Mike Macechko, Arkansas Alumni Association Executive Director and Associate Vice Chancellor for University Advancement

The Vineyards

Working with the maxim that great wine starts with great vineyards, the Martini family, through three generations, has made vineyard development their number one priority. The family owns over 700 acres of vineyards in Napa and Sonoma, counties; 605 acres are planted and 95 acres are available for further planting.

More than 75 percent of the grapes used in making Louis M. Martini wines come from Martini-owned vineyards, with the remainder supplied by independent growers.

Four Martini vineyards lie within a 25 mile radius of the winery in St. Helena. Ghost Pines in Chiles Valley, and the Pope Valley vineyard, as well as a small Merlot vineyard adjacent to the winery, fall within the Napa Valley appellation. Monte Rosso and Del Rio are in Sonoma County and bear a Sonoma Valley and Russian River Valley appellation, respectively.

The grape varieties at the Martini vineyards are well suited to their environment, thanks to Louis P. Martini. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he identified and propagated superior clones of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Zinfandel from which nearly all Martini vines are descended.

Simultaneously, Louis studied the microclimates of the vineyards. "Drainages and fertility of the soil influence the quality of the grapes, but soil is secondary to climate," Louis observed. "Good grapes grow in almost any soil, but they can't grow without favorable climate." With thousands of test plantings and continuous experimentation over five decades, the Martinis have matched varietals to 20 different microclimates.

Monte Rosso

This is the oldest and largest of the Martini vineyards, and its rich, red volcanic soil and cooler climate produce some of California's most legendary Cabernet Sauvignons and Zinfandels. Purchased by Louis M. Martini in 1938, the 250 acre Monte Rosso ranch sits at the 1,000' elevation on the slopes of Mt. Pisgah in the Mayacamas Mountains above the Sonoma Valley floor.

The rugged mountain vineyard, perhaps one of the most beautiful in California, dates back to the 1880s. Monte Rosso was originally planted by Emmanuel Goldstein, a prosperous San Francisco grocery company owner. He built a three story stone winery on the property in 1886 (it still stands today) and developed the ranch into the second largest vineyard in Sonoma County. Although the root louse phylloxera devastated the Goldstein Ranch in the late 19th century, Emmanuel Goldstein replanted the vineyard, which by Prohibition had developed a reputation as the best source of wine grapes in Sonoma County. In 1938, Louis M. Martini, an astute businessman with a sharp eye for a good investment, purchased the land and renamed it Monte Rosso, or red mountain, after its intensely colored soil. Monte Rosso has a favorable combination of soil and climate, comparable to the French Cote d'or winegrowing region. Decomposed volcanic rock is mineral-rich, well drained and porous, allowing vines to develop extensive root systems that reach depths of 30-40 feet in search of water and minerals. The climate at Monte Rosso is moderately cool (Region II), influenced by breezes from the San Pablo Bay. The high elevation, which ranges from 900-1,200 feet, makes the land virtually frost free and less subject to fog. Such factors promote an even maturing of grapes and a fine balance of sugars and acids at harvest. The vines at Monte Rosso are subject to the stress factors typical of mountain vineyards, and crops are small, averaging less than three tons per acre. Meagerness of production, however, is compensated by the quality of mountain-grown grapes Ð intensely flavored fruit with good acidity.

Cabernet Sauvignon is the leading varietal at Monte Rosso with 65 acres planted on steep, terraced hillsides. Many of these vines are 20 to 40 years old and since 1979 have been the source for Louis M. Martini Winery's most distinguished wine: Monte Rosso Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.

Some of the 60 acres of Zinfandel are the oldest in the state, dating back to the 1890s; they still produce fine grapes. Other varieties planted at Monte Rosso include Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot, Semillon, Riesling, Muscat, and Folle Blanche.