Michael Martini dies aged 73

Michael Martini, who spent almost four decades as winemaker at Louis M. Martini in Napa Valley, has died just weeks after he was diagnosed with lung cancer.

Martini, whose grandfather, Genovese migrant Louis M. Martini, founded the Napa winery of the same name in 1933, studied oenology at University of California, Davis. According to Napa Valley Register wine columnist and friend Dan Berger, Martini came in to conflict with his professors, supposedly telling them: “Just give me the diploma, I have a winemaking job waiting for me in Napa.”

Indeed, upon his graduation, in 1977, he would take over the responsibility of winemaking from his father, Louis P. Martini.

In 2002, the Gallo family, longstanding friends of the Martinis, bought the winery. In a 2004 interview with San Francisco publication SFGATE, Martini said of the acquisition: “With Gallo’s help, we’ve been able to polish the silver…With Gallo, nothing has been too expensive, as long as it makes sense…Turning it over was a new experience, but it took the pressure off. While the deal was not a partnership, that’s what it’s become in how we work together.”

In 2013, after a decade under Martini’s wing, Michael Eddy was named as the next winemaker, making him the first person outside of the Martini family to fill the role.

In addition to serving as president of Napa Valley Vintners, Martini also played guitar in his winemaker rock band Private Reserve.

On 23 December last year, after a period of breathing difficulty, he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. He died on 10 January at his home in Dillon Beach, California.

Reacting to his death, Wine Spectator news editor Mitch Frank tweeted: “I got to know winemaker Mike Martini over the years. He was an excellent vintner and a larger than life character.”

He is survived by his wife, Jacque, and daughters, Shana and Larkin.