Michael Martella Wines

Wine selection was pretty good, we got a cheese plate which was pretty good as well.
The service couldn’t be slower!!! They have one guy working on a Sunday afternoon which means it takes him 20 – 25 minutes to come back with a new pour.
Overall not worth the wait.
I’d try coming here during the week when they are less busy.

This is a fun place to go for wine tasting. Good service and good wine.

** Delayed cross post from Michael Michaud **
Since my first visit to M4, I’ve actually gone back a few more times, and even became a Martella wine club member! They must have done something right, right? Just picked up my first shipment last week and am already imagining the various occasions where I’ll open the bottles. Actually, the first one was popped open on NYE!
The staff at M4 is always great. Fun people to talk to whether about wine or anything else. Since I was going to be hanging out for a bit on my latest visit, and was hoping for better weather to sit on their outdoor patio, they even turned on their fire pits for us, which was great! It’s not exactly comfortable sitting outside, in the shade, in low 50 degree weather, but throw in a glass of wine and a fire pit and we’re golden!
Each time I go back to M4, I’m always bringing a friend who’s never been before. This time and always, we always have a great time. It’s a great experience trying new wines from both Michaud and Martella, learning about the winemakers, the wines and just having discussions about wine and food. There’s something new to be learned each time!
If you get a chance to go, within a reasonable amount of time from this post, see if you can try the 2011 Mendicino Cab. It’s not part of their tasting menu, but they sometimes have a bottle open. It’s part of my current wine shipment, and quite pleasant. There’s only a couple of cases left, so if you don’t try it now, you may miss your chance!

The only wine tasting place (out of the 5 that we visited) that actually sells snacks such as cheese plates and prosciutto to go with the wine. You get to choose 6 different wines that you want to try, and there’s a nice outside seating area with open fire :)
They are actually combined with Michaud tasting room now, called M4

Martella Wines is presently my local favorite and was introduced to us at Flea Street Café. We have been enjoying his wines and especially fond of his Zins (and we never like zins) for being well balanced and not sticky sweet like most California zins. The Syrah is also a hit with us. Delicious. We had no idea such a fabulous artist of wine has been under our noses and we never discovered Martella until now!!!

First, loved the wine. This was our first stop before the great stretch of tasting rooms. Granted we were early and the lady who helped us was very nice. Ok, now for the three stars. The man who was also working seemed displeased with the guests outside. I get not liking your job, but talking shit about other guests made me want to leave. We bought four bottles and left.
Revised to add that my boyfriend had a totally different take and disagrees that the male associate was rude. I’ll trust his opinion and add a star.
Revised to add… change your password bc I didn’t write that last part.

(Cross-​posted to Michaud)
A lovely way to finish out my trip to Saratoga. I needed to purchase wine for some friends, and something told me to head to M4. I’m so very, very glad I did. Alex was incredibly helpful and knew everything about the wines he presented to me. I was so impressed with his presentation and his personal touch, even though I was not his only customer of the night. The pours were generous and the wine was fantastic. I planned on buying 2 bottles for friends, but I ended up purchasing 4, including one for myself. It was so hard to choose the wines to buy, because they’re all so incredible. This was a great experience and I hope to come back to Saratoga so I can visit this place again.

This review is for the tasting room on Big Basin Way in Saratoga.
Nice selection of wines.
Live music on Saturday night outdoors. Comfortable outdoor seating.

Lovely little tasting room offering pours from 2 different wine makers. Honestly, everything we tried was great! The Tempranillo, Zin, and Pinot were delicious. Reasonably priced:$ 10 for 5 pours. They pour generously, which is a sweet bonus! The service is great and people are friendly. Space inside is somewhat limited, but they’ve opened a patio out front as well which would be great for groups!

Out with a large group of friends in Saratoga. Went to another wine tasting before arriving here at 7:20, 40 mins before scheduled close and no one was to be seen and doors were locked! Bummed that we couldn’t try this place out.

The wines are good, you can choose from two lines to mix and match. It’s $ 12 for 5 tastings. This winery is the one on the left, not Big Basin on the right. The service is spectacular and they bring the wine to you even when you’re sitting outside. If you buy four bottles, the tasting is free. They give you crackers and they have a full menu. The patio is nice if you can snag a table for your party.

Michael Martella offers tastings at 5 wines for $ 12 or 8 wines for $ 18. They provide a menu, and you get to pick and choose which ones you’d like to taste. You can spend your time in the tasting room itself, which is rather small and can feel cramped when you’re with a group of several other people, or you can find a seat outside and the staff will come pour you the wines of your choice.
For my five wines, I sampled the Marsanne, 02 Chardonnay, 05 Pinot, Zin, and Syrah. Of my selections, I enjoyed the Zin and Syrah the most.
I really enjoy wine tasting at locations with relaxed settings, particularly the ones that allow you to move beyond the confines of the tasting room itself. The staff here was incredibly friendly and accommodating of the people seated outside. They made sure our glasses weren’t empty for long.
Michael Martella provided a fun wine tasting experience, and I can picture this as the perfect venue to catch up with friends over a glass of wine.

Great outdoor area, and the wines were very good. Nice place to hang out on a Friday evening before dinner!

Who knew a great afternoon of wine tasting could be found right downtown in Saratoga? Loved the outdoor seating area and the MANY options we had to mix and match and taste what appealed to us most.
A lot of very interesting varietals and great recommendations from a very friendly, accommodating staff. Try it out for yourself!

Great tasting room, friendly staff, and great wines. What more can you ask for?

This is my favorite of the downtown Saratoga tasting rooms. The service is extremely friendly and you get to choose which wines you want to taste (you can sample either 5 or 8 wines).
It’s actually two vineyards combined, one that specializes in whites and one in reds. Also, they give you sesame crackers to go with your tasting, which is always a plus.

We have been members of Michael’s wine club since day one and all of the wines are above average, most are fantastic. Michael’s Red’s are more robust in taste and body than most and consistently great every year. Alecia & staff are always friendly and knowledgeable about the wines. A great experience every time!

Michael Martella makes great wines for Thomas Fogarty (alongside Nathan Kandler,
). He also is doing some rather impressive private label offerings. We have not tried all of them yet, but his 2006 Hammer Syrah is robust and satisfying and goes great with rustic mountain fare that is smokey and piquant. It’s a superb accompaniment to grilled lamb koftah or even a wild mushroom, cheese, and herb pizza. We have met Michael a few times at TF special event tastings, and he is always open, friendly, and willing to share his thoughts on the fine art and craft of wine making with amateur oenophiles like ourselves.

Martella now tastes their wines (and select other local vintners) in the Mountain Terrace building across from Alice’s at Skyline and Hwy 84. We stopped in for a tasting after a hike the other day and bought ½ a case to bring home. The wines are rich in flavor and moderately priced. The bar is lovely, staff friendly and the space large enough to accommodate a group. We appreciated the bread sticks and cheese accompaniment as well. This is worth a stop next time you’re in the area.

Michael’s wines are terrific. They are a reflection of the man himself. Martella walks the walk and marches to his own inner drummer. Biodelicious indeed. A++++