Williams Selyem was founded in 1981 by Burt Williams and Ed Selyem, two friends who shared a passion for Pinot Noir at a time when California Pinot was largely overlooked. Working from a garage in Fulton, they crafted wines with such precision and depth that by the mid-1980s critics were placing them among the finest Pinot Noirs produced anywhere in the world. The mailing list grew to tens of thousands of people waiting years for an allocation. In 1998 the winery was sold to John and Kathe Dyson, who have maintained its exacting standards and single-vineyard focus under winemaker Jeff Mangahas.

Rochioli Riverblock and the Single-Vineyard Program

The most coveted wines in the catalog are the single-vineyard designates, none more prized than the Rochioli Riverblock Vineyard Pinot Noir. Planted on loamy riverbed soils along the Russian River, these old vines produce wines of haunting complexity with layers of wild strawberry, forest floor, dried rose petal, and a silky texture that unfolds across twenty minutes in the glass. Additional designates from Allen Vineyard, Precious Mountain, Hawk Hill, and Drake Estates round out a program that maps Russian River Valley terroir site by site.

Williams Selyem proved that Russian River Valley Pinot Noir could stand alongside the great wines of Burgundy, and the world paid attention.

Winemaking Philosophy: Burgundian Restraint

Williams Selyem winemaking is defined by restraint and vineyard transparency. Whole-cluster fermentation, cold soaks, and minimal intervention allow each site to express itself without cosmetic winemaking. New oak is used sparingly, typically 20 to 35 percent, to preserve fruit purity. Wines spend 16 to 18 months in French barrels before bottling without fining or filtration. The Chardonnay program emphasizes mineral tension over butter and oak; old-vine Zinfandel from Sonoma rounds out the portfolio.

The Mailing List and Tasting Room

Purchasing Williams Selyem wines requires joining the mailing list and working through a multi-year wait. Allocations are offered twice per year, spring and fall, with members choosing from current single-vineyard designates and estate blends. For visitors who secure a tasting room appointment on Westside Road, seated experiences often include library wines not available through allocations. The farmhouse setting among Pinot Noir vines reflects the winery’s roots-first identity.

Legacy in the Russian River Valley

Williams Selyem did more for the reputation of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir than any other single producer. When the 1993 Rochioli Riverblock Pinot Noir was named Wine Spectator Wine of the Year in 1994, it put the appellation on the global map. Dozens of winemakers who trained alongside the founding team went on to build influential labels of their own, creating a legacy that extends far beyond the estate.

Williams Selyem Winery FAQ