Step behind the scenes of the Martin Family of brands and discover the passion, craftsmanship, and innovation that go into every bottle of wine and spirits we create. From vineyard to cellar, grain to still, our team works tirelessly to bring the best of the Finger Lakes to your glass.
Here, we’ll take you inside our wine cellar and distillery, where you can learn about the artistry, passion, and Finger Lakes fun that fuel our craft.
Meet Our Winemaker & Distiller
Phil Plummer, Head Winemaker
How’d you get into winemaking?
“I went to university at RIT, with the intention of pursuing a career in biotech, computer science, or some combination of the two. Early in my freshman year I learned that the wine tasting classes offered through the hospitality program were open to everybody and that if you took them you could taste wines even if you were under 21. I signed up immediately and fell in love with wine. I started my own experiments with winemaking and brewing in my college apartment, but I didn’t see that for the career path that it was until I took a part-time job at a local winery. Once I understood that I could make a living making wine, I changed my major, graduated as quickly as possible, and started working in winemaking full-time. 16 years later, I’m even more excited about wine and winemaking than I was when I started.”
What do you enjoy most about winemaking?
“The most exciting aspect of any art form is the chance to bring abstract ideas into physical existence, and winemaking is no exception. Every wine we make is a unique opportunity to evaluate and refine our ideas about nature, beauty, tradition, time, and place, and we get to watch those ideas manifest as a living product that we can share with others. It’s a revelatory process that never gets old.”
What is your philosophy and inspiration behind creating our wines?
“I like to color outside the lines, but in a way that highlights the lines so it’s obvious that I’m aware of them and stepping outside intentionally. I’m a student of winemaking history and tradition, and what I really love is taking classic wine styles and techniques and applying them in very novel, unconventional ways.”
Just for fun, what do you listen to while creating in the cellar?
“I’m always listening to something while working in the cellar. Usually, it’s a podcast; current events, history, comedy, and true crime are some of my favorite genres. Occasionally, I’ll find conversation to be distracting, so I switch to music – mostly indie hip-hop and rock.”
Zach Martin, Head Distiller
Being a third-generation Martin, Zach has discovered his niche in the distillery. In 2017, he took the lead role as Head Distiller after years of shadowing those ahead of him. He quickly learned the ins and outs of distilling on our Christian Carl Pot Still, custom-built in Germany, processing local grains with our mash ton, and even the not-so-fun tasks like cleaning the boiler (hence the photo above). Zach notes his favorite part about distilling is that “each day is completely new and no two mashes are the same.”
In his spare time, Zach dives into mixology, crafting unique cocktails at home. This hobby drives his inspiration for new spirits as he likes to create something he knows he and others can use to create a new cocktail.
What is Zach listening to when he’s distilling? House, electroswing, sad cowboy songs, soundscapes, and occasionally chip tunes
We do contract bottling for our wines & spirits! Shoot us a message if you’re interested in learning about our contract bottling services for your business.
