Martine Saunier, founder of Martine’s Wines and a pioneering force in the American wine industry, was born in Paris. Although she lived and attended school there, she spent every summer vacation in Prissé, near Mâcon, where her aunt owned a winery with approximately ten acres of vineyards planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
The winemaker lived in the farm next door with his wife and children. The pinnacle of the summer vacation was the harvest time. By the age of 10, Martine was fascinated with the preparation of the cellar, the wine press, the fermenting vats and, of course, being part of the harvesting team. The crushing of the grapes, malolactic fermentation, bottling, etc. were all part of her childhood.
When Martine moved to the United States in 1964, she started to look for some local California wines. In 1965, she drove to Beaulieu Vineyards, knocked on the door, and was lucky enough to meet the great André Tchelistcheff. He told her in his good French that if she wanted good Pinot Noir, she had to go to Burgundy to get it. The seed was planted in her mind.
A few years later, Martine was offered the job of selecting wines for an importer/distributor in San Francisco. Still dismayed by the absence of many of her favorite bottles, she started making buying trips to France. In the spring of 1969, while others were caught up in the cultural revolution of the time, Martine was forging her own path. She flew to Burgundy, bought a small VW bug, and started her tour and career. At first, she kept close to familiar sources, namely Beaujolais, Mâcon and Pouilly-Fuissé, but eventually she ventured into the Rhône Valley on the lookout for some Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Martine recalled her first trip: “I had lunch in a small hotel, ‘Le Luberon,’ in Senas, and the owners, Juliette and Louis Guigue, recommended a Château-de-Fonsalette Blanc, which was truly delicious. At promptly 2 p.m., I left the restaurant and headed for Château Rayas. Monsieur Louis Reynaud was taking his daily sieste. I waited two hours under the trees and finally tasted the best wines I’d ever had in my life: the Château Rayas 1959 and 1961. I bought 50 cases at 12,50 francs a bottle — very expensive at the time. Upon my return to San Francisco, my distributor had a fit: ‘Too expensive! Don’t you know that a Châteauneuf-du-Pape sells retail for $2.50?’”
Undaunted, she created a mailing list of friends and associates, and sent out her first price list and wine descriptions. The wines sold rapidly, and for five years she remained the company’s special-selection wine buyer. She was traveling to France every year, and she discovered and stocked some extraordinary wines. In 1979, Martine incorporated her business and made it official: Martine’s Wines was born.
Martine meticulously built what would become one of the most significant and respected wine importers in the United States. Her greatest gift was not only her exceptional palate but her ability to discover unknown producers who would later become some of the most sought-after names in wine. She always championed her winemakers’ stories to ensure their efforts and talents were appreciated and that their wines achieved the success they so rightly deserved. Her portfolio stands as a testament to her impeccable judgment and unwavering commitment to quality.
Martine was known for her directness and authenticity — qualities that served her well as she blazed trails in what was then a male-dominated industry. Her rapport with her customers in the United States was legendary, as she built relationships that lasted for decades. She was also a mentor to many, offering her wisdom and insights with characteristic frankness and clarity.
Martine was a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier and was formerly on the national board of AIWF. She was also a Chevalier du Tastevin. In addition, she was decorated twice by the French government with the title of Officier du Mérite Agricole.
In December 2012 — 33 years after founding her company — she passed the torch to a new generation of owners. “I wanted to leave my legacy to someone who would take care of it. I thought, ‘It has to be a Frenchman,’” Martine said. During a meal at her home, she and Gregory Castells, a Provence native, realized they were a perfect fit and subsequently, they struck a deal.
Martine enjoyed a late career as a film star and producer. Her first documentary, A Year in Burgundy, which tracks several of her top winemakers through a year in the lifecycle of their vineyards, was released in 2013. A Year in Champagne followed in 2014, and A Year in Port completed the trilogy in 2016.
Following her passing in 2025, Martine has been remembered not only for her profound impact on the wine industry, but for her indomitable spirit, her generosity in sharing her expertise, and her ability to recognize and nurture excellence in wines and winemaking. Her legacy lives on through the countless individuals she mentored and the exceptional wine producers she championed throughout her life.
