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 Courtney Benham was raised in California's Great San Joaquin Valley. As a third generation native, at an early age he developed a deep respect for the land: its promise, and its care. He worked summers in his father's vineyards and almond orchards, tilling, irrigating, tending, and harvesting. It was during these long summer days that he began to dream of building his own wine business.
After graduating from the University of California at Berkeley in the early 1980s, Courtney worked for his father's winery, in the heart of the Sacramento Delta. For eight years he worked in all departments of the winery, from sales and distribution to management and production. In 1990, after discovering 1,500 cases of Martin Ray library wines in an old warehouse in San Jose, Courtney decided to contact the Ray family and was able to purchase the Martin Ray label. Courtney has spent the last 20 years dedicating his time and skills to producing wines whose quality would make Martin Ray himself proud.
Bill began his career in the wine industry in 1996 working in the cellar at a small Dry Creek Valley winery specializing in Rhone and Italian varietals.
Bill soon moved on to the Russian River Valley to work for a large custom-winemaking facility. Initially hired to oversee a hard apple cider program, Bill quickly learned the fundamentals of commercial wine production - fermentation, aging, fining, blending and bottling - in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. Over the next five years Bill managed winemaking programs for a diverse portfolio of wineries.
In 2001, Bill concentrated his efforts on managing wine production for the rapidly growing Blackstone brand, eventually relocating to Sonoma Valley to oversee their new reserve micro-winery.
In July 2003, Bill joined Courtney Benham at his new Russian River Valley winery and has since worked to develop the Martin Ray and Angeline family of wines. Today, Bill and his team are dedicated to producing high quality, distinctive wines sourced only from premium vineyards.
Kerry came into winemaking in part because as the result of a conspiratorial plot on the part of his father. Ray Damskey, who founded Dutch Henry Vineyard in Napa Valley, always wished he had found the path to winemaking. While Kerry was busy planning a career as an anthropologist, his dad laid the groundwork for Kerry to have a future as a winemaker.
As the impressionable young man came of age, Ray introduced him to good quality wines and plied him with legends of the vine. Wine had always been served at the family table and as Kerry matured into his late teens the alchemy of science and flavors, as well as the knowledge that he would "always live in a beautiful place", led Kerry to U C Davis, making him a part of the winemaking class of 1976. Like famed California winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff, Kerry is an industry leader of vision, with an impeccable reputation among his peers. Enthusiastic and generous, Kerry has become a noted lecture and spokesperson for the wine industry.
Today, with more than 30 years of winemaking experience, Kerry is recognized on four continents for his acuity and focus in creating brilliant wines. Through his wine industry consulting practice, Terroirs, Inc. founded in 1999. Kerry and his team travel the world advising on vineyard development, vineyard and winery acquisition and winemaking. Kerry has expanded his work to include strategic planning and operational management for new and established wineries. As an industry innovator Kerry's most recent projects include serving as the Chief Wine Officer for Tastingroom.com and a new vineyard and winery operation in Costa Rica.
Kerry holds a B.S. in fermentation sciences from the University of California, Davis, is a graduate of the Intensive Program for Small Business at Stanford University School of Business, and is a candidate of the Institute of the Masters of Wine.
Rhonda began her career in the wine industry in 1980, working for the next 14 years in Chateau St. Jean's Sparkling Wine division in the Cellar Department. For the next 9 years following, Rhonda was the Cellarmaster for a custom wine production facility producing 1.2 million cases. She supervised all cellar processes, as well as managed the barrel program for a vast amount of clients.
In July 2003, Rhonda joined a new team and brought her dedication to creating quality wines and expertise in customer relations to her new position as Assistant Winemaker/Cellarmaster for Martin Ray Winery.
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