21 Brix: Jim Forchini ¿ Evolution of a Winegrower From a secure engineering career to a risky dream, Californians Jim Forchini and his wife, Anita, took an enormous leap of faith. A second-generation Italian, born in 1938 and raised in Bakersfield, Jim studied mechanical engineering at Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo. His Italian upbringing had instilled in him ethics for hard work, honesty, and perseverance-and introduced him to agrarian life, when Jim witnessed his grandfather growing grapes. After Jim and Anita married in 1961, they moved to Santa Rosa, started a family, and Jim was drawn back to the past to change their future. By 1976, he had acquired three vineyard properties, and, with Anita's ongoing strength and support, he had resigned from engineering and become a full-time winegrower. In 1996, the Forchinis started making wine at their own winery, including a tribute wine to Jim's grandfather. Forchini wines soon earned prestigious awards throughout the state, and their brand was recognized for consistent excellence. Over two decades later, with Anita's health in decline, they produced their last wine. Anita passed away in 2021; nine months later, Jim also died, having written this book to the point of releasing his tribute wine. More than a memoir, 21 Brix: Jim Forchini is an inspirational story of a husband and wife who had the courage to follow a dream and how, by working together, they overcame uncertainties and countless obstacles, and turned that dream into success.