The Martinelli Family

The Martinelli family has been farming grapes and making wine in Sonoma County since the 1880s, when Giuseppe Martinelli immigrated from Italy and started his winery. After eloping with Luisa Vellutini, they planted Zinfandel and Muscat Alexandria on a steep 60-degree slope, which became the Jackass Hill vineyard, still the steepest non-terraced vineyard in California. In the 1980s, Giuseppe’s grandson, Lee Martinelli Sr., and his wife Carolyn started their own winery in the Russian River Valley. Today, three generations of Martinellis work together in the family business: Lee Sr., his children George, Lee Jr. and Julianna, and granddaughter Tessa; Lee and Carolyn’s other daughter Regina has played different roles in the family business as well. Today, Martinelli Winery specializes in estate-grown Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Syrah. With 475 acres across the Russian River Valley and Fort Ross-Seaview AVAs, the family sells most of its grapes to other vintners, keeping a small portion for their own wines. Winemaker Courtney Wagoner and consulting winemaker Erin Green craft wines that highlight the unique character of the vineyards.