Sky Ridge Vineyard

The Our Sky Ridge vineyard is our newest planting in Russian River Valley. It was reclaimed as family property when in 2016 Lee Martinelli Sr. bought the land back from the Young family. It was originally owned by Giuseppe Martinelli and is the location where Lee Sr. fell his first buck at twelve years old. This vineyard is all of 4 acres and rests high on a ridge top on Martinelli Road, where it wakes up in the morning fog and catches the cool afternoon breeze during the hot, summer months.

When we look back at the 2023 growing season there are two words that perfectly describe the vintage – late and big. After an exceptionally wet and cool winter, bud break happened over a month later than average. Our first day of picking was the day after the harvest completed the previous year. Fruit set was excellent and the temps during the summer were moderate to cool, with very few days in the triple digits. What a contrast from 2022! Mild temperatures along with abundantly available water allowed the clusters to develop slowly and evenly.

Expressive aromas of black cherry, black plum, and warming spices greet the nose. The palate is velvety, with flavors of raspberry, dried cherry, and a touch of blood orange, while fresh rhubarb elevates the lingering finish.

Zio Tony Ranch

The Zio Tony Ranch is named after Lee Sr.’s uncle Tony who was the first in the Bondi family to be born on American soil. Zio Tony, Zio meaning ‘uncle’ in Italian and pronounced ‘tseo’, was a very charismatic man with a big booming voice whom loved a good time. When Zio Tony passed away in 1971 his nephew, Lee Martinelli, Sr., took over management of the estate. The love of his family’s heritage land was too great for Lee to sell the property and in one short season he went from High School teacher to Apple Farmer.  Eventually this apple orchard was converted to vineyards, as the market for apples grew unbearably soft.  The vines are planted on rolling hills made up of Gold Ridge soil, with Clones consisting of 95, 76, and 548.

When we look back at the 2023 growing season there are two words that perfectly describe the vintage – late and big. After an exceptionally wet and cool winter, bud break happened over a month later than average. Our first day of picking was the day after the harvest completed the previous year. Fruit set was excellent and the temps during the summer were moderate to cool, with very few days in the triple digits. What a contrast from 2022! Mild temperatures along with abundantly available water allowed the clusters to develop slowly and evenly.

Profound aromas of black plum, blueberry compote, and balanced oak spice. The palate is rich, with flavors of Bing cherry and blueberry preserves, leading to a long, sweet barrel spice finish.

Wild Thyme Vineyard

We planted the Wild Thyme Vineyard with clones Pommard and 943 in the year 2010.  It sits along the ridge-line between our Three Sisters Vineyard and our Blue Slide Ridge Vineyard, on the edge of a sheer canyon that the old timers refer to as “Devil’s Canyon”. The vineyard is just above the fogbank that hugs these coastal cliffs, allowing for this Pinot Noir to ripen slowly, developing layers of complexity and flavor. Wild Thyme Vineyard is named for the wild thyme that grows abundantly at this location, and for the wild times we have had as a family while drinking wine on this property since the 1860s.

When we look back at the 2023 growing season there are two words that perfectly describe the vintage – late and big. After an exceptionally wet and cool winter, bud break happened over a month later than average. Our first day of picking was the day after the harvest completed the previous year. Fruit set was excellent and the temps during the summer were moderate to cool, with very few days in the triple digits. What a contrast from 2022! Mild temperatures along with abundantly available water allowed the clusters to develop slowly and evenly.

Aromas of Maine blueberry pie, fig preserves, and mountain berries greet the nose. The palate unfolds with rich blueberry and boysenberry, while a subtle hint of barrel spice adds depth to the long finish.

Multiple Vineyards

Our Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is curated from our Estate vineyards throughout the Russian River Valley appellation. This wine mirrors the special distinctions that this viticultural area has on a wine due to the climate, proximity to the ocean and soil profile, in combination with our family’s trademark farming style and dedication to crafting the highest quality wines true to where they are grown.

The 2022 season started out with ideal conditions with early rains helping to push bud break into Spring. While we encountered instances of shatter (a grape berry fails to develop because of incomplete pollination) due to frost, this was limited to specific vineyards. Meticulous attention was given to addressing this issue, as we diligently assessed each block and thinned any clusters affected by shatter. Thankfully, the summer months offered the optimal combination of warm days and perfectly cool nights. However, Labor Day weekend launched what has been marked as one of the most heat-intensive 7-day periods on record for Sonoma County, resulting in a significant number of vineyards reaching their ripening stage simultaneously.

Brilliant aromas of blackberry compote, black cherry, and hints of clove in the nose. Juicy flavors of black plum and Bing cherry make for a mouthwatering palate. Boysenberry is present in the long finish.

Moonshine Ranch

Back during prohibition the owners of Moonshine Ranch used to run ‘shine on this ranch in the existing barn. The owner used to sneak out in the middle of the night, while his wife slept to tend to the still. The wife got suspicious and thought it was another woman he was going to see, so she hired a private detective to follow him. When the detective discovered he was making moonshine, he had the man arrested and thrown in jail. The barn still stands on the property today, but houses tractors now instead.

The 2022 season started out with ideal conditions with early rains helping to push bud break into Spring. While we encountered instances of shatter (a grape berry fails to develop because of incomplete pollination) due to frost, this was limited to specific vineyards. Meticulous attention was given to addressing this issue, as we diligently assessed each block and thinned any clusters affected by shatter. Thankfully, the summer months offered the optimal combination of warm days and perfectly cool nights. However, Labor Day weekend launched what has been marked as one of the most heat-intensive 7-day periods on record for Sonoma County, resulting in a significant number of vineyards reaching their ripening stage simultaneously.

Inviting aromas red cherry, blueberry, and fresh tilled soil are in the nose. Weighty upon entry, the balance acid complements the flavors of blackberries and rhubarb. Hint of pomegranate are found in the lengthy finish.

Lolita Ranch

The Lolita Ranch is located on Martinelli Road in Forestville. The property was part of the original Martinelli Homestead Ranch, belonging to Giuseppe and Luisa Martinelli who purchased the steep, forested land in the late 1800’s.  Later, their eldest son Fred sold the parcel to his neighbor, Lolita Young’s mother. Eventually Bob and Lolita Young inherited it, and ran a herd of cattle on the land for many years. Lee Martinelli Jr. and his wife Pamela acquired the property in 1999 from Bob Young after Lolita’s passing, returning it back to the Martinelli estate and to the family’s continuing century-long legacy of viticulture. Lee Jr. decided to name the ranch after Lolita, and planted the steep hillside in 2001 with four different grape varietals: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Zinfandel.

The 2022 season started out with ideal conditions with early rains helping to push bud break into Spring. While we encountered instances of shatter (a grape berry fails to develop because of incomplete pollination) due to frost, this was limited to specific vineyards. Meticulous attention was given to addressing this issue, as we diligently assessed each block and thinned any clusters affected by shatter. Thankfully, the summer months offered the optimal combination of warm days and perfectly cool nights. However, Labor Day weekend launched what has been marked as one of the most heat-intensive 7-day periods on record for Sonoma County, resulting in a significant number of vineyards reaching their ripening stage simultaneously.

Lively flavors of strawberry compote, dried cherries, and clove are found in the glass. Leading with a bright entry, you will find flavors in the mouth of red berries, pomegranate, and ripe cherries. The clean, long finish is complemented by balanced acidity.

Multiple Vineyards

The Fort-Ross Seaview label is curated from our Estate vineyards on the Sonoma Coast. We made this wine to reflect the unique nuances that this small viticultural area has on a wine due to the climate, proximity to the ocean and soil profile, in combination with our family’s trademark farming style and dedication to crafting the highest quality wines true to where they are grown.

The 2022 growing season started out with ideal conditions with early rains helping to push bud break timing into Spring.  This was followed by a late frost and high winds during flowering.  We experienced shatter (a grape berry fails to develop because of incomplete pollination) from the frost, but only in select vineyards, mostly in the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. Great care was taken by going block by block and thinning any clusters that had shatter. Following a summer of perfectly hot days and cool nights, we had a significant heat event over Labor Day weekend. This was one of the warmest 7-day periods on record for Sonoma County. Tank space was pushed to its limit, but we were able to get everything in at the right time. Lee Sr. said that in all his years of farming, this was the first vintage that all of our red varietals had been picked by the end of September

The bright nose has intriguing aromas of fresh strawberries, raspberry, and pomegranate. As the wine glides across the palate, mouthwatering flavors of juicy red plum and rhubarb are present. The balanced acid profile complements the hints of mineral found in the long finish.

Bondi Home Ranch

The Bondi Home Ranch sits at the southernmost tip of the Russian River Valley in the Green Valley AVA in Sebastopol. Lee Martinelli Sr. inherited this ranch from his uncle when it was still an apple orchard, and has since converted the 20 acres to Pinot Noir grapes. The vineyard is planted with eastern exposure, which promotes even ripening with all day sun. The cool breeze from the sea rises in the late afternoon, skimming along the distant bank of fog, relieving the vines from the afternoon heat and enhancing slower ripening. The clones are 115, 777, 667, 828, 943 and Calera. Bondi Home Ranch has the longest growing season of all of our vineyards; it is the first to bloom and the last to be picked.

The 2022 growing season was full of ups and downs, keeping our winemaking team on their toes. The season started out with ideal conditions with early rains helping to push bud break into Spring. While we encountered instances of shatter (a grape berry fails to develop because of incomplete pollination) due to frost, this was limited to specific vineyards. Meticulous attention was given to addressing this issue, as we diligently assessed each block and thinned any clusters affected by shatter. Thankfully, the summer months offered the optimal combination of warm days and perfectly cool nights. However, Labor Day weekend launched what has been marked as one of the most heat-intensive 7-day periods on record for Sonoma County, resulting in a significant number of vineyards reaching their ripening stage simultaneously.

Inviting aromas of blueberries, boysenberries, and star anise immerse your nose. The balanced approach is followed by layered tannins with flavors of fig and black cherry. With barrel spice and pomegranate present in the lingering finish.

Blue Slide Ridge

Blue Slide Ridge is named for its magnificent formations of blue rock. Directly below the vineyard a sheer cliff drops into the small winding “Marshall Creek”, showing off great cerulean shards jutting out from beneath the earth’s surface. In 1995 Lee Sr. and Carolyn Martinelli planted this six acre vineyard of Pinot Noir on a steep slope, under the guidelines of Helen Turley. This site was once prime grazing land for sheep, located on the second ridge inland from the Pacific coastline.

The 2022 season started out with ideal conditions with early rains helping to push bud break into Spring. While we encountered instances of shatter (a grape berry fails to develop because of incomplete pollination) due to frost, this was limited to specific vineyards. Meticulous attention was given to addressing this issue, as we diligently assessed each block and thinned any clusters affected by shatter. Thankfully, the summer months offered the optimal combination of warm days and perfectly cool nights. However, Labor Day weekend launched what has been marked as one of the most heat-intensive 7-day periods on record for Sonoma County, resulting in a significant number of vineyards reaching their ripening stage simultaneously.

Complex aromas of red raspberry, blueberry, and crushed stones are found in the nose. Rich and brooding, the palate has flavors of black cherry and warming spices. Completed well-structured finish and flavors of ripe plumb and rooibos tea.

Multiple Vineyards

Our Bella Vigna label is curated from our Estate Pinot Noir vineyards primarily in the Russian River Valley appellation. We wanted to create a blend that reflects the characteristics of our Estate vineyards and is still true to our Martinelli style. Bella Vigna translates to “Beautiful Vines”, and our winemaking team chose barrels that best denote the flavor profiles of our small, Pinot Noir vineyards combined.

The 2022 season started out with ideal conditions with early rains helping to push bud break into Spring. While we encountered instances of shatter (a grape berry fails to develop because of incomplete pollination) due to frost, this was limited to specific vineyards. Meticulous attention was given to addressing this issue, as we diligently assessed each block and thinned any clusters affected by shatter. Thankfully, the summer months offered the optimal combination of warm days and perfectly cool nights. However, Labor Day weekend launched what has been marked as one of the most heat-intensive 7-day periods on record for Sonoma County, resulting in a significant number of vineyards reaching their ripening stage simultaneously.

This wine is surprisingly dark and brooding on the nose with aromas of black cherry, coco nibs, and blackberry compote. The structured entry has flavors of black plum and leads to a lengthy finish with notes of red stone fruit.