Marty New and Somerset New-Stein (2025)
marty new
Marty New is the owner, farmer, and “vineyard vintner” as in classic times, when wine was made in the vineyard through the protocols and decisions made by the viticulturist. These decisions, from pruning to dropping the fruit before harvest, deeply affect the making of our premium wine. Going beyond organic, Marty chose to follow a regenerative model for her and her son’s vineyard. Marty graduated from the University of California, Davis and the Yale School of Drama in acting. Her secret dream was always to own a vineyard, like the one she ran through as a child in the San Joaquin Valley where she was born. That dream came true with many blessings and challenges.
Somerset new-stein
Somerset New-Stein is the scion of Marty New. He was responsible for many tasks and chores on the vineyard, not the least of which is the tasting of the grapes before harvest. Somerset is now a filmmaker, writer and editor, finishing his last semester at Cal Arts Film School. Much of his early content was shot on the vineyard; many of the pictures you see on this website are his. Somerset was the assistant editor on the documentary The Essence of Ming. His head in the womb provided camera stabilization for much of the footage he edited. He still loves rainy sea smoked days where you can sleep in without interruption after staying up all night harvesting. And can’t wait to meet and work under all his hero film makers and writers where he can regale them with the real life challenges of making the exquisite wine that they are enjoying.
ChOux-choux
Choux-choux is the fierce defender of Somerset Vineyards against all things fearful and threatening, including mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, boars, hawks, rattlesnakes, gophers, and certain humans. She is frequently accompanied by the large, ungainly Roku, and until very recently, the late Chaka-Kee, her friend and mentor, whom we all miss immeasurably. Our cats, Midnight, Youe and Braverie — the vineyards’ true predators and gopher hunters — work enthusiastically under the watchful eyes of our many resident owls.
Our Collaborators in the Field
