Flax Vineyard

Vineyard History

This 52 acre ranch was purchased by Phil & Toby Flax in the late 1970’s, from actor Fred MacMurray. The land extends a bit higher on the hillside than the neighboring Allen ranch, and shares many characteristics of that famous vineyard. Phil Flax, the marketing genius behind the Flax Art Store in San Francisco, fell in love with the Russian River Valley and knew that chardonnay and pinot noir were destined to grow on his country home site. During the harvest of 1998, Phil wandered next door to the WS winery and introduced himself to Bob Cabral, the new winemaker. Phil explained to Bob that Burt had agreed to purchase these new pinot noir blocks if he would plant them to a Pommard clone. Bob and Phil walked the vineyard that afternoon and a new grape contract was signed immediately.

The two specific pinot noir blocks that are farmed for Williams Selyem are the Big West block and the South Hill block. Both blocks are located on the western hill located above the Flax residence. Comprised of 3.61 acres (Big West) and 3.02 acres (South Hill), both blocks were planted in 1996 to a Pommard selection on 3309C rootstock. The ranch is farmed by Ulises Valdez, and his amazing attention to detail throughout the growing season undeniably reflects in the glass.