01 Jan Martha Stoumen Wines
Martha Stoumen Wines
5230 McFarlane Rd Sebastopol, CA 95472
www.marthastoumen.com
Region: Sonoma
Owner: Martha Stoumen
Winemaker: Martha Stoumen
About: Martha Stoumen Wines was founded upon the desire to recapture a farming and winemaking culture that has all but faded away: a winemaking culture of patience. Our wines are made from unexpected varietals and offer new takes on California classics. Of the nearly two dozen wines we make every year, blends and flavors change but our desire to share the simple pleasures of natural wine remains the same.
What is your favorite forgotten grape? Nero d’Avola
What was your first experience with a forgotten grape? My first experience with wine was actually with forgotten grapes. I went to work on a farm in Italy, just outside of Siena, when I graduated college. They assigned me as a intern in the vineyard and olive orchard. There was an old vine block of mixed whites and reds that I loved—all quite literally forgotten—none of the locals even knew what they were, but they made delicious wine.
What do you love most about the forgotten grapes? I don’t just love forgotten grapes—I love forgotten apple varieties, heritage breed animals, heirloom vegetables, and forgotten crafts—in a modern world where shelf life, yield, and the lowest price at all costs reign supreme, we miss out on so many flavors, nutrients, and experiences.
