LAKEPORT, Calif. – Julia Martelli, long time farmer in the Lake County region, will host the grand opening of her Lakeport tasting room Saturday, Oct. 15, and Sunday, Oct. 16, at 125 Park St.

The tasting room will showcase her Bell Hill Wines.

While the Bell Hill label is relatively young, Martelli has long farmed wine grapes in Lake County. She has farmed south of Kelseyville since 1985.

However, in 2004 the opportunity presented itself to take advantage of excess wine for the season. Thus was created the first vintage of her label, a 2004 Merlot. Since the first vintage she has continued to make and bottle wine each year. The vineyard produces exclusively Bordeaux red wines.

Prior to the tasting room, Bell Hill was available locally only at markets or direct from the grower.

Over the past year Martelli has expanded the business by introducing in home wine tasting events as a way to promote Bell Hill and Lake County.

The prospect of opening a tasting room at Library Park presented itself and Julia capitalized on the opportunity to develop a space for people to visit and enjoy Bell Hill wine.

Martelli is excited to welcome people to Lake County. “I want people to have the opportunity to taste our wine and promote Lake County. The tasting room is the perfect space for both locals and visitors to come and partake in the rich wines that we are producing here,” she said.

As the first tasting room to open its doors in Lakeport, Martelli hopes that the endeavor proves to be successful.

The first step in that effort is this weekend as she invites the locals out to celebrate the grand opening.

Come and join Martelli in celebration of the Bell Hill tasting room this Saturday and Sunday. For a minimal tasting fee, attendees will enjoy appetizers and wine in celebration of another addition to the Lake County wine scene.