Our Family

Clark~Claudon Vineyards is the result of a dream, a risk and a lot of hard work. The family is that old fashioned variety that spends time together working and playing. We have a family business that reflects both a determination to reach for excellence and the ability to laugh and have a good time while doing it. The family includes Tom & Laurie, their children Josh and Briana & Briana's husband Brian Forgie. Our parents, Paul & June Claudon & Vance & Jean Clark have been a source of wonderful support since the inception of our business. Paul & Vance were actively involved until their sad passing in 2001 & 2002 respectively. We know they remain with us in spirit.

As each season in the vineyard teaches us, the life cycle continues. In 2003 a new addition was added to the family with the birth of Brandon Paul David Forgie. This past fall we not only brought in a beautiful selection of fruit, we also welcomed Trevor Keenan Thomas Forgie to the world. He was only one week old when he witnessed his first harvest.

Laurie Claudon & Tom Clark
	Paul Claudon Vance Clark

It was serendipity that brought Tom and Laurie to the Napa Valley. After returning from the Peace Corps together they briefly lived in Yuba City where Tom worked for Hunt Wesson Foods and Laurie taught high school. Days after the birth of their son Joshua, a friend from their alma mater Cal Poly asked if Tom would be interested in managing vineyards in the Napa Valley. Without skipping a beat, the couple sold their house and moved within six weeks.

From Souverain Management Company to El Retiro Vineyards (now Screaming Eagle) to Spring Mountain Winery Tom mastered the art of wine growing. Then, in 1980 he began Clark Vineyard Management Company. Over the course of the next ten years Tom managed and developed vineyards for private individuals and wineries from one end of the Napa Valley to the other, continuously fine-tuning his sense of what was required to produce exceptional fruit. Then in 1989 he and Laurie began Clark~Claudon Vineyards.

Tom Clark

Laurie and Brandon

Tom is not a gentleman farmer, but instead one whose love for the work and the land overshadows all else. There is nowhere he would rather be than in his vineyard with a red tale hawk flying overhead. It is the love that he brings to growing beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon fruit that makes such an exceptional difference.

While Tom was developing his expertise Laurie was raising Joshua and his new sister Briana. Because of her growing interest in Tom's work she stayed informed and learned along with him. In fact, it was not uncommon to find Laurie and the children in the vineyard with Tom for picnic lunches and dinners. It was a very idyllic way to bring up a family.

When the children went to school Laurie resumed teaching and eventually returned to school herself. In 1987 she become a psychotherapist with specialties in both women's and adolescents' issues. Since the beginning of their wine business she has taken on an active role with the customers, the business details and the winemaking. In 2001 she gave up her private practice to be involved full time in the family winemaking business. She is the never ending romantic, the organizational guru and the soul of the business.

Simply said, Josh grew up among the vines often playing, then working along side his Dad. As a youngster he didn't see a difference between the work and the play. As he grew so did his knowledge and work ethic, but the enjoyment didn't diminish. He was fifteen when his parents bought the ranch and began the family business, but it seemed like the family had been working together since his beginnings. Josh had the innate ability to look at things with a fresh perspective and natural mechanical abilities. He relished his involvement while Tom and Laurie appreciated his growing expertise.

After graduating from Cal Poly in 1997 Josh accepted a vineyard management position with a large family business in Paso Robles. To his previous skills he added organizational and managerial skills and the ability to comfortably communicate both. Though he enjoyed his employers and the work he missed the Napa Valley. He had maintained contact with his own family's business, but it wasn't the same as playing a major role. So, in 1999 Josh accepted an offer to work with both the management company and the wine business. Since then Josh has taken over Clark Vineyard Management Company and become an integral player in Clark~Claudon Vineyards.

Heather hails from Colorado where she graduated from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. She has been working in various arenas of the wine industry since she moved to the Napa Valley in 2001. She continues to cultivate a growing interest in viticulture & enology, but is currently putting her focus on being a mom to daughter Josephine

This past March, we welcomed Josephine Elizabeth into the growing Clark-Claudon family. Here she is at two months old with Great Grandmother June Claudon.

Our daughter Briana, also a graduate of Cal Poly, returned to the Napa Valley in 1999 to begin a career in education. Her boy friend Brian Forgie, another graduate of Cal Poly, joined her and worked under Gary Brookman at Miner Family during the '99 crush. It was then that Brian & Briana became engaged. Following crush Brian, also went on to pursue the field of education. They were married on July 8, 2000 in the family gardens. On March 29, 2003 their first child, Brandon, was born. Their second son, Trevor, arrived September 19, 2005.

Brian Forgie & Baby Trevor

Briana Clark-Forgie

Briana and her husband Brian have worked with the family during harvest and participated in winemaking tastings. In 2001, along with teaching, Brian began working as Gary Brookman's cellar master at Grace Family Vineyards. In the summer of 2003 he continued with his position at Grace and began to work & learn in the vineyards with both Tom & Josh. He also teaches at Calistoga High School as a History and Language Arts Instructor. Briana, on leave from teaching, is caring for the boys and taking on an increased role in many aspects of the family business. Reigniting an old passion, she has also begun a photography business; Briana Marie Photography. Briana is now Clark-Claudon Vineyards resident photographer. www.brianamariephotography.com