Like many couples, Dan and Therese Martin share a passion for great wine.
They liked nothing more than to discover wonderful bottlings together, particularly during visits to winery tasting rooms.
“In 1993, after years of wine tasting and buying, we decided to experience the winemaking process for ourselves,” Therese tells us. “As it turns out, our 17 acres at the southern tip of the Santa Cruz Mountains provided the perfect microclimate for growing Cabernet Sauvignon — warm days and cool nights.”
The couple’s first pass at winemaking came in 1997. “Our output has grown with our passion ever since,” Therese says.
The Martins’ first commercial crush took place in 2002, when 625 cases of wine were produced. The next year, they constructed a small building and increased production to 2,000 cases. And by 2004, they were up to 3,500 cases.
Okay, so they’re not as big as Gallo, but what they lack in size, they more than make up in enthusiasm and dedication. And during the harvest season, family members and their extended family of wine-loving friends work hard during the day and then celebrate together at night.
Crush can be a magical time for people like the Martins when it’s shared with equally passionate people.
Growing superior fruit is the key to making superior wine, and Martin Ranch’s “J.D. Hurley” bottling of Cabernet Sauvignon deserves that “superior” designation. It’s soft on the palate and perfectly balanced.
“Enjoying great wine and special friendships are the true rewards of the winemaking experience,” Therese adds. “Those are our primary goals.”
We’ll drink to that.
