Robert Palmer (vintner)
Encyclopedia
Robert Palmer was an American
advertising executive who became a vintner and one of the pioneering developers of the wine industry on the North Fork
of New York
's Long Island
.
He was born Robert Joseph Prignano on July 16, 1934 in Forest Hills, Queens
. He adopted the surname Palmer when he started working as he felt people found it too hard to spell. He went to school in Queens Village, Queens
and attended Chaminade High School
in Mineola, New York
. He did not attend college and started employment in the advertising industry in his early teens. By 1970, he was president and chief executive of Kelly Nason, growing its billings from $14 million to $140 million by the time he left the position in 1978. He started a media buying
service, called RJ Palmer, in 1979, which he sold in the 1990s but remained active in the business until two years before his death.
After selling his interest in Kelly Nason, he bought land for his vineyard in 1983 in Aquebogue
, in Suffolk County, New York
, despite knowing almost nothing about the wine business. The winery he opened in 1986 was one of the most modern in the nascent wine-growing business on the North Fork of Long Island, and he made his business one of the most friendly to visitors. One of the first major investors in the area, Palmer Vineyards produces up to 16,000 cases of wine annually, specializing in Cabernet Franc
and sauvignon blanc
. His company was one of the first to export wine grown on Long Island internationally. His wines have been served on American Airlines
and at restaurants from California to Walt Disney World to Gallagher's Steak House
in Manhattan
, where it is served as the house wine.
Despite a personal preference for martinis, Palmer would taste all of his own wines and exercise final approval on his products, but did not otherwise prefer to drink wine. He had been impressed with people who could accurately identify wines while blindfolded by vineyard and a vintage, which led him to pursue wine tasting
as a hobby.
Palmer died at age 74 on January 16, 2009 of a blood infection
. He was survived by the former Lorraine Wittmer, his wife of 50 years, three daughters and three grandsons.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
advertising executive who became a vintner and one of the pioneering developers of the wine industry on the North Fork
North Fork, Suffolk County, New York
The North Fork is a 30-mile-long peninsula in the northeast part of Suffolk County, New York, roughly parallel with an even longer peninsula known as the South Fork...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
.
He was born Robert Joseph Prignano on July 16, 1934 in Forest Hills, Queens
Forest Hills, Queens
Forest Hills is a neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, United States.-Neighborhood:The neighborhood is home to upper-middle class residents, of whom the wealthier residents often live in the neighborhood's Forest Hills Gardens area...
. He adopted the surname Palmer when he started working as he felt people found it too hard to spell. He went to school in Queens Village, Queens
Queens Village, Queens
Queens Village is mostly a residential neighborhood in the eastern part of the New York City borough of Queens.The Queens Village Post Office serves the ZIP codes of 11427 , 11428 , and 11429...
and attended Chaminade High School
Chaminade High School
Chaminade High School is a Roman Catholic college preparatory high school for young men. Located in Mineola, New York, the school was founded in 1930 by the Society of Mary , an international Roman Catholic teaching order of priests and religious Brothers. The school is named for Father William...
in Mineola, New York
Mineola, New York
Mineola is a village in Nassau County, New York, USA. The population was 18,799 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a Native American word meaning a "pleasant place"....
. He did not attend college and started employment in the advertising industry in his early teens. By 1970, he was president and chief executive of Kelly Nason, growing its billings from $14 million to $140 million by the time he left the position in 1978. He started a media buying
Media buying
Media Buying is a sub function of Advertising management. Media Buying is the procurement of the best possible placement and price of a piece of media real-estate within any given media...
service, called RJ Palmer, in 1979, which he sold in the 1990s but remained active in the business until two years before his death.
After selling his interest in Kelly Nason, he bought land for his vineyard in 1983 in Aquebogue
Aquebogue, New York
Aquebogue is a census-designated place roughly corresponding to the hamlet by the same name in the town of Riverhead in Suffolk County, New York, United States...
, in Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
, despite knowing almost nothing about the wine business. The winery he opened in 1986 was one of the most modern in the nascent wine-growing business on the North Fork of Long Island, and he made his business one of the most friendly to visitors. One of the first major investors in the area, Palmer Vineyards produces up to 16,000 cases of wine annually, specializing in Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varieties worldwide. It is principally grown for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style, but can also be vinified alone - as in the Loire's Chinon...
and sauvignon blanc
Sauvignon blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a green-skinned grape variety which originates from the Bordeaux region of France. The grape most likely gets its name from the French word sauvage and blanc due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in South West France., a possible descendant of savagnin...
. His company was one of the first to export wine grown on Long Island internationally. His wines have been served on American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
and at restaurants from California to Walt Disney World to Gallagher's Steak House
Gallagher's Steak House
Gallagher's Steak House, located at 228 W 52nd St in New York City, was founded in November 1927 by Helen Gallagher, a former Ziegfeld girl, the wife of Edward Gallagher , and Jack Solomon, a colorful gambler with a large loyal following from the sporting element...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, where it is served as the house wine.
Despite a personal preference for martinis, Palmer would taste all of his own wines and exercise final approval on his products, but did not otherwise prefer to drink wine. He had been impressed with people who could accurately identify wines while blindfolded by vineyard and a vintage, which led him to pursue wine tasting
Wine tasting
Wine tasting is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine. While the practice of wine tasting is as ancient as its production, a more formalized methodology has slowly become established from the 14th century onwards...
as a hobby.
Palmer died at age 74 on January 16, 2009 of a blood infection
Sepsis
Sepsis is a potentially deadly medical condition that is characterized by a whole-body inflammatory state and the presence of a known or suspected infection. The body may develop this inflammatory response by the immune system to microbes in the blood, urine, lungs, skin, or other tissues...
. He was survived by the former Lorraine Wittmer, his wife of 50 years, three daughters and three grandsons.