Louis Martini Winery

Long before the establishment of American Viticultural Areas and just after Prohibition was repealed in 1933, Louis M. Martini built his Napa Valley winery in St. Helena. There, he began a tradition that would span three generations to the present day. Believing that special wines hail from special places, the Martini family tradition relied on seeking out the most intense fruit to create complex, memorable wines.

Louis M. Martini’s pursuit led him to purchase the Goldstein Ranch on the Sonoma side of the Mayacamas Mountains in 1938, securing one of the most coveted grape growing sites in California. Once an active volcano, he aptly renamed the property Monte Rosso Vineyard for its mountaintop setting and red, volcanic soil. With Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel vines planted as early as 1890, the historic vineyard would become the foundation for Louis M. Martini wines and help place Northern California on the world enological map.

Louis M. Martini was among the founders of the Napa Valley Vintners Association in 1943, welcoming the challenge to promote the quality of Napa Valley wines around the globe. His contributions to the California wine industry were honored in 2008 with his posthumous induction into the Vintners Hall of Fame as a “Pioneer.”

The Martini family continues their tradition through third generation Winemaker Mike Martini. In 2003, the artisan winery Cellar 254 was introduced as an “artist’s studio” for Mike and his team of winemakers to experiment with small-production, high-quality red wines. Through collaborative endeavors and state-of-the-art facilities, the Martini family continues to build on a timeless tradition.