Forlorn Hope's Matthew Rorick and partners buying old Stevenot property

WINE TALK
1

Just spotted this news item:
Historic winery sold for $4.7M

The news item states that Matthew Rorick of Forlorn Hope Wines is part of an investment group that is purchasing the old Stevenot Winery property near Murphys in Calaveras County.

“I’ve been working with a variety of vineyards in the foothills for the past eight years,” Rorick said Monday in a phone interview. “The soils and elevation are what I love about the area … what keep me coming up there.”

That’s exciting news and it will be fun to follow the progress of this venture.

2

Ken,
Thanks for the link to this article, Ken. Not heard from Matt yet about this, but knew he was very busy the last month or so doing something.

I was rather amused by this quote: ““I understand how important it is to have these icons up there and making great wines again,” she said.”
I sincerely doubt that Matt views himself as an “icon”. He’s young/handsome and has a very winning smile. Not like the “icons” I know. [snort.gif]

This could be, ultimately, great news for CalaverasCnty…a wine-growing area that has never achieved the greatness I thought it was
capable of. The downside?? Matt has never worked w/ CalaverasCnty grapes (that I’m aware). They don’t have many/any of the
“forlorn hope” obscure grape varieties that Matt pursues. He sources a lot of grapes from Napa/Sonoma/Mendocino and, presuming he
leaves TennbrinkWnry in SuisunCity, which is pretty centrally located to his multitudenous grape sources, will mean more inconvenient
logistics. But now that he has vnyd land in a (presumably) great growing area, he can indulge his interest for GreenHungarian, StLaurent,
Greco di Tuffo, and other such perversions.

I’m excited for Matt and delighted he had the backing to pull it off.

Tom

3

I wish Matt good luck in my old home Co!

4

Jeez, Glenn, you leave and he moves right in.

Any connection? :wink:

5

Not unless Matt is gonna play with very sharp instruments! Stevenot has wonderful property and IMO needs some new blood, should be a cool mating. I know a lot of locals who are excited.

6

This is awesome. This is huge. Congrats to Matt & partners!!!

7

About 10 or so years ago Stevenot planted a lot Spanish and Portuguese varieties but I have not followed them in many years.

8

I missed seeing Forlorn Hope at TAPAS this year as it is usually a highlight.

9

Agree, I missed seeing Matt there this year as well.

10

Look like I was wrong. Matt reports they have planted on the property Verdelho, Picpoul, Graciano, and Albariño, among others. Write up his alley
I think. He’s also pretty excited by the variety of soils: schist, blue slate, and limestone. So things should be pretty exciting for Forlorn-Hope
in the future.
Tom