Specializing in Bone-Dry Riesling from a site-specific, cool climate region.
Forge Estate was established in 2008, a partnership between a 14th generation vigneron, Louis Barroul and long-time wine veteran, Rick Rainey. Located in New York’s Finger Lakes region, they selected the eastern shores of Seneca Lake, the deepest of the Finger Lakes, for its mosaic of soil types from glacial origins and its steep west-facing slopes. Over 20 different vineyards produce fruit for the winemaking team to explore the nuances of the micro-climates.
The choices in the cellar guard the purity of the vineyards. Simply put, Louis and his team make wines in the traditional hand-crafted manner. Harvest is done by hand. Grapes are sorted by hand and then pressed by hand. Vats are shoveled by hand. Indigenous yeast fermentations are used, and ferments are done in tiny lots. Low levels of sulphur are employed, and ferments of their Rieslings are bone-dry. This truly is small batch winemaking. The wines are serious interpretations, illuminated, full of vibrancy and vigour. Because they are produced in such small quantities, allocations are very limited, meaning, if you can grab a case, treasure it, as these are age-worthy wines.
