
Martin Reyes MW
Became an MW 2018
Based in United States
Nationality American
Languages English, French, Italian, Spanish
Home email address: martin@reyes.wine
Work email address: info@reyes.wine
A first-generation American, Martin has held influential roles in many sectors of the wine industry since 2002: wine director, importer, educator, international judge, award-winning winemaker, and writer. His wine story began with an over-indulgent Parisian dinner as a Stanford undergrad; soon after he was stocking shelves at K&L in California. By the 2010s, Martin was responsible for The New York Times, Food & Wine Magazine, Williams-Sonoma-Wine, and was named one of Wine Enthusiast’s Top Forty under Forty Tastemakers in 2015. After working harvest at Solomon Undhof in 2016, he took over production for Sonoma-based Peter Paul Wines, a role he continues to this day.
In 2018, Martin became the first Master of Wine of Mexican descent and founded Reyes Wine Group LLC, a multidisciplinary wine consultancy with a growing specialization in climate action. That same year, he launched Reyes Selections, a small East Coast portfolio culled from his years as an international buyer. In 2020, Martin co-founded Wine Unify, an organization that increases and empowers the presence of underrepresented communities in wine through education funding and mentorship.
In 2022, Martin co-founded Napa Thrives - "Transformation, Health & Resilience Initiatives in Viticulture & Enology Symposium," a groundbreaking, cross-organizational event leveraging Napa County's powerful platform to set a standard for real follow-through in meaningful sustainability & climate action in wine. Martin’s work has been featured in JancisRobinson.com, American Association of Wine Economists, and Napa Valley Viticultural Society’s Annual Journal. During his spare time, Martin teaches WSET courses, judges at various international competitions, attempts to become fluent in a fifth language, and unfortunately for his family and dinner guests, has become an avid purveyor of dad humor.
Industry sector(s): Agency/Importer, Business owner, Buying, Consultant, Distribution, Educator, Marketing, Off trade, Project management, Sales, Wine judge, Winemaking
Wine styles: Cava, Champagne, Cremant, Madeira, Port, Prosecco, Sherry, Sparkling wine, Still red, Still white, Still wines, Sweet wines
Wine region expertise: Aconcagua Valley, Argentina, Austria, Bordeaux, California, Champagne, Chile, Colchagua Valley, France, Galicia, Italy, Languedoc, Loire, Marlborough, Mendoza, New Zealand, Oregon, Penedes, Piedmont, Portugal, Priorat, Rhone, South Africa, South America, Spain, Tuscany, USA, Veneto/Friuli, Washington, Western Cape
Market expertise: Africa, Canada, Europe, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, North America, Oceania, Portugal, South America, Spain, United Kingdom
Specialisms: Environmental impacts, Regenerative, Sustainability, Economics of wine production, Fermentation, Stabilisation and clarification, Processing of grapes, Wine styling, Blending, Bottling, Bulk shipment, Elevage / maturation, Preparation of finished wine for bottling, Packing and labelling, Branding, Direct to consumer, Distribution, Financial and commercial structures, Food and wine pairing, Identifying and meeting consumer demand, Importation, Independent retail, Routes to market, Supplier/customer relationships, Supermarket and multiple retail, Wine labels, Wine laws and regulations, Wine judging