Chardonnay Charles Ranch
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted chicken, creamy mushroom risotto, grilled lobster with drawn butter
✨ Technical Specifications
The Charles Ranch Chardonnay is sourced from a historic vineyard site in the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA of the Sonoma Coast. Planted in 1980 by George Charles, the father-in-law of Lee Martinelli Jr., this vineyard represents some of the earliest Chardonnay plantings in this rugged, extreme coastal region. Situated on a ridge-top just miles from the Pacific Ocean, the vines are subject to cool maritime breezes and dense fog, which slow the ripening process and preserve natural acidity. Martinelli farms this site with meticulous care, producing a wine that undergoes barrel fermentation and aging in French oak. The resulting Chardonnay is celebrated for its striking balance of rich, concentrated stone fruit flavors, vibrant coastal acidity, and a distinct mineral backbone that reflects its unique terroir.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in the late 1880s by Italian immigrants Giuseppe Martinelli and Luisa Vellutini, Martinelli Winery is a celebrated multi-generational estate nestled in California's Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast. For over a century, the family has farmed historically significant, steep hillside sites, most famously the iconic Jackass Hill and Jackass Vineyard planted in 1887. Guided by an uncompromising dedication to estate viticulture and low-intervention winemaking, the winery captures the distinct microclimates and soils of Sonoma County. Martinelli is globally acclaimed for its powerful, old-vine Zinfandels, expressive single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, structured Syrahs, and richly textured Chardonnays.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Chardonnay
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
14.0-14.5%