Syrah Lolita Ranch
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2028
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted lamb, grilled ribeye steak, wild game
✨ Technical Specifications
The Lolita Ranch Syrah is a profound expression of Sonoma County terroir, sourced from a historic property purchased in 1945 by Tony and Lolita Martinelli. Situated on a steep, east-facing hillside in the Russian River Valley, the vineyard is defined by its cool-climate fog and classic Goldridge sandy loam soils. Planted with the Alban clone of Syrah, these vines yield incredibly concentrated fruit. The winemaking philosophy remains deeply traditional and minimalist, utilizing native yeast fermentation and bottling the wine unfined and unfiltered. This approach preserves the wine's signature wild, savory character, marked by intense notes of dark blackberries, cracked black pepper, smoked meats, and a rich, velvety texture that reflects both the rugged hillside terroir and the Martinelli family's multi-generational dedication to the land.
🍾 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
Syrah
🍷 ABV
14.5-15.5%