Martin Pohl arrived in California's Lake County from the Czech Republic with a belief that wine should be an expression of living land rather than a product of industrial agriculture. He discovered Beaver Creek Vineyards in 2007 on what was then Horne Ranch — a rugged 185-acre property near Middletown at 1,000 feet elevation — and began the conversion to organic farming immediately. By 2009 the estate held CCOF Organic certification; Demeter Biodynamic followed in 2010. In 2021, Martin became sole proprietor.
The Region
Lake County sits north of Napa and east of Mendocino, one of California's highest-elevation wine regions. The volcanic history of the area — Clear Lake, one of North America's oldest lakes, dominates the county — gives the soils their distinctive character: obsidian volcanic glass mixed with mountain valley loam at Beaver Creek, rocky and well-drained conditions that make intensive irrigation unnecessary. The altitude moderates temperatures, preserving natural acidity.
Vineyards & Farming
The Beaver Creek estate carries 22 acres of vines at 1,000 feet, planted to Sauvignon Blanc, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. Martin also works with Rose Ranch in Sonoma Valley (Merlot, Primitivo, Grenache, Roussanne at 423 feet), Devils Kitchen in Lake County (Zinfandel at 3,000 feet), and Jeriko Vineyards in Mendocino (Pinot Noir). All sites hold organic certification. Sheep, goats, chickens, and bees contribute to the biodynamic ecosystem alongside the vines.
Winemaking
Martin ferments with native yeasts only and adds no sulfites. Wines are unfiltered, unfined, and vegan — no animal-derived fining agents are used at any stage. Aging takes place in French, Hungarian, and American oak. The philosophy is one of minimal interference: grapes are hand-harvested and vinified without additives, relying on the health of the vineyard and the integrity of the fruit to do the work.
The Wines
The range spans Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, a pétillant naturel, and an orange wine, produced under both the Martin Pohl and Beaver Creek Vineyards labels. Alcohol levels tend to run lower than Lake County averages, reflecting the elevation and the dry-farmed, biodynamic approach.
