MARTIN BERNAL-HAFNER
VIGNERON and STORYTELLER
Martin, a native of Colombia, was born with an innate passion for craft, agriculture, and conservation.
Persuaded by a 2007 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Les Greffieux, he traveled to the Rhône Valley for a winery apprenticeship, at the iconic M. Chapoutier – the producer of legendary Hermitage wines. Martin immersed himself in the art of terroir-driven winemaking, under then Directeur Technique Guillaume Pouthier. The comradery of long days in the cellar, the contagious passion of fellow interns, the worldly winemaking community, and incredible French meals - perfectly paired with classic wines - convinced Martin that this is his craft and lifelong journey.
Eager to continue exploring the wine world, he traveled to Mendoza – the world’s Malbec mecca. There, he joined the Viña Cobos team for harvest – marking the beginning of his seven-year tutelage, under world-renowned Winemaker Paul Hobbs. After harvest, enthralled by Paul’s knowledge and passion for viticulture and winemaking, Martin followed Hobbs back to his flagship winery in Sebastopol, California. At Paul Hobbs Winery, Martin served various roles from cellar worker to head of the enology department.
In early 2019, Martin and Roger teamed up to create Alta Orsa wines with the goal of crafting elegant and balanced wines that reflect our values. Our goal is to highlight the unique character of our estate vineyard, as well as other North Coast appellation vineyards. Martin’s philosophy is born from respect for the land – allowing each site to speak for itself, taking a minimalist approach in the cellar, and focusing on the vineyard. As a vigneron, Martin’s goal is to capture the essence of the terroir; as a winemaker, his goal is to craft truly distinctive and unique wines.