“Martorana is one of Dry Creek Valley’s best surprises.” – San Francisco Chronicle

Sure, we love landing the next big $100+ Cult Cab. A massive 99-100 pointer here or there. And all kinds of “fun” features, like the Leoni and Oomrang.

Yet Wine Spies is ‘also’ all about the discovery of hidden local gems that stand out for their exceptional winemaking. Authentic wines from vineyards surrounded by the rich and the famous, made by families too small and preoccupied to properly market a heroic effort. Like today’s wine.

(And occasionally, they make it big, and we come back and say told you so, which particularly stings if an Operative bought just a bottle or two to try what the hype is all about and the wine is sold out. Don’t be that Operative.)

Martorana Mozzafiato! Say it 9 times with us! Gio Martorana was born into a family winegrowers at the very heart of Dry Creek Valley in a neighborhood with the likes of Hawley, Michel-Schlumberger, A. Rafanelli, and Unti. Naturally, his passion lead him to the award-winning Amphora Winery where he cut his teeth under the visionary Rick Hutchinson.

That San Francisco Chronicle highlight by Esther Mobley we pulled the intro quote from adds that “The Martoranas have been farming 35 acres of organic vineyards here for 30 years, and in 2005 they began making wine themselves. It still feels like a homespun operation, in the best way… “Help! Wines trapped in bottle, need rescuing!” That’s what a handwritten sign in the driveway of Martorana Family Winery says… these wines are exceptionally affordable for what they are.”

She’s referring to the $50 you’d be paying for this flagship Cab blend via the cellar door, mind you.

At about HALF that they are IMMENSELY affordable. But only here for a brief window of time.

Fittingly, Mozzafiato means breathtaking in Italian and this is just so. Led by Cab, spiked with Petite Sirah and a dollop of Merlot. Dark, ripe, rich and concentrated, with layers of currant, black cherry, herb, and dark chocolate peanut butter cups, finishing long with supple tannins. The holidays are upon us, and this is the perfect hearty red every joyful table with friends and/or family needs with the aromas of a freshly roasted feast in the air. If you come across some, these folks make truly outstanding EVOO too, just a heads up.

(A quick shoutout to our good old friend Jim who introduced us, it’s good to be connected!)

Where were we? Buy, buy, buy while it’s here!