Julianna Martinelli
Biography of a Farmer’s Daughter:
Julianna Martinelli hails from the two horse town of Forestville, California, situated in the lush rolling hills of the Russian River Valley. She is the fourth generation in her family to be involved in the wine business: her great-grandparents began growing grapes in Sonoma County in the late 1800's. Julianna grew up on Martinelli Road surrounded by one-hundred year old Zinfandel vineyards. She spent her childhood riding horses, raising sheep for 4-H, and fishing and swimming in the creek with her siblings and neighboring cousins. Like the generation before, she began working in the vineyard at a young age. At the end of the work day when no adults were present, Julianna and her brother, Lee Jr., would race each other back to the barn. She on the tractor and he in his dune buggy.
Julianna began in the sales and marketing position for Martinelli Winery in 1993, while also writing the bi-annual newsletter. Martinelli Winery has become one of the world’s finest wine producers and grapegrowers, focusing on the varietals of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Syrah. The small winery is family owned and operated, and the entire family has been involved in creating its success over the years. Julianna continues to represent the winery at events across the United States while expanding her passion and talents in the wine business and the literary world.
Julianna is the proud mother of three children, Anthony, 28, Tess, 27, and Cameron, 25. They all reside in California - and keeping with family tradition - grew up playing in a vineyard as well, all sharing their ancestor’s passion for their family and its business.
