Forlorn Hope

Winemaker Matthew Rorick started Forlorn Hope in 2005 outside of Murphy's, California, in the Sierra Foothills, having inherited from his grandfather a love of wine’s central place at the dinner table between friends and family. His wine have continued to gain the attention of sommeliers and natural wine devotees worldwide.

The Rorick Heritage Vineyard, peaking up to 2000 feet above sea level, got its start in the 1960’s when the ranching land was purchased by Calaveras County wine luminary Barden Stevenot, who put Calaveras viticulture on the map. Rorick purchased the property in 2013 and began organic conversion. Today, the 75-acre vineyard is devoted to an eclectic range of varieties planted or grafted in the limestone soils under a layer of schist.

Forlorn Hope wines are “honest and pure representations of the site and variety” vinified with just as much respect and care as is shown to vineyard that the individual wine reflects. There are no chemical adjustments, additives, commercial yeast, or bacteria; and there is no new oak allowed in the winery. Some wines are given the minimum effective amounts of sulfur, added either post-ferment or pre-bottling, while others are bottled with no sulfur added. The latest addition to Rorick's range is a line of wines under the “Queen of the Sierra” label. They are fresh and vibrant wines that are highly approachable and are made with fruit grown in Rorick’s own Heritage Vineyard.