Latiné Winemaker Series: Casa Martinez Wines with Daniel Martinez

Wine: 2018 "Camilla" Pinot Noir, Casa Martinez (Los Carneros Area) BIO: Daniel Martinez began his winemaking education at Hall Wines. After a year in the vineyards, he moved to Robert Mondavi Winery for the 2006 harvest and spent 7 years there. At Mondavi, he had the opportunity to be involved in many hands-on projects, including a grape-to-barrel winemaking project, where he was able to observe and participate in the entire experience from the vineyard, to crush, 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. Doing every kind of job — whether working with Master Cooper Quinn Roberts taking care of the wooden tanks or barrel rackings, as well as working with Gustavo Gonzales making press cuts of red wines and Rich Arnold when working with the whites — the learning process was endless. His education expanded to master all phases of winemaking from harvest to bottling, from grape to bottle. Today Daniel brings 17 years of hands-on winemaking experience working with different local producers and winemakers in the Sonoma and Napa area. He earned a degree in winemaking from Napa Valley College and a WSET L3 advanced wine certification to complement his hands-on winemaking experience. Website Instagram