Sonoma County California Pinot and Beyond.
The People Real people making world class wines. Approachable legends. Stewards of the land. Authentic people who identify themselves as farmers who make wine.
The Coast Nearby Pacific Ocean sends on-shore breezes and fog to cool vineyards. Proximity to brisk water creates cooling effect that results in wine textures from structured to silky.
The Fog Fog cools vineyards and develops full flavor maturity of grapes. Cool-climate grapes Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are nurtured by seasonal fog.
The Soil Combination of fractured sandstone and sandy loam create Goldridge soil; ideal for cool climate grapes. Variety of soils foster diversity of wines throughout valley.
Chardonnay
Russian River Valley
"What I love most about growing and producing chardonnay in the Russian River Valley is the diversity of the fruit that is grown here. From east to west and north to south, you get completely different fruit, producing different styles of wine, one being lush and rich with texture and the other style being very lean, fruit driven and very lively acid".
- Giovianni Balistreri, Winemaker
Member Spotlight Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery
The name Martin Ray resonates deeply in the history of California Winemaking. Martin Ray was a pioneer, dedicated to crafting single varietal, region specific wine from 1943 through 1972 in Saratoga, the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Mentored by the famed producer of early California sparkling wines Paul Masson, Ray took a decidedly Burgundian approach to his winemaking, and developed what is now one of the most historical properties in California, known as Mount Eden.
Nearly twenty years after Martin Ray’s passing, Courtney Benham stumbled upon 1500 cases of Martin Ray wine in a San Jose warehouse. Recognizing his good fortune, and his intent and drive to produce terroir driven wines, Ray’s historical significance and philosophy resonated with him. Courtney purchased the brand, and since 1990 has been committed to the production of artisanal wines worthy of the Martin Ray name.
In 2003, Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery made its home in the Russian River Valley, on the edge of Green Valley at one of the oldest continually working wineries in California. With the ardent philosophy that great wine is not only the sum of more than just good grapes and a talented winemaker, but rather the result of an efficient, nimble whole, he has assembled a lean core team. This foundational approach, coupled with long term relationships with celebrated growers has led Martin Ray to produce quality wines sourced from the best growing regions California has to offer.
Located in the heart of Russian River Valley in Sonoma County, California, our historic winery site was established in 1881 and is one of the oldest continuously operated wineries in Sonoma County. Courtney purchased the winery in 2003, continually striving to modernizer the facility while incorporating elements of its history. The Russian River Valley appellation is most well-known for the varietals Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which thrive in a cool-climate, with morning fog and moderate temperatures due to the coastal influence. This ideal location initiated replanting in 2011 of our very own 12 acres of estate Pinot Noir vineyards, including two acres of the Martin Ray Heritage Clone 37, as well as 13 additional acres planted in 2021.
Today, Courtney and his winemaking team devote themselves to Ray’s ideology of making wines of place by sourcing from hillside and valley floor fruit, and they are relentless at telling the story of each exceptional appellation and vineyard.
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