Forefront by Pine Ridge Crimson Creek Merlot 2008

Over the last three decades, the Andrus family has eagerly challenged convention. They brought the practice of reduced vine spacing to Napa Valley from Burgundy. They introduced Dijon clones to Carneros. They hired one of the region's first women winemakers. Their adventurous spirit has helped change the face of new world winemaking.

A FOCUS ON QUALITY. Long before Napa Valley became known as the one of the world’s most remarkable winegrowing regions, the Andrus family understood its potential. They founded Pine Ridge winery in the now-famous Stags Leap District. Experimenting with clones, rootstocks and winemaking techniques, they paid meticulous attention to every detail, from vineyard to bottle, and embraced innovation in the pursuit of ever higher quality.

NO BOUNDARIES. After developing Pine Ridge, the Andrus family began to explore other emerging wine regions, from the Pacific Northwest to New Zealand. In Oregon, their Burgundian philosophies brought wine quality to a new level. They adopted the grand cru model, with its emphasis on terroir, and cultivated numerous French clones that they matched to the region’s growing conditions. To provide ideal aging temperatures, they drilled the state’s first underground wine caves. Their forward thinking helped to establish Oregon as one of the world’s premier Pinot Noir producers.

The passion, commitment and adventurous spirit of the Andrus family is well known within the wine industry. With ForeFront, we honor their vision and their contributions with wines that challenge the traditional.