Syrah Zio Tony Ranch
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2029
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted lamb, grilled ribeye steak, wild game
✨ Technical Specifications
The Zio Tony Ranch Syrah is a testament to the Martinelli family's deep roots in the Russian River Valley, named in honor of 'Zio' (Uncle) Tony Bondi, a legendary local farmer. Planted on the classic Goldridge sandy loam soils of this cool-climate site, the vineyard benefits from morning coastal fog and warm afternoon sun. This unique microclimate allows the Syrah grapes to ripen slowly, developing an incredibly complex flavor profile. The wine is crafted using traditional, minimalist techniques, including fermentation with wild yeasts and aging in French oak barrels. It is bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve its dramatic intensity, offering a striking balance of dark brambly fruit, cracked black pepper, smoked meats, and savory tapenade.
🍾 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%