About Forthright Winery

Sourcing only the finest fruit from premier growers and a small Forthright managed vineyard, we produce fewer than one-thousand cases of elegant, hand-crafted Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and an exclusive Bordeaux-style blend.  Personal tastings with our winemakers are available by appointment at our facility in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley.  All tastings are held in our 6000 sq ft cave, offering one of the most intimate and unique fine-wine visitor experiences in all of California.

Forthright Wines was founded by four partners including Patrick McEvoy and Rafer Caudil who share the winemaking duties and Ed Stritch who lives in Chicago and Sel Fich who resides in London. Rather then simply being business partners, all four individuals are friends having known each other for many years – whose paths have crossed at various times in their careers including at the Celtic Crossings Irish Pub in Chicago.

 2020 #sfchroniclewinecompetition award winners

Patrick moved around often due to his father’s work in the steel industry, perhaps an early influence on his love of travel – later in life he lived in Europe for 20 years. It was during his time in Europe that he fell in love with the wine culture – using home base to often visit wine regions around the continent and as he admits, “spending a lot of time in wine cafes”. He moved back to the USA in the early 2000s – his first connection to the Napa Valley was through a friend who had attended a Grateful Dead Concert at Red Rocks in Colorado and had met Kevin Duncan (whose family owns Silver Oak Cellars).

Kevin who lives in Colorado told his friend that he and his family owned a winery in the Napa Valley and if they ever came to Napa, they should visit Silver Oak. Patrick took him up on his offer and in 2006 visited the Napa Valley for the first time. He soon invested in a small winery brand which was focused on Merlot (Bolen Cellars); his time at Bolen gave him the opportunity to learn winemaking and make valuable winemaking and vineyard connections within the Napa Valley.

The name forthright refers to being direct, up front and honest. In old English it means to move straight forward. And it is a subtle poke at the film Sideways. A blackbird is perched on top of the F on all their wine labels and branding. “Merlot” in patois (a French dialect) means blackbird.

You can buy Forthright wines here.