Maître de Chai, which translates to “Keeper of the Cellar,” was established in 2012 by friends Marty Winters and Alex Pitts. Our journey began with a single barrel of wine from Steve Matthiasson’s Michael Mara Vineyard; today, it has evolved into a dedicated pursuit of California’s viticultural heritage.
We produce a range of sparkling and still wines sourced from impeccably farmed, organic, and often dry-farmed vineyards. We prioritize sites tended by small, multi-generational families, focusing on old vines—some nearly a century old—that possess a deep sense of place. In the cellar, our philosophy is one of restraint. We employ native yeast fermentations and avoid additions beyond minimal sulfur, allowing the wines to articulate the unique character of the land. Through this low-intervention approach, we strive to craft wines that are not just products of the cellar, but true emblems of the California landscape.
CRITIC REVIEWS:
“I was super impressed with the wines I tasted from Maître de Chai. Marty Winters and Alex Pitts met as young chefs working in some of California’s most prestigious kitchens. Over the years, both of their career paths led to wine. Winters and Pitts founded Maître de Chai in 2012 and have quietly built their range since then. The wines draw from a number of sites across several appellations in Northern California, all done in a style that emphasizes freshness and verve. As readers will discover, a number of wines in this lineup are truly compelling, most notably the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Gala Vineyard, which may very well be the single best value in Napa Valley Cabernet today."
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"Their Maitre de Chai winery brings a fresh take to California’s old vines” … “Their takes on those classics feel fresh and novel, from an insistently floral Zinfandel from Lodi’s Stampede Vineyard to their hauntingly mineral Sparkling Chardonnay Solera from Sonoma’s Michael Mara Vineyard.”
Esther Mobley, San Francisco Chronicle
“Alex Pitts and Marty Winters are the team behind Maître de Chai, an excellent small négociant that buys grapes from interesting, well-farmed California vineyards. This bottle is made with chenin blanc, which has historically been superb material for sparkling wines in the Loire Valley. It’s a lovely wine, rich but not heavy and bone dry, with yeasty, bready aromas and lightly floral flavors..”
Eric Asimov, New York Times >>>: The NYT Loves MDC
THE DETAILS
- You will receive FREE ground shipping on all orders of SIX bottles or more, no code required!!!
- Today only, discounts range from XX% to XX% off.
OFFER 1 - SPARKLING SOLERA - Only 60 bottles Available
V.19 Sparkling Solera - Michael Mara Vineyard (93pts Vinous)
We are down to the last few cases of this wine so act fast!
"The Sparkling Solera from the Michael Mara Vineyard is fabulous. The perpetual blend of several vintages yields a wine endowed with notable textural richness and a real feeling of breadth that is palpable. Hints of apricot, marzipan, tangerine peel and spice infuse the Solera with notable complexity in both flavor and textures." - Antonio Galloni
Retail Price: $XX
BD17Price: $XX
OFFER 2 - Gala Mtn. Vineyard Cabernet Vertical - Only 12 Available
30 year old, terraced vines. Amazing mountaintop fruit from Mount George on the eastern side of the Napa Valley. South of Atlas Peak, and just above Coombsville at the beginning of the Vaca Mountain Range. The vineyard is currently farmed organic and is in transition into Biodynamic farming.
2 x 2019 (1st Vintage)
2x 2020 (92pts Vinous)
2x 2021(96 pts Vinous)
6-pack Retail Price: $XXX
BD17Price: $XXX(shipping included!)
Current Release Wines – 30% off!!!
Sparkling Chenin Blanc, Wilson Vineyard, Clarksburg 11.5% ABV: The vines were planted in 1998 and the hallmark of the site is electric acidity. A Traditional Method Sparkling wine, made in the style of Champagne, but distinctly Californian. Our intent is to produce an approachable American sparkling wine that showcases the versatility of Chenin Blanc in California.
2024 Kierkegaard Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg 13.5% ABV: This wine was whole cluster pressed and aged in neutral casks for 11 months. In past vintages we have sourced from several vineyards but this particular bottling comes entirely from the Wilson Vineyard in Clarksburg, CA. – “Kierkegaard is stellar. Bright, crisp and beautifully delineated, the 2024 is a total delight. Lemon peel, chalk, slate. mint, sage, and orchard fruit build, while brisk saline notes punctuate the finish. There is so much to like here.” (AG 93pts)
2024 Ellison Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma Mountain 14% ABV: The Ellison Vineyard (formerly the Herron Vineyard), was planted in 1969 and is comprised of an acre and a half of Sauvignon Blanc on Sonoma Mountain. This dry-farmed vineyard is one of the oldest Sauvignon Blanc parcels in the United States. In early September, we picked our 11th vintage from these 54-year-old Sauvignon Blanc vines. Whole-cluster pressed & fermented in neutral oak, the wine is everything you’d want from a textural California Sauvignon Blanc. – “Soaring aromatics and soft, silky contours are immediately arresting. Orchard fruit, white flowers, spice and marzipan caress the palate. This is so distinctive.” (AG 94pts)
2023 Ellison Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, Sonoma Mountain 14% ABV: The Ellison Vineyard (formerly the Herron Vineyard), was planted in 1969 and is comprised of an acre and a half of Sauvignon Blanc on Sonoma Mountain. This dry-farmed vineyard is one of the oldest Sauvignon Blanc parcels in the United States. In early September, we picked our 11th vintage from these 54-year-old Sauvignon Blanc vines. The grapes were partially destemmed and fermented with its native yeasts on the skins for eighteen days. The wine aged in neutral cask for twenty one months. Two barrels were produced. – * he Ellison Reserve is laced with touches of rose petal, orange peel, spice, dried flowers, tangerine oil and nutmeg. A bit of skin contact and a hint of botrytis add character. This is a gorgeous and distinctive wine. *(AG 93pts)
2023 Stampede Zinfandel, Clements Hills 12.6% ABV:* Zinfandel can be notoriously difficult to work with due to its inherent uneven ripening. This year marks ten vintages of working with the Perlegos Family. We have always set out to craft a Zinfandel that has structured tannins, bright acidity and that speaks to the soil in which the vines are rooted and the 2023 vintage checks all of these boxes.
Fermented with native yeasts in a mix of whole cluster and de-stemmed open top fermentations. Aged exclusively in 500L puncheons for 11 months before being bottled with no fining or filtration. The finesse of this wine makes it drinkable now, but will age for years to come. – "The 2023 Zinfandel Stampede Zinfandel is a powerful, deep wine. Varietal notes are dialed up to the maximum in this rich, heady red. Small berries in a late-ripening vintage yielded an unusually dense Zinfandel for this vineyard on the eastern edge of Lodi. (AG 93pts)
2024 Evangelho Heritage Blend, Contra Costa County 13.5% ABV: 130+ year old vines – The oldest Carignan in the WORLD, you could almost stop right there and drop the mic. When we got the phone call from Morgan and Chris of Bedrock Wine Co. that there might be some fruit available we jumped at the opportunity. Planted in the 1890s, these vines are over 130 years old planted in deep sand in Contra Costa County along the banks of the Suisun Bay, at the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. Primarily planted to Carignan, Mourvèdre, and Zinfandel. Farmed organically. This site imbues the co-fermentation of Carignan, Mourvèdre, and Zinfandel with a refreshingly bright, high-acid, and light-bodied expression. Fermented in an open-top wooden tank and aged in a puncheon for 11 months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. – “The Evangelho Heritage Blend is another stellar wine in this range. Bright red toned fruit, rose petal, mint and blood orange flesh out effortlessly. There’s a gorgeous depth and textural resonance in this striking Carignan/Mourvedre/Zinfandel co-ferment. Soft contours add tons of finesse.” (AG 93pts)
SHIPPING DETAILS: All orders will ship ASAP exclusively though FedEx – We are a small but mighty team and handle all of our shipping direct from the winery. We hope to fulfill all orders within a week, so take that into account when placing your order.
PLACES WE DON’T SHIP: AL, AK, HI, KY, TN, ND, SD, UT, WY. All other states are good to go!
After an order is placed we cannot make any changes to that order. If you have questions about your order, please email info@mdc.wine and we’d be happy to help.
WHAT’S THE SHIPPING COST?: Free Shipping for all orders over 6 Bottles. Expedited shipping is available for a fee.
SALES TAXES: Sales tax will automatically be added to your order at checkout.
Thank you for this opportunity to share our wines and for the opportunity to participate! Without you and Wine Berserkers, this would not be possible. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out: info@mdc.wine
Marty & Alex 
Anton!