Since 2013 our mission has been to find great wines of great value that are ready to drink tonight.
Every once in a while, we come across a wine that doesn’t just earn a place on the table—it earns a place in memory. The 2021 Due Ruscelli Tramonto Primitivo Russian River Valley is exactly that kind of bottle, and after spending time with the family behind it this past January, it means even more to us.
Due Ruscelli—Italian for “two streams,” a nod to both heritage and a sense of place—is the vision of Michael and Melissa Sloan, with their son Jacob Sloan leading the winemaking. But calling this simply a “family winery” doesn’t quite capture it. When we visited, it felt less like a tasting and more like being welcomed into someone’s home. Melissa—who we very quickly started calling “mom”—has that rare ability to make everyone feel like they belong, like they’ve been part of the story all along. There’s warmth there, authenticity, and a genuine love for bringing people together around wine.
That spirit carries directly into the glass.
Let’s start with the grape. Primitivo. For some, it’s a point of curiosity; for others, a familiar friend under a different name. Primitivo and Zinfandel are genetically the same grape—a shared lineage that stretches from Southern Italy to California. But as with all great wines, place and intention shape the final expression. Where California Zinfandel can sometimes lean bold and brash, Primitivo—especially when handled with care—can show a more balanced, nuanced side of that same DNA.
The Tramonto Primitivo walks that line beautifully.
Grown in the Russian River Valley, this wine opens with layers of ripe blackberry, plum, and black cherry, followed by warm baking spice, a touch of cocoa, and a subtle savory note that keeps you coming back for another sip. It’s generous without being over the top, structured without losing its sense of ease. There’s a quiet confidence here—nothing forced, nothing exaggerated.
And then there’s the value.
This is one of those rare wines that overdelivers in every sense. In a region where prices can climb quickly, the Tramonto Primitivo stands out as an incredible value—offering depth, character, and a true sense of place at a price point ($40) that invites you to open it on a Tuesday just as easily as a special occasion. It’s the kind of bottle you don’t just try once—you return to it, again and again.
But what makes it truly special is knowing the hands and hearts behind it. The Sloan family isn’t chasing trends—they’re building something rooted in connection, inspired by Italian traditions of food, wine, and community. You feel that when you’re with them, and you taste it in the wine.
For us, this is what Peninsula Underground is all about. Not just finding great wines, but finding the people behind them—the stories, the families, the moments that make a bottle more than just what’s in the glass.
The 2021 Due Ruscelli Tramonto Primitivo is more than our March Wine of the Month. It’s an experience, a memory, and a reminder of why we do this in the first place.
Pour a glass—and if you’re lucky enough to meet “mom,” tell her we sent you.
Learn more about Due Ruscelli, purchase their wine, and follow them here:
@DueRuscelli
