrape Growers of America’s annual leadership luncheon on Jan. 25. That organization co-sponsored the award along with WineAmerica and the National Grape and Wine Initiative. The luncheon was held during the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium.

The late Richard Smith, founder and co-owner of Smith Family Wines and Paraiso Vineyards in the Monterey region of California, was an active member of the three sponsoring organizations, as was his close friend, John Martini. Both families planted grapes in the 1970s; in 1989 the Smiths produced their first wines from Paraiso Vineyards and the Martinis opened their winery in New York. Martini Vineyards has 80 acres of vineyard and Anthony Road Winery produces 15,000 cases of wine.