From the appendage inspired and endlessly intriguing region of the Finger Lakes, we welcome our friend Rick Rainey of Forge Cellars back to Digress for another round of Forge Oyster Cult! 

We have a couple of go-to Finger Lakes producers that we love, and Forge is one of em. Born of a partnership between Rick and Louis Barruol, a 14th generation winemaker based in the Rhone Valley, this project is old world meets new in the most extreme example. You may be familiar with this storied winery - Chateau de Saint Cosme, as well as the partnership Barruol Lynch with legendary importer Kermit Lynch. Rick came from a slightly different world, leaving his native Florida for Pennsylvania, and a subsequent career on the import/distribution side of things, namely working for the long respected Winebow. Through numerous trips to the old world, a friendship with Louis was forged, and eventually the notion of exploring a partnership in the Finger Lakes was discussed as a real option. 

Louis was insistent upon exploring strictly cool climates, where nuance shines, acidity and structure are naturally built in the vineyards, and achieving ripeness detracts nothing from the delicate complexities that are found in a bottle of Forge. Where they venture into mad scientist territory is with the sheer number of single vineyard bottlings produced each year. Seriously…who releases 13 different single vineyard Rieslings? These, coupled with 3-6 single vineyard Chardonnays and reds, offer some real insight into their commitment to showcasing the subtleties of each unique site.  

This is precisely what we love about em, and precisely why you want to be here to meet the man himself and receive the best masterclass in Riesling and oysters around. Our buddy Mike from the Curious Oyster will be slingin the bivalves, we can’t get enough of those things. This is going to fill up quickly, don’t sleep on tickets! See y’all there.