Forman Vineyard — Bordeaux Elegance at Howell Mountain

Owner & Winemaker
Ric Forman, a UC Davis–trained winemaker, established the estate in 1983 after influential careers at Sterling and Newton. He has pursued a long-standing ambition: producing modest quantities of classically styled, elegant wines on his own.

Hand-carved Terroir

Perched on the edge of Howell Mountain above St. Helena, the estate is built on three distinct vineyard blocks:

• The Clos, around 8 acres, rooted in deep gravel and sand soils.

• A steep upper block on rocky, volcanic terrain, created through careful blasting.

• A Rutherford block with pink gravel and volcanic ash subsoil.
  Each site contributes nuanced complexity to his flagship Cabernet Sauvignon.

Viticulture & Winemaking Philosophy

• Hands-on farming and minimal intervention.

• Fermentation with native yeasts.

• Aging in French oak selected to enhance—not mask—the fruit.

• Traditional cellar practices: light filtration, hands-on fining methods like barrel-led clarification.

Signature Wines

• Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley: refined, structured, age-worthy — the bedrock of the estate’s identity.

• Chardonnay Rutherford Star: small-batch, expressive, finely balanced.

• Occasional bottlings include small lots of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and even Sauvignon Vert.

Style & Legacy

Forman Vineyard wines are celebrated for their balance, aromatic nuance, and sophisticated terroir expression—a harmonious blend of Bordeaux tradition and Napa sensibility.

A Private, Passionate Estate

This is a deeply personal project: Ric oversees nearly every stage, with help from his son Toby. Annual production hovers around 2,000 cases, making the wines rare and desirable. Visitors are welcomed by appointment for unique tours of Ric’s underground wine cave and an up-close look into the craft.