Forlorn Hope 'Queen of the Sierra' Co-Ferment
Sierra Foothills AVA > Calaveras County > California > USA
Albariño/Tempranillo/Barbera/Vermentino/Chenin blanc/Pineau d’Aunis/Trousseau/Chardonnay/Zinfandel/Verdelho, 2023
What’s the big idea with a co-ferment? The Queen of the Sierra wines are a celebration of the unique Calaveras County terroir of Rorick Heritage Vineyard in the Sierra Foothills. A project of Forlorn Hope, the QofS co-ferment blend of expressing the aromatic exuberance of white varieties, and the reds can bring a bounty of bright fruit flavors to the wines they produce. So why not put those things together?? You end up with the best of both worlds – the co-ferment stands in the ground between red, white, and rosé. It’s eminently chillable because it has lighter tannins than a regular red, it’s got more flavor and aroma than a rosé by virtue of its longer skin contact, and it has all the savory tang of the limestone soils and cold nights at RHV. Absolutely delicious! Certified Organic.
Sierra Foothills AVA > Calaveras County > California > USA
Albariño/Tempranillo/Barbera/Vermentino/Chenin blanc/Pineau d’Aunis/Trousseau/Chardonnay/Zinfandel/Verdelho, 2023
What’s the big idea with a co-ferment? The Queen of the Sierra wines are a celebration of the unique Calaveras County terroir of Rorick Heritage Vineyard in the Sierra Foothills. A project of Forlorn Hope, the QofS co-ferment blend of expressing the aromatic exuberance of white varieties, and the reds can bring a bounty of bright fruit flavors to the wines they produce. So why not put those things together?? You end up with the best of both worlds – the co-ferment stands in the ground between red, white, and rosé. It’s eminently chillable because it has lighter tannins than a regular red, it’s got more flavor and aroma than a rosé by virtue of its longer skin contact, and it has all the savory tang of the limestone soils and cold nights at RHV. Absolutely delicious! Certified Organic.
Sierra Foothills AVA > Calaveras County > California > USA
Albariño/Tempranillo/Barbera/Vermentino/Chenin blanc/Pineau d’Aunis/Trousseau/Chardonnay/Zinfandel/Verdelho, 2023
What’s the big idea with a co-ferment? The Queen of the Sierra wines are a celebration of the unique Calaveras County terroir of Rorick Heritage Vineyard in the Sierra Foothills. A project of Forlorn Hope, the QofS co-ferment blend of expressing the aromatic exuberance of white varieties, and the reds can bring a bounty of bright fruit flavors to the wines they produce. So why not put those things together?? You end up with the best of both worlds – the co-ferment stands in the ground between red, white, and rosé. It’s eminently chillable because it has lighter tannins than a regular red, it’s got more flavor and aroma than a rosé by virtue of its longer skin contact, and it has all the savory tang of the limestone soils and cold nights at RHV. Absolutely delicious! Certified Organic.
Blend: Albariño/Tempranillo/Barbera/Vermentino/Chenin blanc/Pineau d’Aunis/Trousseau/Chardonnay/Zinfandel/Verdelho
ABV: 12%
The Story: We love the little guy because we’re all about tenacity, we relish a challenge, and – we admit it – we love us a good tussle. Taken from the Dutch ‘verloren hoop’, meaning ‘lost troop’, Forlorn Hope was the name given to the band of soldiers who volunteered to lead the charge directly into enemy defenses. The chance of success for the Forlorn Hope was always slim, but the glory and rewards granted to survivors ensured no shortage of applicants. These bottles are our headlong rush into the breach. Rare creatures from the limestone slopes of Rorick Heritage Vineyard, these wines are our brave advance party, our pride and joy – our Forlorn Hope. Matthew Rorick has been the winemaker behind the Forlorn Hope wines since the inception of the label in 2005, and tends 75 acres of organically farmed grapevines at Rorick Heritage Vineyard along with Mara Ambrose who oversees the bubbles program and the chickens.
For this wine the crazy kids at Forlorn Hope picked reds, picked whites, and put them in the fermenter together to get the party started. As it happened, varieties from similar historical regions paired up for picking time: Albariño and Tempranillo hit it together, as did Barbera and Vermentino, Chenin blanc and Pineau d’Aunis, Trousseau and Chardonnay, and (let’s hear it for 1880s California!) Zinfandel and Verdelho. How cool is that?
Personality: A fresh, lively, pleasantly juicy lighter red blend that is versatile with a wide variety of foods and very crowd-pleasing.
Harmony: A hit for any BBQ or hot summer day with a little chill. Also try poultry, all the cheeses, spicy cuisines.