“Fortunati Vineyards is a small producer owned by husband and wife Ellen and Gary Luchtel. Ellen and Gary met at San Francisco State where both were majoring in business – at the time Gary was already a “wine geek” as Ellen told us, long before this term was widely used. Both started coming up on the weekends to Napa and Sonoma – meeting with winery owners, visiting tasting rooms and vineyards and furthering their wine education.”
Read the full Napa Wine Project – Fortunati Vineyards review here.
Wine Enthusiast – December 2022
2020 Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills, 91pts
Black plum, purple flowers, patchouli and toasty woodspice aromas show on the nose of this bottling from a Napa-based producer. Dark plum and berry flavors snap on the palate, as oak and lavender notes complete the sip.
— Matt Kettman
2022 Bartender Spirits Awards
Fortunati Grappa of Viognier
SILVER
2022 Alameda County Fair Zin Challenge
2018 Fortunati Vineyards Zinfandel – GOLD
2023 Alameda County Fair Zin Challenge
2020 Fortunati Vineyards Zinfandel – SILVER
2025 Competition
2024 Fortunati Vineyards Rosé of Syrah – GOLD & 91pts
2021 Competition
2020 Fortunati Vineyards Rosé of Syrah – GOLD & 91pts
Published quarterly, LUXlife informs readers on all aspects of high end lifestyle, including the finest food and drink, hotels and resorts and health and beauty from around the world.
“Give our Dreams a Chance”
by Gary Luchtel
As a small family owned vineyard that was recently approved to build a small winery on my property, I must speak out as voice of reason.
by Dan Berger
The 2017 Fortunati Viognier ($35) is a distinctively styled wine that relies more on dried flowers (some Viogniers are more fresh-flower related) and has a sensational bone-dry mid-palate that’s quite complex.
Discoveries of the Week:
— 2015 Fortunati Malbec, Oak Knoll: Unlike many of the one-dimensional Malbecs from Argentina, this one has an aroma of blackberries, basil stems (!) and a trace of blueberry, with great tartness in the finish. A simply sensational rendition of a grape that’s rarely this complex.
Dan Berger International Wine Competition is one of the nation’s most prestigious and competitive wine competitions. The competition uses blind tasting to determine the results, using principles for tasting inspired by the writings of Professor Maynard Amerine, of UC Davis, in the 1976 work Wines: Their Sensory Evaluation. The entries are grouped based on both grape variety and now (unlike other competitions) provenance. Wines from the same (or similar) appellations are judged against one another, allowing judges to focus on the quality of the wine itself rather than the variations in terroir present in the wine. The judging panel is made up of wine writers, winemakers, merchants and educators. We are so proud and thrilled of the awards we received!
39th Annual International Wine Competition
| Wine | Appellation | Designation | Award |
| 2014 Porto Fino Dessert Wine | Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District | Estate Grown | Gold |
| 2017 Chardonnay | Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District | Single Vineyard | Gold |
| 2017 Fortivo Red Bordeaux Blend | Napa Valley | Silver | |
| 2017 Pinot Noir | Santa Rita Hills | Single Vineyard | Silver |
| 2017 Estate Viognier | Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District | Estate Grown | Silver |
| 2017 Zinfandel | Mount Veeder | Single Vineyard | Silver |
| 2016 Estate Malbec | Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District | Estate Grown | Silver |
| 2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Winemaker’s Reserve | Silver |
| 2016 Vinto Estate Syrah Rhone Blend | Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District | Estate Grown | Silver |
| 2015 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District | Single Vineyard | Silver |
| 2018 Rosé of Syrah | Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District | Estate Grown | Bronze |