In 1999, the Martins took their first official step into beverage production with Martin’s Honey Farm & Meadery in Sterling, New York. Operating out of their garage, they produced honey alongside fruit wines and meads. Interest grew quickly, and within just a few years, it became clear that the business had outgrown its original home.
That turning point came in 2001 with the opening of Montezuma Winery in Seneca Falls, a move that would define the family’s future. Located near the northern end of Cayuga Lake in the celebrated Finger Lakes wine region, the winery became the heart of the Martin family’s operations. Moving into the Finger Lakes also marked an important evolution in winemaking. In addition to fruit and honey wines, the Martins began partnering with local growers to work with vinifera, native, and hybrid grape varieties. Montezuma Winery quickly earned a reputation for being a place where experimentation and tradition comfortably coexist.
As Montezuma Winery flourished, the family continued to explore new ideas. In 2007, they launched Hidden Marsh Distillery, becoming early advocates for craft distilling in New York State. At the time, only a handful of distilleries operated statewide, and the Martins actively supported legislative changes that made small-scale distilling possible. After the laws changed, they acquired a custom-built German pot still—one of the first in the Finger Lakes—and expanded their offerings to include spirits.
Growth continued to follow the family’s personal connections to place. In 2010, they opened a Montezuma Winery tasting room in Old Forge, inspired by generations of family trips to the Adirondacks through Ginny Martin’s family. In 2013, they introduced Idol Ridge Winery, perched high above Seneca Lake with sweeping views and a lodge-style tasting room handcrafted by Ed Martin. Idol Ridge brought a new brand and a distinct expression of grape wines to complement Montezuma’s lineup.
In the years that followed, the Martins added distilleries, new tasting rooms, and their first estate vineyard, while continuing to innovate and grow. Through every chapter, Montezuma Winery in Seneca Falls has remained the foundation—the place where a beekeeping family became a defining part of the Finger Lakes wine community.
