Matthew Rorick is the creative force behind Forlorn Hope Wines, a boutique natural wine project based in California’s Sierra Foothills.

He farms the Rorick Heritage Vineyard near Jackson, Calaveras County, a rugged, high-altitude site with fractured limestone and schist soils. These ancient soils and the vineyard’s elevation give his wines a striking mineral backbone and a certain crunchy vivacity. Matthew follows a holistic, regenerative farming path: the vineyard is dry-farmed, certified organic, and rich in biodiversity, with native flora thriving alongside the vines.

In the cellar, Matthew embraces a minimalist, hands-off philosophy. Fermentations proceed unhindered—no commercial yeasts, no enzymes, minimal sulfur. His aim? To let vineyard and vintage speak freely. The wines breathe, evolve, and reflect the land itself.

What makes Forlorn Hope special is this candid expression of place combined with the raw honesty of natural winemaking. Whether it’s the amber-hued “Queen of the Sierra” with its tannic glow and sun-warmed orchard fruit, or his vivid rosés and reds, each bottle captures a moment, a site, and a season. Rorick’s wines might not be polished and pushed to the enologic limits like modern day Napa wines are, but they’re alive, curiosity-inducing, and quietly profound.