Get to Know Marti Saint-Oyant, Oak Mountain Winery
Meet Marti!
I grew up in the Chicago area. I graduated magna cum laude from a private college and started working as a congressional staffer for a Senator in Washington DC. After marrying a French diplomat, I traveled around the world and raised a family of three children. We moved to Temecula in 2013. I have been working over 10 years in the Temecula Wine Country and I have WSET Level 2 and WSET Level 3 certifications. I am currently the Tasting Room Lead and Wine Educator at the Cave at Oak Mountain Winery.
What originally inspired you to pursue a career in wine country?
After traveling the world with my family, I resumed my career later in life with totally different goals. I had by then acquired a deep knowledge and passion for wine after visiting hundreds of wineries around the world, and met multiple winemakers and winery owners. When we moved to Temecula, working in the wine country was a logical choice for me.
Who has been a mentor or major influence in your career?
The celebrities of the wine world I had the chance to meet or befriend, like Robert Mondavi, Jesse Jackson, and many of the French top winery owners, certainly provided an inspiration for my career. My husband, who is also WSET Level 3 certified, is incredibly passionate about wines and he has been a daily inspiration to me.
If you could recommend one must-try experience at your winery, what would it be?
I would absolutely recommend tasting the diverse and quality selection of wines we have to offer at the Cave at Oak Mountain Winery – the only cave in Southern California! Our wines: sparklings, whites, rosés, and reds, have something to suit everyone’s palette, and our pastoral Temecula Wine Country setting and views are gorgeous.
What wine trend are you most excited about right now?
Over-extracted fruit bomb wines with heavy winemaker intervention are getting out of fashion, and are replaced by more elegant, balanced, complex wines that are a true reflection of their “terroir”.
Where would you love to see Temecula Wine Country in the next five years?
I am very optimistic about the future of the Temecula Wine Country despite the headwinds the industry is currently facing, in particular the drop of the US wine consumption. Our wine country is young (almost 60 years old), diversified, adaptable, and well prepared to face challenges. In an environment of increased competition, wine quality is extremely important. I am encouraged by the progress that I have witnessed.
Any dream role or experience you’d love to take on in the industry?
I deeply believe in the importance of wine education for winery employees in contact with customers. Expanding wine knowledge and education for employees is a must. There are plenty of opportunities to get a WSET level 1, 2 and 3 certifications in Temecula. I always encourage my colleagues to take these certifications. They really make a difference. I still remember when I moved to Temecula and saw wineries advertising jobs with “no wine knowledge necessary”. That has completely changed, and it is a positive sign that the Temecula wine country is moving in the right direction.
What’s your go-to sip after a long day?
With the warm weather, I definitely opt for a cold French Champagne like Laurent-Perrier Brut La Cuvée or a California sparkling wine like Oak Mountain’s León Gran Cuvée. They both have enticing white floral notes on the bouquet, hints of refreshing citrus on the palate ending in a delicate white fruit finish. Having a glass always feels like a special occasion!
