Martinelli Chardonnay & Pinot Noir Offer

When it comes to the topic of farming and winemaking royalty in Sonoma County, it’s difficult not to have the Martinelli Family mentioned in the conversation. Five generations of the family have farmed in Sonoma County since their arrival from Europe before the turn of the century.

Today, the family’s patriarch is 84-year-old Lee Martinelli, Sr. (third generation). Growing up, the children all showed interest in pursuing the family business. At present, Julianna manages Sales & Marketing for the winery while the two sons manage the family vineyards with their father. Whether it’s farming, winemaking, or trekking across the country to share the Martinelli story and sell the wine, they each play an integral role in the operation.

The present-day Martinelli family winery and headquarters can be found off River Road in Windsor, CA, just under eight miles from Mayacama. From there, the family, and their dedicated team, manage 450 acres of planted vineyards in the Russian River Valley and the Fort Ross-Seaview appellation of the West Sonoma Coast. The wines that are made from these grapes are bold, structured, and rich, much like family’s history.

Flashback to the late 1880s. It was then that Giuseppe and Luisa Martinelli eloped from their small village in Tuscany and made the voyage to Sonoma County, CA. They built a house, a small winery, and planted Jackass Hill Vineyard in 1890. Just a few years later, Paulo and Gemma Bondi arrived from Italy. Their daughter Alma married Giusseppe and Luisa’s son Leno Martinelli. Alma’s brother Tony Bondi (a.k.a. Uncle Tony) was known for planting apple orchards throughout the Russian River Valley.

Fast forward to 1973 when Lee Sr. took over management of his Uncle Tony Bondi’s estate and began planting vineyards in the rich soil of the Russian River Valley. Two of those vineyards, Bondi Home Ranch and Zio Tony Vineyard now produce some of the most coveted Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in all of Sonoma County. While Lee’s fruit grew in great demand from many wineries, it was not long before he realized the exceptional potential to create magnificent wines from these grapes. Martinelli Winery was born.

Growing up, Julianna, Lee Jr., George, and Regina all showed interest in pursuing the family business. At present, the sisters manage Sales & Marketing for the winery while the two sons manage the family vineyards with their father. Julie’s daughter Tessa, 38, is the winery’s Estate Director and now represents the fifth generation.

Today’s Mayacama Wine Offer celebrates the Martinelli family with a lineup of their single vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In regard to the overall style of the wines, they are unabashedly Russian River Valley: plush, fruit forward, medium-to-full-bodied. If you are interested in a more coastal style of wine, you are not going to find that here. That being said, these wines are site specific and absolutely delicious. Paired with the right meal, they have the ability to impress and excite.

As always, if you have any specific questions regarding the wines, please don’t hesitate to let me know.

Thank you so much for your continued support!

Cheers!

Carey Vanderborg, Wine Director

WINES BEING OFFERED:

Chardonnay, Zio Tony Ranch Vineyard, Russian River Valley 2020 ($62/btl)

Pinot Noir, Lolita Ranch Vineyard, Russian River Valley 2021 ($85/btl)

Pinot Noir, Bondi Home Ranch Vineyard, Russian River Valley 2021 ($85/btl)

Learn more about these wines here.