Pinot Noir Zio Tony Ranch Grace Nicole
⏳ Drinking Window
2020 - 2027
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck, wild mushroom risotto, herb-crusted pork tenderloin
✨ Technical Specifications
The Zio Tony Ranch Pinot Noir 'Grace Nicole' is a deeply personal tribute within the Martinelli portfolio, named in honor of Lee Martinelli Sr.'s granddaughter, Grace Nicole. The vineyard itself, Zio Tony Ranch, pays homage to 'Uncle Tony' Bondanza, a beloved family figure. Located in the cool, fog-influenced Russian River Valley, the vineyard features classic Goldridge sandy loam soils that yield Pinot Noir of remarkable depth and concentration. True to the Martinelli family's uncompromising standards, the grapes are hand-harvested, fermented with wild yeasts, and aged in French oak barrels before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. This results in a Pinot Noir of exceptional richness, boasting intense dark fruit character, velvety tannins, and a luxurious, lingering finish that epitomizes the bold, expressive style of Russian River Valley terroir.
🍾 About the Producer
Martinelli Winery represents one of the most storied multi-generational viticultural legacies in Sonoma County, dating back to 1887 when Tuscan immigrants Giuseppe Martinelli and Luisa Vellutini first planted vines in the Russian River Valley. The estate's crown jewel remains the famed Jackass Hill—a perilous, non-terraced 60-degree slope planted to historic heritage Zinfandel and Muscat of Alexandria. Across more than 450 acres spanning Russian River Valley and Fort Ross-Seaview, the Martinellis cultivate cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as heritage Zinfandel and Syrah, across Goldridge sandy loam and marine gravel soils influenced by dense Pacific coastal fog. Winemaking emphasizes site fidelity through ambient yeast fermentations, meticulous French oak élevage, and minimal intervention, bottling without fining or filtration. Benchmark bottlings such as Jackass Hill Zinfandel, Three Sisters Chardonnay, and Zio Tony Ranch Pinot Noir capture rich concentration, vibrant acidity, and profound structural depth.
🍇 Grapes
Pinot Noir
🍷 ABV
14.5-15.5%