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Elk Prairie Vineyard, summer
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The Vineyards
Guido Venturi Vineyard, Mendocino County
A new vineyard designate for us. Elisco and Laudomia Venturi purchased
the Venturi Vineyard in 1924. This thirty-acre vineyard is primarily
flat land and gentle slope with the exception of a little over two acres
on a north-facing hillside. (Hence where we source our Zin). These two
acres were planted on St.George rootstock and dry farmed, in soil that
is clay at the top of the hill turming gradually into a rich loam at the
bottom. Another classic Zin from a new area (appellation) for us and
truly different from our other Zin offerings. Planted by Guido himself,
he is one of the original Mendocino County Grapes Growers along with
John Parducci and Charles Barra. His son Gary, who does a terrific job,
now farms the vineyard. Gary insisted the vineyard designation carry
his father's name (Guido). Much respect! This is Zin that we are proud
and lucky to have sourced and highlight from truly a historic figure in
Mendocino County, grown in the small hamlet of Calpella (the name of a
northern Pomo Indian chief), north of Ukiah and west of the Redwood
Valley Appellation. Unique, small and not to be forgotten. Isn't this
fun? Our quest for art in history fused together by the magic of wine
continues.
Braccialini Vineyard, Zinfandel, Alexander Valley
The vineyard is located a little northwest of Cloverdale in the
northernmost reaches of the Alexander Valley Appellation. This
particular fruit comes from a 4 acre block planted in a deep loamy clay
soil on St. George rootstock and dry farmed. There is some confusion
about the age of the vines (25-35 years) but to call them mature would
be appropriate. The cuttings for these vines were mostly gathered from
the old Asti vineyards and some local old Italian family vineyards as
well. No particular clones are identified.
Martinelli Road Vineyard, Zinfandel, Russian River Valley
The vineyard was originally planted in 1870 by the Banfield family. The
Banfields purchased the rootstock from a supplier in San Francisco. This
rootstock originated in both France and Italy. At some point the land
with this particular Zinfandel vineyard was sold to the Butler family
who owned it until 1903 at which time is was sold to Giuseppe
Martinelli. Some of these 30 year old vines were failing so Giuseppe
Martinelli purchased new rootstock from San Francisco making the round
trip to and from Forestville with a horse drawn wagon. All of the new
rootstock originated in Italy. (it is unknown what percentage of the
vineyard was replanted at this time) Giuseppe Martinelli worked this
vineyard with his wife and children until 1918.
In 1918 the management of the entire Martinelli estate was turned over
to Giuseppe's three sons; Fred, Domingo and Leno. The Martinelli estate
was officially divided among the brothers in 1934 with this portion of
the Zinfandel vineyard going to Domingo, who produced wine grapes with
his wife and children until 1977. Domingo's children; Joseph Martinelli
and Emily Duckhorn, along with their spouses and
children continued working the vineyard until 2002. Currently
Joseph Martinelli and and Emily's children, Andy Duckhorn and Julie
Speakes continue the over one hundred year family tradition of growing
wine grapes.
Wiley Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley
Wiley planted its first vines in 1972, Making it the fourth of the
so-called "modern" viticulturalists in Anderson Valley, after Edmeades,
Husch and van Hoorn respectively.
The vines for this Pinot Noir were planted in 1982, on both southwest
and northwest facing gentle slopes, and include fruit from the the
Pommard #5 and Martin Ray, sometimes called "Romanee Conti," #37 clones.
Soil is former upland pasture, dense sandy loam and fractured sandstone
from the Franciscan Formation.
Anderson Valley climate is strongly influenced by its closeness to the
ocean and the cooling marine flow from the nearby Pacific Ocean. Wiley
Vineyard is exactly ten miles from the beach, and the site is closest to
the ocean of any valley floor vineyard. The growing season for the
fruit is one of the longest in Anderson Valley. On a typical warm day
during verraison the afternoon temperature can rise one degree
Fahrenheit each two miles between the vineyard site near Navarro and the
capital of the valley, Boonville, some fifteen miles to the south.
Vines are cane-pruned with 10 X 6' spacing. Irrigation program
emphasizes a "deficit" schedule with all water applied in August and
September.
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Elk Prairie Vineyard, winter
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