A field blend from Calaveras County in the Sierra Foothills — expect dried cherry, blood orange, wild herbs, and a pronounced mineral salinity. The tannins are present but fine-grained, with a lifted acidity that keeps the wine energetic through a long, savory finish.

Forlorn Hope's Matthew Rorick sources from the Rorick Heritage Vineyard, a site planted to a mix of old-vine varieties that pre-date modern varietal farming. Calaveras County sits at elevation in the Sierra Foothills, where granite soils and wide diurnal swings produce wines with a distinctly Old World nervousness rare in California. Queen of the Sierra is one of the more compelling arguments for taking the Foothills seriously.