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Forge Cellars is a wine estate from the Finger Lakes region of New York State, working on the southeastern shore of Seneca Lake. The estate’s direction is clear: to create wines that speak first and foremost about place – the cool climate, the moderating influence of the lake, and the diversity of soils – rather than following a predefined “style.” Forge specializes in bone-dry ‘Riesling’, and also produces cool-climate ‘Pinot Noir’ and ‘Cabernet Franc’, selecting vineyard sites that best express the terroir of Seneca Lake.
The philosophy at Forge Cellars is based on hands-on work and minimal intervention. Grapes are harvested by hand, fermentations are carried out in small lots, often spontaneously. ‘Riesling’ is deliberately fermented to complete dryness in order to preserve clarity, tension, and a mineral-driven profile. Red wines are often left unfiltered to retain textural depth.
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USA
A defining feature of Forge Cellars is its view of Seneca Lake as a mosaic, where a single lake encompasses many distinct, small terroir zones. This approach is especially evident in the “Classique” range, which captures the broader regional character and shows how different sites come together to form a precise, dry ‘Riesling’ style.
Because of this clear focus, Forge Cellars is often regarded as one of the leading names of the modern Finger Lakes school. These are not wines made for immediate effect, but wines built to be transparent, structured, and clearly identifiable by their origin. For those seeking a serious, dry ‘Riesling’ and elegant cool-climate reds from the United States, Seneca Lake and Forge Cellars represent one of the most compelling choices.
