The Cinema at the Casa series pays tribute to Medora’s interest in current events as well as her father George’s interest in film. This series provides the opportunity for the Casa to become a center for creative and worldly discussions.

february 15, 2024  |  6:00-7:30 PM

On February 15, Cinema at the Casa will be screening California Natural, a documentary short offering a captivating glimpse into the world of natural winemaking through the lens of natural winemaker Martha Stoumen. California Natural offers a sensuous immersion into Martha’s world as she explores the shifting tides of climate change with creativity, expertise and joy. California Natural is a Gnarly Bay short film directed by Lindsey Hagen.

The evening will feature a guest sommelier offering tastings of natural and organic wines.

California Natural has been accepted into various film festivals including EarthX Festival, SBIFF, and SDIFF Shortsfest and won three Telly Awards.

Admission is $50.

Space is limited. Reservations are required.

**Due to a scheduling conflict, we have temporarily postponed Cinema at the Casa’s screening of California Natural. A new date will be secured and shared as soon as possible.

ABOUT MARTHA STOUMEN

Martha went to work in the vineyard, olive orchard, and winery of a small farm and learning center in Tuscany after studying traditional agricultural systems and Italian during her undergraduate degree. The majority of her farm work took place in the vineyard rather than the winery, so she entered the world of wine production through the lens of a vintner rather than a typical modern California winemaker who spends very little to no time in the vineyard. During this time she also worked with farm animals, bees, and vegetables, and to this day views growing grapes and making wine as part of a larger system.

Besides a love of food, and therefore agriculture, Martha was drawn to wine for two reasons: she relishes a tradition in which the master-apprentice relationship is still very much alive and well, and because wine is a product that sets the pace and rhythm of the winemaker’s life, rather than vice-versa.

Grape growing and winemaking aligns a vigneronne’s actions with the seasons; she can neither rush the process nor slow it down. After her initial exposure to grape farming and winemaking in Tuscany, Martha began a series of apprenticeships, sandwiched around a Master's at UC Davis.

Martha has had the pleasure of apprenticing under Reinhard Löwenstein (Heymann-Löwenstein, Mosel), Jordan Fiorentini (Chalk Hill, California) Chris Brockway (Broc Cellars, California), Clive Dougall (Seresin, Marlborough), Didier Barral (Léon Barral, Faugères, France), and Giusto Occhipinti (COS, Sicily). Many of these teachers have remained a part of her life since moving toward her own vision of making responsibly farmed, terroir-driven wines in the land that she holds so dear in her heart, California.