Ric Forman
Encyclopedia
Richard Forman is an American winemaker
, vineyard
manager, and consultant
, who has made contributions to the rise of Napa Valley as one of the premier winemaking regions of the world.
, and (along with Dick Graff) barrel fermentation of white wines, to California. Forman was long-time winermaker of Sterling Vineyards
. After leaving Sterling he helped found Newton Vineyard. He was also instrumental in the founding of Duckhorn Vineyards
.
Later, he befriended rancher David Abreu, with whom he co-founded both Abreu Vineyards Management, a vineyard management company, and a winery, Abreu Vineyards
. Forman is considered an expert in non-malolactic
Chardonnay
.
Winemaker
A winemaker or vintner is a person engaged in winemaking. They are generally employed by wineries or wine companies, where their work includes:*Cooperating with viticulturists...
, vineyard
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
manager, and consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
, who has made contributions to the rise of Napa Valley as one of the premier winemaking regions of the world.
Details
Forman is credited with introducing vintage-dated MerlotMerlot
Merlot is a darkly blue-coloured wine grape, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to derive from the Old French word for young blackbird, merlot, a diminutive of merle, the blackbird , probably from the color of the grape. Merlot-based wines...
, and (along with Dick Graff) barrel fermentation of white wines, to California. Forman was long-time winermaker of Sterling Vineyards
Sterling Vineyards
Sterling Vineyards, is a winery near Calistoga, California, owned by international alcohol conglomerate Diageo. The winery achieved international recognition when its wine won first place in the Ottawa Wine Tasting of 1981.-Description:...
. After leaving Sterling he helped found Newton Vineyard. He was also instrumental in the founding of Duckhorn Vineyards
Duckhorn Vineyards
Duckhorn Vineyards is a boutique winery in St. Helena, California, specializing in premium Merlot wines.-History:Founder Dan Duckhorn, a Santa Rosa native and Berkeley graduate, toured the Pomerol and Saint-Émilion in the Bordeaux region of France in the mid-1970s with Ric Forman, who as winemaker...
.
Later, he befriended rancher David Abreu, with whom he co-founded both Abreu Vineyards Management, a vineyard management company, and a winery, Abreu Vineyards
Abreu Vineyards
Abreu Vineyards is a cult winery in Napa Valley, California founded by the viticulturist David Abreu.-History:David Abreu, a third-generation rancher from St. Helena, California and graduate of the Viticulture and Enology program at UC Davis, founded Abreu Vineyards in 1980 after working briefly at...
. Forman is considered an expert in non-malolactic
Malolactic fermentation
Malolactic fermentation is a process in winemaking where tart-tasting malic acid, naturally present in grape must, is converted to softer-tasting lactic acid. Malolactic fermentation tends to create a rounder, fuller mouthfeel. It has been said that malic acid tastes of green apples...
Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
.