Winery Overview
Nearly twenty years ago, while Gerry Forth was deeply immersed in healthcare start-ups and Jann Forth was busy with non-profit boards, they wandered into Sonoma County, and in particular the Dry Creek Valley, and were instantly enchanted by its stunning beauty and splendid wines. So, when they found a broken-down piece of property that just happened to be perfect for growing Cabernet and Syrah grapes, they knew it was time to write a new chapter. Gerry traded his board seat for a tractor seat and Jann traded her Ann Taylor suits for overalls, and they headed out into the vineyard hand-in-hand and have never looked back. Learning to work together in the vineyards and winery has been hilarious and challenging and wonderful. After 22 years, they would not trade it for the world! With the help of some winemaker friends, they produced their first vintage in 1998, a glorious Cabernet, and, ever since, have been diligently working to create intriguing wines that allow the terroir, the fruit, and the vintage to express their own unique story. As winemakers, the Forths do their best to select the optimal time to pick each varietal. For the last couple of weeks before harvest, they frequently visit each vineyard and taste the grapes, take juice samples, and assess the general condition of the grapes. After harvest they practice minimal intervention winemaking, desiring to allow the fruit to “tell its own story.” All Forth reds are aged for at least 20 months in American and French oak barrels. Then they are filtered and bottled. The release date for each wine is determined by tasting them monthly until the wine is ready. All wines are ready to drink, but Forth red wines will age for a decade or more, and still deliver vibrant fruit and silky tannins.