A California icon since 1943, our passion is to make each wine an exploration of place. Built on the foundation of cultivating relationships with growers across an array of distinctive regions, we use traditional and modern winemaking methods to create a portfolio of terroir-driven wines of beauty, depth, and distinction.
“Our Estate has twelve acres of varying clones of Pinot Noir vines, but true to our motley personalities, we would be remiss to not take advantage of the iconic appellations that surround us.”
Over time, proprietor Courtney Benham has assembled a trusted core team based on the skills and raw intuition each brings to the table. At the center of this core is a collaborative, symbiotic approach, allowing the team to craft a wide portfolio of wines with one underlying element…quality. Relying on great mentorship from Courtney, they have wrapped their arms around a broad spectrum of appellations producing what they feel are the best representations of each in the bottle.
Leslie
Renaud
Director of Winemaking
Leslie Mead Renaud’s path to becoming a winemaker is far from boring. A diving instructor in Hawaii after High School, she began hooting for spotted owls in the forest service after earning a BA in Natural Resources at U of M. Her career took a sharp turn when she realized her interests aligned with the balance of the wine industry: a combination of science and art. She gained experience working in wineries all over Northern California, including Sonoma County, Napa Valley, and the Santa Cruz Mountains. Leslie ultimately seeks terroir driven wines that are vibrant and always balanced.
Raemy
Paterson
Winemaker
An adventurer by heart and self-proclaimed avid picnicker, Raemy Paterson brought her global winemaking perspective to Martin Ray as the enologist. The child of a flight attendant and wine connoisseur, Raemy grew up traveling to Italian wineries getting lost in the countryside. Upon earning her BS in Viticulture and Enology, she traveled the world, working harvests in Bordeaux, Provence, and the Barossa Valley. After returning to the states she continued her stateside career with harvests at Mumm Napa, Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs, and Jordan Vineyards. Settled, for now, in the Russian River Valley, Raemy enjoys crafting wines that allow the vineyards to shine with little intervention.
Keith
Emerson
Consulting Winemaker
Keith Emerson’s diverse winemaking is a testament to his love of wine and a deep understanding of the regions he sources from. After earning a degree from UC Davis in 1999, he spent a year working for Cakebread Cellars, a stalwart winery in the heart of Napa Valley and continued to grow his experience by making wine at historic Gundlach Bundschu. Upon returning from a stint in New Zealand, he joined the team at prestigious Vineyard 29 in 2005 as Director of Winemaking, being led and mentored by Phillip Melka, and assumed the role of Vice President, Winemaking & Viticulture in 2018. From the beginning of his now 20+ year career in wine, he has worked alongside top growers, founded Emerson Brown, Sonria and At Large Wines, and consulted for several notable wineries, making wine in Napa, Sonoma, and Oregon. With his detailed approach to winemaking and infinite wisdom of each vineyard, he has honed his craft, turning out top-rated wines each and every vintage. Joining Martin Ray in 2013, he has been integral, acting as a key set of eyes and ears, keeping our finger on the pulse of Napa Valley.