Jackass Hill

AVA

Russian River Valley

Decade

1880s

County

Sonoma

Current Owner

Lee Martinelli, Sr.

Planted by

Giuseppe Martinelli

Location Notes

Located on Martinelli Road in Forestville.

Wineries

Martinelli Winery

Historical Producers

Martinelli Winery 1880s – present

Characteristics

Jackass Hill Zinfandel bursts forth with blackberry, cherry-cola, cocoa and spicy candied licorice flavors and aromas of herbs and lavender. The Jackass Hill Muscat of Alexandria coats the mouth with rich honeysuckle, mango, lychee, passion fruit, vanilla and sweet spices.

Description

The vineyard is dry-farmed on a non-terraced, 60-65 degree hillside – it is illegal to plant a vineyard this steep today. It was the only vineyard planted by Giuseppe Martinelli in the late 1880s. Giuseppe’s youngest son Leno farmed Jackass Hill from age 12 behind horse & plow until he was 87 years old and on a tractor. Leno’s son, Lee Sr., at 75 still farms it today. The Martinelli family has been making wine from this vineyard since the beginning.

Phone

7075251017

Submitted by

Regina Martinelli

Certified