Rapazzini Winery began in 1962 by another pair of brothers Jon & Vic Rapazzini. They operated the winery and tasting room at 4310 Monterey Highway together for decades.  Jon & his wife Zondra later operated the business for several more decades until they sold the Winery and The Garlic Shoppe to two of their friends, former employees, and brothers Alex & Charles Larson.  Alex Larson was the first Male to win the National Scholarship in Foods & Nutrition through the 4-H Youth Program as a teenager. Charlie Larson won the Citizenship National Award through the 4-H program.  Alex continued to become a professional Chef at The California Culinary Academy while Charles attended UC Berkeley aka Cal at the same time.  Then the two men  22, Alex & 23, Charles opened Sandrinos Ristorante & Bar winning a 3 1/2 star review after just 6 months in business.  In the following year, they won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for their Wine List and service. The brothers worked at the two businesses in the late 90s  April 2000 The new adventure began as Jon and Zondra retired to the mountains of Ben Lomond California. 

It all began when Pierre Pourroy went to work for a local vineyard, owned by Jean Narcisse Aubry. Pierre fell in love with one of his daughters, Marie Louise and the two were married in 1891. Pierre and his brother, Eloi worked for Aubry and eventually saved enough money to purchase and plant their own estate in 1901.

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The brothers along with their wives planted the Zinfandel vines in 1910, and built our Tasting Room barn in 1912. Not deterred by Prohibition, they planted the Cabernet Franc in 1920, and the Carignan in 1924. Work was finished In 1923 on a large family home, designed after architecture in northern Paris. The Villa was to be named after the hill where the brothers grew up in Paris, but the craftsmen misspelled the name and left off the first 't', giving it the name Monmartre which can be seen today on the side of the building. In 1955 Pierre would retire from winemaking.

At the Shire, the aim is to treat visitors to smooth and savory blends designed to captivate even the most discerning palate. Their oak-aged, handcrafted wine is a drinkable gem, born from vineyards blessed by the serene surroundings only nature can provide. The privilege of planting, nurturing, and harvesting the abundant clusters of fruit that adorn the hillside vines is cherished by all involved.

Visitors are invited to experience the offerings of these vines within the comfort of the gardens of the European-styled estate. Each day in the tasting room, magic happens as guests arrive and rediscover their true selves. Relaxation and camaraderie flourish as patrons meet others who appreciate wine, art, conversation, and music. Friendships form as one strolls through the grounds, greeted by a calm and soothing embrace. Sitting near the pond, visitors can take a moment to reflect or meditate.

The Shire takes great pleasure in sharing this enchanting experience with all who visit.

This winery is fun! They're only open the third weekend of the month. Tucked away down Redwood Retreat Road about 3.5 miles from Watsonville Road, the drive to get here is truly spectacular. They are only open the third weekend of each month and passport weekends. They ask that you sign in and they then give you name tags with your first name on it. The staff was friendly and the owners Therese and Dan were walking around greeting people. Dan and Therese Martin clearly have a passion for making great wine. They have scores of awards for their wine but that's not what they lead with. Their tasting room is welcoming and intimate. The vibe is comfortable and engaging. Martin Ranch produces a variety of wines from Chardonnay to Cab Franc, Sauvignon Blanc to Sangiovese.