Karen Neugebauer

700 South 1st Street, Mount Vernon, WA
360-588-4859
info@fortechocolate.com
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Crafting Award-Winning Chocolate in the Pacific Northwest

For Karen Neugebauer, fine chocolate is as much about precision as pleasure. As founder and Master Chocolatier of Forté Chocolate in Mount Vernon, Washington, she has spent nearly two decades developing handcrafted confections distinguished by carefully balanced flavours, polished presentation and an exacting approach to technique.

Her work is closely connected to Washington’s Skagit Valley, an agricultural region that provides both inspiration and ingredients. Local honey, herbs, berries and dairy have all found their way into Forté’s creations, giving the chocolates a strong sense of place alongside their international influences.

Discovering the Precision of Chocolate

Neugebauer’s fascination with chocolate developed while studying at the Art Institute of Seattle. She recalls the distinctive snap of properly tempered chocolate as an early moment that revealed just how much precision the craft demanded.

That technical challenge became the foundation of her career. Forté Chocolate was established in 2006, and Neugebauer has since developed the company around small-batch, handcrafted production rather than high-volume manufacturing.

Today, Forté produces truffles, caramels, chocolate bars and other confections by hand, with Neugebauer continuing to lead its creative direction as Master Chocolatier.

Building Flavour Through Restraint

Forté’s chocolates often combine familiar ingredients in carefully considered ways.

Rather than overwhelming the cacao, Neugebauer uses flavour and texture to create compositions intended to unfold gradually. Herbs, fruit, spices, caramel and locally sourced ingredients appear throughout the collections, while single-origin chocolate provides another way to explore the characteristics of cacao.

Her creations have earned more than 150 national and international awards, including multiple World Gold honours from the International Chocolate Awards. The company’s Lemon Pepper Chocolate Bar received a World Gold award in 2025, adding another unusual flavour combination to Forté’s award-winning collection.

Inspired by the Skagit Valley

Place plays an important role in Neugebauer’s work.

Forté is based in Mount Vernon, approximately an hour north of Seattle, in the heart of the Skagit Valley. The region’s agricultural community has encouraged the chocolatier to incorporate local ingredients whenever practical. Fresh rosemary, strawberries, raspberries, honey and regional dairy are among the ingredients that have connected Forté’s chocolates to the surrounding landscape.

Forté’s downtown Mount Vernon boutique strengthens that connection. Located at 700 South 1st Street, the shop is currently open daily and gives visitors an opportunity to explore the company’s chocolates in the community where they are produced.

Nearly Two Decades of Chocolate Craftsmanship

Neugebauer’s influence extends beyond individual chocolates. Forté identifies itself as both women-owned and disability-owned, while its connection to local organisations and the Skagit Valley remains an important part of the company’s identity.

At the same time, Neugebauer continues to approach chocolate as a craft requiring patience and continual refinement. Forté describes development as deliberately slow, with new creations adjusted until flavour, texture and presentation work together as a complete composition.

Nearly 20 years after Forté Chocolate was founded, Karen Neugebauer continues to demonstrate how an independent American chocolatier can combine international recognition with a distinctly local identity. Her chocolates may travel far beyond Washington, but their creative centre remains firmly rooted in the Skagit Valley.