The first Martini wines were made in San Francisco in the early 1900s by the young Louis Martini and his Italian-emigrant father. During Prohibition the family ran the L. M. Martini Grape Products Company, making sacramental wine and grape concentrates. In 1933, in anticipation of the end of Prohibition, a new winery was constructed in St. Helena. For the next 69 years, the Martini family owned and operated the winery and helped build the California wine industry.

In 2002 the Gallo winemaking family purchased the winery and vineyards, but the winemaker and the winery director are the grandchildren of the winery’s founder.

Cabernet Sauvignon has been the flagship wine at Louis Martini for decades and continues to be the main attraction, though plenty of other choices are produced. These include Chardonnay, Merlot, Meritage, Syrah, Malbec, Zinfandel, Moscato Amabile and Port. There are six tasting options to choose from, ranging from the Cabernet Appellations to the Taste of Monte Rosso flight which features limited production wines from the Martini's flagship vineyard.

The tasting room itself is set in front of the winery operation in a long, low-slung building with an arbor-covered walkway and modern attractive landscaping. Inside there are skylights made from wine barrels, a wine accessory gift shop, and two sleek tasting counters complete with bar chairs. Tours are available, including a VIP tour that includes visiting their underground cellars. There is a large patio with tables, umbrellas and chairs under mature sycamore trees just off the tasting room.