Tasting Notes

This wine is expressive on the nose with aromas of lemon blossom and golden pear. Beautifully integrated flavors of lemon custard and citrus lead to a bright minerality on the palate.

Winemaker Notes

On the nose you will find aromas of golden apple, fresh lemon juice, and graham cracker. This wine is vibrant upon entry with flavors of lemon and pear. The bright acid feeling on the palate will continue through the citrus splashed finish.

Winery Notes

The Martinelli family has been growing grapes in the Russian River Valley since the 1880s. At the ages of 19 and 16, Giuseppe Martinelli and Luisa Vellutini eloped from their small village in the Tuscany region of Italy, making their way to California looking for land to farm and start a winery. Giuseppe had been a winemaker in Italy and with his viticulture knowledge he was hired to plant a vineyard for a farmer in Forestville. Within two years he earned enough money, and borrowed some from a local wood cutter, to purchase land of his own. Working side by side on a 60 degree slope, Giuseppe and Luisa planted a small area of Zinfandel and Muscat Alexandria vines, which later became known as the Jackass Hill vineyard. Over 135 years later, this south easterly exposure remains the steepest non-terraced vineyard in Sonoma County.