Martian Ranch & Vineyard is a Demeter-certified estate vineyard and winery located in Los Alamos in the Santa Barbara County AVA which is within California’s blanket Central Coast AVA. The name Martian is derived from the blending of the names of owner Nan Helgeland’s son, Martin and Ian.

Owners: Nan Helgeland and her husband, Brian Helgeland, a screenwriter (Mystic River, L.A. Confidential, Robin Hood).

Staff: Former winemaker: Mike Roth (see Lo-Fi Wines).

Biodynamic certification: 2014 First vintage with full Demeter Biodynamic certification for the vineyards. | 2018 Still certified Biodynamic.

Vineyards: 2018 8 hectares (20 acres) producing 3,000 cases out of 3,000 cases total.

Wine grapes, clones, rootstocks: Albarinho, clone 1 on 1103 Paulsen rootstock. | Cabernet Franc, DeRose clone on 101-14 rootstock. | Gamay, clone 5 on 101-14 rootstock. Gamay, clone 358 on 110 Richter rootstock. Gamay, clone 3 on 101-14 rootstock. | Grenache blanc, clone 141 on 101-14 rootstock. | Grenache noir, clone 362 on 101-14 rootstock. Grenache noir, massalon 101-14 rootstock. | Mourvedre, clone 571 on 1103 Paulsen rootstock. Mourvedre, clone 369 on 1103 Paulsen rootstock. Mourvedre, clone 4 on 1103 Paulsen rootstock. | Syrah, clone 99 on 101-14 rootstock. Syrah, Alban clone on 101-14 rootstock. | Tempranillo, clone 3 on 110 Richter  rootstock. Tempranillo, clone 770 on 101-14 rootstock. | Viognier, clone 642 on 1103 Paulsen rootstock. | See rootstocks.

White wines

Albarinho, Uforic: 2015 Santa Barbara County.

Clairette, Etheric: 2015 Santa Barbara County.

Grenache Blanc, Mothership: 2015 Santa Barbara County.

Isochrome: A white Rhone-style blend. | 2016 50% Grenache Blanc, 45% Clairette Blanche, 5% Viognier. 146 cases.

Viognier, Stellar: 2015 Santa Barbara County.

Pink wines

Down to Earth Rosé: 2015 Santa Barbara County.

Red wines

Cabernet Franc, Radiant: 2014 Santa Barbara County.

Gamay Noir, Absolute Magnitude: 2015 243 cases. | 2016 Santa Barbara County.

Grenache Noir, Ground Control: 2014 Santa Barbara County.

Retrograde: 2015 80% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 5% each Cabernet Franc, Tempranillo.

Syrah, Dark Energy: 2014 Santa Barbara County.

Syrah, Dark Matter: 2011 Two versions made, one with no added sulfites, another with 22mg/l sulfites (Isabelle Legeron: 2014, p.195).

Tempranillo, Gravitas: 2014 Santa Barbara County.

Sweet white wines

Viognier, Trente-Deuxe: 2014 Santa Barbara County. Late harvested.

Contact

Martian Ranch & Vineyard

9110 Alisos Canyon Road

Los Alamos, CA 93440, USA

Tel: +1 805 344 1804 | Website: www.martianvineyard.com

Bibliography

International Biodynamic Wine Conference, San Francisco 6-7th May 2018.

Isabelle Legeron MW, Natural Wine, An introduction to organic and biodynamic wines grown naturally (2014, Cico Books, London & New York), p.194.

Oz Clarke, Oz Clarke Wine A-Z (Pavilion, 2015), p.165.