A Winemaker Love Story: Wine, Music, and Seahorses
Oceano Wines, founded by winemaker Rachel Martin and Grammy-award-winning producer Kurt Deutsch, is a collaboration that combines entrepreneurial excellence and winemaking expertise. The two met serendipitously at the Middleburg Film Festival in 2014, where they sat next to each other at a dinner before the screening of Kurt’s feature film, “The Last Five Years.”
Rachel has more than 20 years of experience growing grapes and producing wine at her family’s Boxwood Estate Winery in Middleburg, Virginia. Kurt, a senior vice president at Warner Music Entertainment, and producer of the Tony award nominated musical, The Notebook, currently on Broadway.
With their shared creative vision, they decided to create exceptional wines from the Spanish Springs Vineyard on the San Luis Obispo coast, the westernmost vineyard site in California. This location offers the cool climate ideal for producing some of the best red wines—specifically Pinot Noir—as well as exceptional Chardonnay wine. Their partnership led to both their marriage in 2018 and the release of their first wine, the 2016 Spanish Springs Vineyard Chardonnay. Oceano Wines is now recognized for its outstanding traditional and certified sustainable wines, as well as its best non alcoholic wine options, appealing to many a wine connoisseur, worldwide.
RACHEL MARTIN
Co-Founder, CEO and Winemaker
Life is short, and Oceano Wines founder Rachel Martin aims to squeeze every last drop out of it. As an accomplished female winemaker, she brings a fresh approach to the traditionally male dominated wine industry.
Rachel’s extensive studies in viticulture and enology from Napa Valley College, along with her Diploma in Sensory Evaluation from the University of Bordeaux’s School of Enology in France, have shaped her expertise. Her work in Virginia wine country, where she established Middleburg as an American Viticultural Area in 2012, highlights her dedication to winemaking excellence.
Recognized as an expert in viticulture and possessing a distinguished wine business acumen, Rachel is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier International New York and Washington, D.C. chapters. She was also the first woman to be inducted into the District of Columbia chapter of the International Wine & Food Society.
Rachel’s formative years were spent between California and Virginia and her bicoastal, ocean-loving lifestyle is embodied by Oceano Wines. Her passion and leadership continue to drive Oceano Wines to new heights, offering some of the best traditional and non alcoholic wines available on the market today.
KURT DEUTSCH
Co-Founder
Kurt Deutsch is a Grammy-award-winning producer known for his exceptional work in music, theatre, and film. His deep connections in the industry have brought a unique perspective to Oceano Wines. The pivotal moment in the creation of Oceano Wines came through Henry Warshaw, a longtime friend and neighbor of Kurt’s father. Henry owns Spanish Springs Vineyard, the exclusive source of fruit for Oceano’s wines.
The introduction of Henry Warshaw to Rachel Martin was a significant turning point, leading to a collaboration that has defined Oceano Wines. This partnership culminated in the release of their first wine in January 2018. With Kurt’s marketing background and Rachel’s pioneering approach to winemaking, Oceano Wines continues to thrive, producing highly acclaimed wines that highlight the distinct characteristics of the Spanish Springs Vineyard, solidifying their position in the wine industry.
THE STORY BEHIND THE LABEL
Oceano Wines is founded on a story of love and deep connection. The seahorses on our wine label symbolize something profoundly meaningful to us.
During a family scuba excursion, we encountered a seahorse, a rarity in the wild. Seahorses mate for life, and the male carries and gives birth to the babies, perfectly representing our bond. We began to notice seahorses everywhere, and the seahorse became a meaningful symbol of our bond.
When we decided to start our winery, we chose the name Oceano, one of the original five cities in Greater San Luis Obispo. The seahorse symbol soon followed, embodying our love story, connection to the ocean, and commitment to creating exceptional California wine.
