Heritage
Five Decades, Same Convictions
Williams Selyem was built on the belief that Russian River Valley could produce world-class Pinot Noir, that the best wines come from the best sites, and that the winemaker’s job is to get out of the way. Five decades on, those convictions still hold. The pages that follow tell the stories—of the people, the vineyards, the traditions, and the history—that have shaped us.
History
Fifty Years in the Making
In 1979, Burt Williams and Ed Selyem had neither capital nor credentials. From a Russian River Valley garage, relying on instinct and a repurposed dairy tank, they built a winery that would change the course of American Pinot Noir. Their focus on small lots, minimal intervention, and site-specific terroir remains the winery’s guiding purpose.
People
Making the Best Wines Takes Many Hands
Since our earliest garagiste days, Williams Selyem has been a collaborative project. Jeff Mangahas leads winemaking today, working alongside our cellar and viticulture team and longtime grower partners. The Faiveley family, seventh-generation Burgundian vignerons, now helm Williams Selyem, with longtime leader John Dyson continuing to advise. The stewardship has evolved. The standards haven’t.
Vineyard-Driven Winemaking
From the Ground Up
The vineyards came first, and old habits die hard. We honor decades-long grower relationships, heritage sites, and a deep fixation on vine health. In the cellar, little has changed. We are still devoted to our antique dairy tanks, classic house yeast strain, and terroir-first winemaking philosophy.
