He went to Cornell University and graduated in 1964 with a degree in Pomology (the study of small fruits) and also took business courses. He put himself through college working on campus in the cafeteria. During the summers, he worked as a short-order cook at Roseland Amusement Park, which used to stand right where we are tonight. Upon graduating from Cornell, he was offered a job at Widmer Wine Cellars in Naples, working in the vineyards.
John started learning and enjoying the grape growing business. At Widmer, his interest in the grape industry grew, and he soon became the manager of vineyards operations. In the 1970’s, Widmer was sold to the R.T. French Co. of Rochester. The company sold Widmer in 1983 to a group of private investors, including John and several friends and co-workers. In 1986, they decided to sell Widmer to Canandaigua Wine Company, which is now Constellation Wine Company.
Arbor Hill Grapery
After 23 years at Widmer, John decided the time was right to fulfill his dream of having his own business. He knew that many local grape growers like him were having a difficult time finding homes for their grapes. After doing more research in the grape industry, he noticed that the wine market was leveling off and directed his attention to the potential market for gourmet food products using local grapes and fruits.
He already had some experience in the gourmet food business, as he and his wife, Katie, had started producing two wine sauces from their home kitchen in 1981. John had never had any formal training, but loved cooking and enjoyed putting things together and balancing flavors. He developed and started making dressings, wine jellies, fruit preserves and vinegars.
In 1987, John and Katie purchased and renovated the 18th century building in South Bristol which became the original Arbor Hill Grapery. Within several years, the business outgrew the building and John and Katie purchased the adjacent three buildings, where they now showcase award-winning wines made from experimental grape varietals. The Brown Hound Bistro is now a successful restaurant located in original Arbor Hill building.
Throughout the last 20 plus years, John has continued to add to both the Arbor Hill gourmet food line and 18 award-winning wines. Today he has 45 plus gourmet foods and new finishing sauces on the way. He recently re-introduced Vergennes grape wine. John/Arbor Hill was the first person/winery in the world to produce Traminette wine, which has become Arbor Hill’s signature wine. He credits Cornell University for its assistance in the successful development of this unique grape. The Traminette wine family now consists of Dry Traminette, Classic Traminette and the dessert style Traminette - Ambrosia. Katie and John even gave the name “Ambrosia” to their beloved English Springer Spaniel.
In the year 2000, Arbor Hill was featured on the Food Network Show “Food Finds.” They filmed for two days and had a wonderful time trying all the Arbor Hill products. The product they wanted to feature was Balsamic Vinegar, so John showed them the process involved. You can watch the episode on their website, www.thegrapery.com.
John has also won some very distinctive awards for his gourmet food items. The Black Raspberry Celery Seed Dressing won a trophy at the New York Fancy Food Show, and two other dressings received honorable mention. John samples his products for quality purposes every day. His motto is “Enjoy, Taste after Taste, Time after Time.”
In 1989, Sherry, John and Katie’s younger daughter, officially joined Arbor Hill. She is the General Operations Manager and Buyer. She also maintains the website along with her husband, Barry Orlando. The Grapery stocks many delicious gourmet foods, wine accessories and wine related gifts, along with Arbor Hill’s award-winning wines and food items. The slogan of the business is “Where you’ll find everything grape and more!”, and all tastings are complimentary.
John isn’t shy when it comes to talking about grapes or wine. Often he will get a call from the media for input for their stories or be asked to speak at a conference. He has a true gift for public speaking. When Arbor Hill has motor coach tours, the groups love his wine-tasting presentations because he adds personal humor and educational touches. Often, customers remark how interesting he is, and everyone enjoys his contagious smile and big dimples.
Randall-Standish Vineyards
In 1971, John and his brother, Tom, purchased the Randall farm on Rt. 21 in South Bristol. Tom is the vineyard operations manager, while other brother Paul and Tom’s son, T.J. help work the vineyards. Tom and John began growing grapes for large regional wineries. In 1975, the larger wineries decreased their purchases from area growers. John then came up with the idea of processing grapes into juice for the home winemaker. With the long history of farming in the family, they found it only appropriate to name the farm Randall-Standish Vineyards.
Randall-Standish prides itself on producing high quality grapes and juices for the home winemakers’ market and boutique wineries, such as Arbor Hill. Randall-Standish has been on the cutting edge of introducing new varieties to the market and was instrumental in bringing Cayuga White and Traminette to home winemakers. They are presently working with three experimental varieties and plan to reintroduce many classic varieties from a century ago.
Personal
In the summer of 1964, John married Katharine (Katie) Hawks. They raised their family at their home in Naples, NY. Their daughters, Tina and Sherry, are now married and have families. Tina Dickey resides in South Carolina with her husband, Blane, and four children -- John (age 9), nicknamed J.B., and the triplets Austin, Luke and Moriah (age 4). Sherry and her husband, have just built a home on family farmland overlooking the lake. They have sons Devin (age 12) and Nathan (age 10). John enjoys teaching and playing with his grandchildren every chance he gets.
John and Katie enjoy traveling to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands every winter. They also make every effort to travel to South Carolina at least twice a year to see their growing grandchildren there.
Awards and Service
- Member of the South Bristol Grange
- Served on the United Way
- Member of the Rotary Club with perfect attendance for over 30 years
- Member of the Farm Bureau
- Member of the Grape Growers Association
- Member of New York State Grape Research and Development Committee
- Member of the South Bristol Historical Society
- Member of the Ontario County Republican Committee
- Member of the American Wine Society
- Served on the Ontario County Revolving Loan Fund Committee
- Served as a member and Chairman of the South Bristol Assessment Review Board
- Served on the Ontario County IDA
- Member of the South Bristol Republican Committee
- Member of the Board of Directors of the Ontario County Visitors Connection
- Recipient of the Paul Harris Award from the Rotary Club
- Chairman of the Nelson J. Shaulis Fund for the Advancement of Viticulture at Cornell University
- Member of the Canandaigua Chamber of Commerce
- Member of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation
- Member of the Board of Directors for the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance
- Member of NASFT, National Association for the Specialty Food Trade
- Member of the Canandaigua Lake Water Shed
- Member of the Pride of New York
- Member of the Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty
- Recipient the Alfred University Galanis Award for Excellence in Small Family Business
- President of the Canandaigua Wine Trail
- Recipient of the Viticulture Unity Award from the New York Wine & Grape Foundation
- Sponsor of the Highlander Bike Tour which raises money for local charities
- Member of the Naples Trinity Church
- Recipient of the Farm Bureau Rodney Lightfoot award
- Recipient of the 2009 Naples Grape Festival Achievement Award
John’s Favorite Saying: The Serenity Prayer
John’s Favorite Song: “Climb Every Mountain” Climb every mountain, search high and low
The lyrics of this song convey John’s philosophy in life.
First winery in the world to introduce the Traminette Wine in 1996
The only winery in the world to make historic Vergennes wine and varietal Iona (Double Gold Medal Winner in the 2009 Best-Of-Appellation Wine Competition in Napa, CA). 
