In the mid-1930s, Martin Stelling Jr., a dashing San Francisco real estate magnate, began investing in winery properties in Napa Valley and eventually moved to a residence north of Oakville with his wife Caroline (Bishop) Stelling. The couple later welcomed their two children, Doug and Cara Stelling. In 1943, Martin Stelling Jr. purchased the 527-acre To-Kalon estate, retaining all but 90 acres that he immediately sold to Beaulieu Vineyard. The following year, he acquired the adjacent 1,700-acre McGill ranch with a vision of establishing a vast winery estate and reviving the To-Kalon name. He began planting vines (including the Robert Mondavi Winery’s renowned I-Bock and Monastery Block within the former McGill ranch) and selling grapes, although he never produced wine. In 1950, Martin Stelling Jr. tragically died in a car accident, leaving his development plans unfulfilled. His wife Caroline Bishop Stelling assumed control of the Oakville estate.