Daniel Martínez, Father & Winemaker
Daniel Martinez began his winemaking education at Hall Wines -aka Kathryn Hall Vineyards. After spending a year immersed in the vineyards, he transitioned to the Robert Mondavi Winery, for the 2006 harvest, where he dedicated seven transformative years. During his time at Mondavi he had the opportunity to actively engage in many hands-on projects, including a grape-to-barrel winemaking project, where he was able to to intimately witness and actively participate in every facet of the winemaking from the vineyard, to the crush pad, to cellar logistics and bottling prep, to the finished wine in bottle.
He joined the To Kalon fermentation team at Mondavi, learning all about fermentation of high-end wines while working alongside experts that became his mentors. His palate and taste for fine wine was developed in the first and second year Reserve aging rooms. He embraced every facet of winemaking, from working with Master Cooper Quinn Roberts to care for the wooden tanks, overseeing barrel rackings, collaborating with Gustavo Gonzales on press cuts for red wines, to assisting Rich Arnold with the prestigious white wines. The learning process was endless, expanding his education to master all phases of winemaking, spanning from harvest to bottling, from grape to bottle.
Today, Daniel Martinez brings an unparalleled 19 years of hands-on winemaking expertise, garnered through collaborations with various esteemed winemakers across the Sonoma and Napa wine regions. He holds a degree in winemaking from Napa Valley College and boasts a WSET Level 3 advanced wine certification, which beautifully complements his extensive practical experience. These credentials empower him to serve as your guide, ensuring the creation of exquisite word-class wines that will evoke joy and celebration in your most cherished moments.
“We believe that we can combine our know-how with our artisan-farming native heritage to create distinct world-class wines and make a difference in the world a glass at the time”