>> Vineyard Manager Lee Martinelli Jr.

Vineyard operations are performed by Lee Martinelli Jr..  Lee is a next door neighbor and farmer extraordinaire.  He won the Sonoma County young farmer of the year award in 2004 and manages his own properties as well as our land.  Lee comes from a family with over 80 years in the Sonoma County wine industry.

The relationship with Lee has been like dying and going to heaven.  He is a perfectionist, who treats the land like his own and has a crew that is incredibly compulsive and efficient.  Communications and cooperation could not be better.

Every effort has been taken to farm in an environmentally sustainable way.  After all, we know that without healthy land there would be no grapes or great wine.  Every year we have been reducing chemicals while continually producing incredible fruit.

 

>> Consulting winemakers

Highly lauded winemaker Dan Goldfield oversaw the wine making for the 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004 Pinot Noir, as well as the 2000 Syrah.  The 2000 Syrah won a gold at the west coast wine competition and a silver at the LA county fair, with the 2000 pinot receiving a silver at the LA county fair.

Hip young winemaker, Pax Mahle, recognized the quality of the Lauterbach Vineyard Fruit early on and purchased our syrah grapes for six years, yielding his highly awarded 2000 through 2005 Pax "Lauterbach Hill" Syrah. Pax was integral in the production of Stew and Barb's 2001 Syrah, which won a silver at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair.  This was called “exceptional” by wine critic Dan Berger.  Pax consulted with Lauterbach Cellars syrah production thru 2005.

Rod Berglund, one of the Russian River Valley's most enduring - and endearing winemakers - took the helm in making the Lauterbach Cellars 2001 and 2005 Pinot Noir.  Rod provides ideas and consultations whenever called upon and has agreed to be the consulting winemaker for the 2006 vintages.  Since 2003 all our Syrah has been made in house by Stew and Barb.  Starting in 2006, all of our wine is estate bottled.