Martin Ranch Winery

About Winery and Wines

"Our dream of owning a winery began with a shared passion for great wine, a wonderful growing environment, and the joy of sharing the experience with friends and family. In 1993, after years of enjoying tasting and buying wine, we decided to experience the winemaking process for ourselves. As it turns out, our 17 acres in the southern tip of the Santa Cruz Mountains provided the perfect microclimate for growing Cabernet Sauvignon — warm days and cool nights. And so, we began the planting process..." Both Thérèse and Dan were born and raised in the Santa Cruz Mountains area. Thérèse spent her early years as a triathlete marathon runner and horseback rider, in between her commitments at the local retail shop. Her family roots come from the agricultural area of Corralitos, California. For many years, Thérèse along with her husband Dan, owned and operated several landmark neighborhood markets. Dan is an avid motorcycle rider, traveler and sailing enthusiast. Dan's family roots come from the Carmel Valley, where the first Martin Ranch was established in the early 1900's. Presently, Dan and Thérèse have owned and worked their property for over 30 years. They began the simple idea of growing grapes on their property... Together, they worked and nourished the soil, terraced the hills and began the first vine plantings. The very first vintage started in 1997 and their output has grown with dedication and passion ever since. In 2002, Thérèse an Dan had their first commercial crush of 625 cases. In 2003, they decided it was time to build a small winery building and increased production to 2000 cases per year. By 2004, they had increased production to 3500 cases, out growing their "little winery." In 2005, they expanded and built the present winery building and invited folks into their first wine club. While the operation has grown, the passion, dedication and hands-on community feel has remained unchanged. Now in 2016, the winery produces many award-winning wines.