The first woman to establish a wine importing business in the U.S. in 1979, Martine Saunier is responsible for bringing some of France’s greatest names, like Henri Jayer and Chateau Rayas, to our shores when she felt that the wines available in America were not up to her exacting standards. Her portfolio at Martine’s Wines runs the gamut from wines of great value to some of the world’s most acclaimed names. Martine is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier and was formerly on the national board of the American Institute of Wine and Food. She is a Chevalier du Tastevin and she has been decorated twice by the French government with the title of Officier du Mérite Agricole. Since passing the torch to a new generation of owners for her import company, she has begun a new career as a film star and producer. Her first documentary, “A Year in Burgundy,” which tracks several of her top winemakers through a year in the lifecycle of their vineyards, was released in 2013 and she’s since produced “A Year in Champagne” and “A Year in Port.” Martine is a true gem in the industry, full of exquisite stories and unique personal insights and it is always an honor to hear her perspective on the wine industry.
