The Martinelli Story

Love Sonoma Pinot Noir and Zinfandel? Thank the hard work of five generations of this California grapegrowing family

Lee Martinelli Sr. on a tractor
Lee Martinelli Sr. is the heart of the third generation, carrying on the legacy of his parents and grandparents and also guiding his own children and grandchildren in the family business. (Dawn Heumann)

When you come to the edge of civilization in the mountains of the Sonoma Coast, and the road crumbles to dirt and stone, and just as the GPS fails and you’re looking for a place to turn around and head back home, you’re almost at Blue Slide Ridge Vineyard.

It’s a path the Martinelli family knows well. On a morning in April, three generations of Martinellis are riding in an SUV as it treads up to a summit about 1,100 feet above the Pacific Ocean. At the wheel is Lee Jr.; Lee Sr. sits in the back with his granddaughter Tessa Gorsuch and winemaker Courtney Wagoner.

Read the rest of Wine Spectator senior editor Tim Fish's cover story on this Sonoma Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel powerhouse.

Member-Only Content

Premium Subscription

Join today and get immediate access to this article, and to our entire database of more than 400,000 wine ratings. It only takes moments—but it will help you drink better all year long.

Start Free 30-day Trial

Already a member? Sign In

Try Winespectator.com Free for 30 Days!

Full access to our database of more than 425,000 wine ratings

Early access to reviews on our editors' favorite just-rated wines

Wine and food pairing tool,
chefs' pairing recommendations

Best value wines and winery intel

Subscribe today

You Might Also Like

Blowup: A Controversial Italian Photographer, His Rebel Son and Wine

Blowup: A Controversial Italian Photographer, His Rebel Son and Wine

Traveling the backroads of Tuscany, part 2: A visit to Toscani

Aug 20, 2024
9 Terms and Trends Wine Professionals Are Sick of Seeing

9 Terms and Trends Wine Professionals Are Sick of Seeing

Top sommeliers share the fads and phrases that really grind their gears, from “sugar-free” …

Aug 19, 2024
Renewal at Château Lascombes

Renewal at Château Lascombes

Ornellaia winemaker and Tuscan icon Axel Heinz takes his talents to Bordeaux

Sep 30, 2024
Pinot’s New Wave

Pinot’s New Wave

Profiles of nine cutting-edge California Pinot producers

Sep 30, 2024
You’re Missing Out on Friuli—Frasca’s Carlin Karr Wants to Change That

You’re Missing Out on Friuli—Frasca’s Carlin Karr Wants to Change That

The Restaurant Award–winning wine director shares her favorite underrated Italian wines, …

Aug 9, 2024
Traveling the Backroads of Tuscany: Ghizzano

Traveling the Backroads of Tuscany: Ghizzano

Tucked in the hills of Pisa, this noble estate takes its own approach to making Sangiovese …

Aug 6, 2024