Thérèse Martin and her husband, Dan, were born and raised in the Santa Cruz Mountains area of California. She is a triathlete, marathon runner, and horseback rider, whose family is from the Corralitos area and has its roots in the local agriculture. His family comes from the Carmel Valley, where the first Martin Ranch was established. Dan has owned and worked the current Martin Ranch for more than 30 years. For many years, Thérèse and Dan owned and operated several landmark neighborhood markets.

Their dream of owning a winery began with a shared passion for great wine, a wonderful growing environment, and the joy of sharing the experience with friends and family. In 1993, after years of enjoying tasting and buying wine, they decided to take the plunge. Their 17 acres in the southern tip of the Santa Cruz Mountains provided the perfect microclimate 'warm days and cool nights' for growing Cabernet Sauvignon.

Their first vintage was in 1997, and the output has grown ever since. They had their first commercial crush of 625 cases in 2002. By 2009, they had produced a number of award-winning red and white varieties that include Merlot, Syrah, and Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.