martinelli winery
  • Visit
  • Vineyards
    • VINEYARD MAP
    • GROWING REGIONS
    • SUSTAINABILITY
  • Wines
    • CHARDONNAY
    • PINOT NOIR
    • ZINFANDEL
    • SYRAH
    • MUSCAT OF ALEXANDRIA
  • Our story
    • FAMILY
    • HERITAGE
    • FAMILY TREE
    • Winemaking Team
  • Join the list
  • Shop
  • Charles Ranch

    Vineyard on slope under blue sky

    Charles Ranch

    Fort Ross-Seaview

    Charles Ranch vineyard was the 2nd vineyard to be planted on the far Sonoma Coast, in Fort Ross – Seaview AVA. George Charles (Carolyn Martinelli’s father) planted it to many people’s disbelief that grapes could ripen out there. The Ag Commissioner hesitated to give George a permit to plant because they didn’t believe grapes would grow out there due to the cooler temperatures. He did it anyway. He planted this vineyard on what was originally called by our family “Buffalo Hill.” George being a rancher at heart, had several bison. They were mean but beautiful, and eventually he had to give them up because he needed the pasture to plant his vineyard. Once George planted Chardonnay on this hill, he used his horse to sulfur the vines. He didn’t have a tractor, as sheep ranchers use horseback. So he put blinders on his horse, and shook burlap sacks of sulfur over the vines as he rode down each row. It’s what he knew, using what he had and making a go of it. He also didn’t think his sheep would ever eat grapes. He learned otherwise when one September day the sheep, which roamed freely, walked up to the picking bins and started eating the ripe, plump grapes. He realized then it was time to fence in the vineyard.

    SPECIFICATIONS
    APPELLATIONFort Ross-Seaview
    VARIETALS PLANTEDChardonnay
    SOIL INFORMATIONJosephine, Goldridge
    SOIL CHARACTERISTICSWell drained, some clay loam
    ROOTSTOCKAXR and St. George
    BUDWOODWente and 04
    YEAR ACQUIRED1860
    YEAR PLANTED1981

    TERROIR IS EVERYTHING

    Our Appellations

    50 VINEYARD ACRES

    Fort Ross-Seaview

    Blue Slide Ridge
    Wild Thyme Vineyard
    Charles Ranch
    Three Sisters Vineyard

    400 VINEYARD ACRES

    Russian River Valley

    Jackass Hill
    Jackass Vineyard
    Giuseppe & Luisa
    Zio Tony Ranch
    Moonshine Ranch
    Lolita Ranch
    Vellutini Ranch
    Chico’s Hill
    Hop Barn Hill
    Martinelli Road

    17 VINEYARD ACRES

    Green Valley

    bondi home ranch

    Visit

    Tasting Experiences

    Join

    Tasting Experiences

    Acquire

    PURCHASE ONLINE

    Tessa Gorsuch

    August 2, 2023

Martinelli
Winery
3360 RIVER ROAD
WINDSOR, CA
(800) 346-1627
EMAIL US

TRADE & MEDIA
GALLERY
CONTACT US
ADA STATEMENT

PRIVACY
UPCOMING EVENTS
SHIPPING INFO
CHECKOUT

VISIT
VINEYARDS
WINES
OUR STORY
JOIN THE LIST
SHOP

COPYRIGHT 2025 MARTINELLI WINERY, WINDSOR, CALIFORNIA

PRIVACY / TERMS OF USE