With Special Guest Jeff Mangahas, winemaker. Williams Selyem was one of the original ‘garagiste’ labels, meaning they literally started in Burt Williams’ garage in Forestville. Burt and his friend, Ed Selyem began experimenting with winemaking on the weekends in the 1970s. They loved red Burgundy but could no longer afford them and figured they could make great Pinot Noir in Sonoma.

Burt and Ed released their first vintage in 1982. They never owned any vineyards and instead sourced fruit from their grower friends in Russian River Valley. When their 1987 Rochioli Vineyard Pinot Noir won the Sweepstakes Prize among 2,136 entries at the California State Fair, demand for their wines soared. These two humble men had no idea that their namesake would live on among the most well-regarded Pinot Noirs in America.

Burt and Ed elevated the Russian River Valley as a great appellation for Pinot Noir. Their ride came to an end in 1998 when they sold the winery to the New York entrepreneur John Dyson. John planted vineyards on the estate and continued to source Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel from other top vineyards in Sonoma County, making the winery an even greater success. In January of 2021, John and Kathe Dyson sold a minority stake of the winery to Faiveley, a Burgundian producer since 1825. 

Jeff Mangahas took over the winemaking from Bob Cabral. He has inarguably continued the legacy of making great Pinot Noir using minimal intervention and traditional techniques.

The Williams Selyem flight will include the wines below:

2021 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, CA. Retail $97.50

2021 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, CA. Retail $97.50

2020 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir, Vista Verde Vineyard, San Benito County, CA. Retail $105

2020 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Lewis MacGregor Estate Vineyard, Russian River Valley, CA. Retail $150

2020 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir, Estate, Russian River Valley, CA. Retail $173

The cost of the flight for two-ounce pours will be $49 and $26 for one-pounce pours