Rochioli grapes have been part of Williams Selyem since 1980 — as foundational a relationship as exists in the winery’s history, and one of the reasons Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is taken seriously anywhere in the world.
Joe Rochioli Sr. began acquiring his 162 acres in 1938, farming land he had already known for years and understood in the way that only comes from working the same ground across decades. His son Joe Jr. inherited that connection and deepened it — making intuitive decisions about clones, positioning, and farming practices that would prove ahead of their time. Joe Jr. passed away in 2022, at the age of 88. Tom Rochioli carries the family operation forward today.
The Riverblock sits in proximity to the Russian River, in the cool, fog-influenced stretch of the valley that defines what Russian River Valley Pinot Noir can be: aromatic, structured, with the kind of acidity that lets these wines age. The relationship between Williams Selyem and Rochioli is not just long — it is formative. Burt Williams and Joe Rochioli Jr. walked these rows together for years. The wines that came from that partnership helped establish the reputations of both names. That is what a grower relationship built on genuine trust can produce.
