Toby approaches winemaking with the traditions and teachings of his father, Ric Forman, and an individual winemaking style that embodies his passion for the vineyard. The grapes exhibit varietal purity and site specificity by farming each estate vineyard with diligent and meticulous care, caring for the vines and their needs from vintage to vintage. As harvest progresses, Toby evaluates each block for optimal ripeness, harvesting in small picks and focusing on small lot fermentations. In the cellar, it is gently sorted, destemmed, and cold-soaked before fermentation. With this close connection to the vineyard, minimal cellar intervention, and pursuit of perfection through artistry in blending year after year, Toby creates harmony in the TOBIAS estate wines.

As a child, Toby Forman pruned vines, learned about cover crops, and tasted grapes for ripeness alongside his father, Ric Forman. Weekends were spent washing barrels, topping, or racking with his father at Forman Vineyards in the cave. With this deep knowledge and skillset through experience, Toby pursued a degree in Agronomy. He found truth within the generational knowledge that it all begins in the vineyard. When he returned to Forman Vineyards, he became hands-on in the vineyards, continuing to learn the art of winemaking from his father as he honed his skills.

Dawn Pauli Forman grew up in a small agricultural community in Mendocino. Her father, Bill Pauli, continues a family legacy of farming for nearly a hundred years in both Mendocino and Sonoma counties. It has shaped Dawn’s respect for the land and the farmers who cultivate it first. Continuing her education with a degree in communications, she joined her husband’s side, managing operations, sales, and the day-to-day for the TOBIAS estate. With a parallel focus, Dawn and Toby remain focused on prioritizing the vineyard while shaping the next generation.