Williams Selyem Winery

You need to be an active list member, and tastings are by appointment only. Period. End of story. We reserved a month or so in advance for a Monday slot in late April. The tasting is free, but if you cancel or change your reservation less than 48 hours before your slot, you will be charged $75 pp - this is clearly spelled out in the confirmation email. Apparently, Mondays in mid-April is not a very popular time, because it was just the two of us for the entire time. It felt like a private tasting/tour. We were seated in the first floor tasting room which is modern and stylish, but still very comfortable for a wine tasting. When you look up, the vaulted ceiling is supposed to look like a half-barrel of wine. Our tasting consisted of recent vintages of the Drake Chard, RRV Pinot, Anderson Valley Pinot, Olivet Lane Pinot, Beckstoffer Georges III Cab, and an off-list pour of the 2014 Precious Mountain Pinot. Fantastic tasting from start to finish that highlighted some of the many faces of WS. The tasting guide also takes you on a short tour of the winemaking facilities which is nice. When we were there, the employees were busy topping off the Pinot barrels which was interesting to watch. Afterwards, you have the opportunity to purchase some library wines which are pretty much impossible to find retail. If you are WS nerd, look for the Best-in-Show State Fair ribbon that is on the right wall just beyond the Pinot barrel room. It’s the award that WS won for its 1985 Rochioli Vineyard Pinot and put WS on the map. You can read about it online or have the guide tell you about it. Also, as you enter the building, go to the bottle wall on the right and look at the two bottles on the bottom left. One is a 1981 Sonoma County Pinot with the very first label when WS was still called Hacienda Del Rio Winery. Due to copyright issues, the label was changed to look like the current label. The second bottle looks like the current bottles, but still uses the Hacienda Del Rio name. But there was another winery already using that name, so in 1983, the winery officially adopted the name Williams Selyem. If you are an active list member, I would highly recommend you to visit, especially if you can go during the off-season.

A beautiful approach to the tasting room and then to see the property perched at the top of the drive was spectacular! We got a great history on Williams Selyem from Randy, our host for the day. He was terrific and had recommendations for other wineries to try. Of course the tasting room itself was very modern and airy. We tasted wine that is not usually on the allocation list and they were also terrific. Very much enjoyed our tasting and would love to go again some time.

The tasting experience was quiet and sophisticated. The grounds have beautiful landscaping with a grasses installation that is well-integrated with native natural features, including local oak trees and giant boulders. The tasting room is modern and spacious. My only criticism is that I would like to have tasted other wine varieties, though the wine that I did taste were quite good.

A fantastic winery that’s selective with their wines and provide a very unique tasting experience !

What an experience wine tasting at Williams Selyem. The grounds were spectacular. The wine were beyond my expectations. Better yet the hospitality from Greg and Joey were what won us over. During our tasting we walked a portion of the facilities and had additional splashes of bottles that were not originally included. We all loved the sit down experience with Greg. We were not at a counter just looking for our next tasting. It was as if we were with a friend that was sharing exquisite wines on a Saturday afternoon. Just amazing!

Outstanding personalized tasting with Jonathan today. Extremely personable and deeply knowledgeable. Tremendous library wine options as well. Big fan of the wine and even a bigger fan having visited now. Beautiful tasting room as well.

Few words are needed, five star experience and my recent visit and tasting left me feeling like a VIP, I have told everyone I know, including other wineries.

One of our first tastings post Covid and it was a delight! They only have a single table outside (under shade) for tastings so you get a truly safe and VIP experience. The tasting comes with a small charcuterie plate (cheese, meat, crackers, olives and nuts) which was just enough to keep us satisfied. Our host Peter was lovely and provided some fun tips for hikes in the surrounding area. The wines of course are exceptional.

Literally every single Pinot noir we had was delicious. Our host was with us most of the time and very knowledgeable about the wine and winery history. It was great hearing all of this while enjoying these beautiful wines. If you purchase wines, drive down towards the gate and you will see a sign for pickup on the left.

Our group of 6 recently went for a tasting. I have had their wines before and ordered several times but never visited their location. Our group had brought lunch before doing the tasting, they have a perfect location to enjoy lunch even before our tasting. The tasting was great, having it conducted in a very private setting, with class A stemware. The wines were all great and our entire group particularly enjoyed the setting, the barrel viewing, and overall hospitality of our host. Wonderful time, wonderful wine, wonderful grounds!

I'm such a fan of this place. Williams Selyem is a private winery meaning you need to be on their list to visit. Reservations only. You get an hour here and they are pretty strict with their times due to their limited availability. For those who have never visited, you can't use GPS to get here accurately. Look for the actual address once you're in the area and you'll be ok. Once you approach the gate, utilize the intercom and they'll let you in. There is always someone waiting for you once you park and they will lead you to your area. They took covid seriously here throughout and I super appreciated that. There are large tents for every party. You have one person taking you throughout your entire experience. WS is known for their pinots but I absolutely love everything they have to offer especially their whites. One of my faves to visit and looking forward to the next.

Loved visiting the winery and love their wines! I become a member a few years back and at the beginning of 2022 my fiancé and I were able to plan a visit for a tasting. Tastings are for members and their guests only. We had a great time and our host was very knowledgeable and friendly. Beautiful grounds and tasting room! Can't wait to go back! I'm a huge Pinot noir fan (hence the membership) and my fiancé is a Cabernet Sauvignon fan BUT we actually enjoyed the Willams Selyem Chardonnay. So basically you cannot go wrong with any of their wines!

Terrible experience. I would not recommend to anyone. Awful customer service. Avoid at all costs. They asked us to leave at 4pm on Saturday of a holiday weekend with no warning, as though it was midnight and we were crashing a party. Very corporate feel with no character.

The name William Selyem speaks for itself. If you know, you know. It is a prestigious winery and a pleasure to visit. I had the opportunity to taste in a private residence of William Selyem and what a treat. The property is endless views of glorious vineyards, simply breathtaking. The grounds are phenomenal- grand trees that have seen the earth's rotation for years upon years. The main visiting building is beautiful and modern with Healdsburg class. Anyone would be delighted to taste on this property. The residence we tasted in was gorgeous with outstanding views of the property from up the hill, looking down. The table setting and presentation was beautiful & personalized. The tasting itself made for a great day- a lot of fun and smiles. If you're a vino enthusiast this is a must visit at some point in your tasting ventures- a flex

Gorgeous, modern winery set among lush vineyards. We've been here several times over the years, and each time the we learn a great deal from the experience. Our tasting guide, Randy, was deeply knowledgeable about the wines and the local history, and his passion was infectious. Definitely worth setting up a private tasting here.

Had some of the best Pinot varietals here and the winery is absolutely dropped at gorgeous

Had a great visit to the winery last weekend. Our host (Amy?) was really welcoming and was a wealth of Sonoma County Wine History knowledge. Wine was great (of course), had a couple tastings off-menu, and if you're tasting you get access to some rare bottle purchases (how do you say no to that). When we first arrived we took a step into the vineyards to talk about the property and history before stepping inside the hospitality center for our tasting. Can't wait to come back.

Good wines, beautiful vineyards, modern tasting room, but unfriendly snooty service.

As one of Sonoma's premier Pinot producers, Williams Selyem's wines are consistently best in class. Given that over 90% of their wines are pre sold through their list they really don't have to welcome visitors, especially in these difficult times but that doesn't stop them from providing one of the best tasting experiences in Sonoma. The only problem is you have to be an active list member to gain access to the experience. It is by appointment only and they have a table set up in a private tasting area when you arrive. They go through 4-5 wines depending on what they have available. The hosts are very knowledgeable, providing extensive information on the vineyard, the wines and the history of W-S. My recommendation, get on the list, order some of Sonoma's finest Pinots and enjoy their exceptional hospitality next time your in the area.

What a first class experience! A friend of mine is a member here so she arranged a tasting for us on our recent trip. So please note this place is appointment only. It was very swanky pulling up to the gate and giving them your name to be let into the winery and vineyard. Once we arrived we were greeted by our own personal sommelier, our own personal table and even a name plate! We were told about the wines, offered an opportunity to taste a variety, and then offered a tour of the location from fermenting barrels to bottling, to labeling. Afterwards we went walking around the grounds and the vineyard. Upon our return we were given the opportunity to join the list or purchase a few bottles. This was our first stop on our trip, but I bought two bottles of Pinot Noir and I think they were the best Pinots we had the entire trip. If you want to have a tasting experience unlike any other in the area I highly recommend this winery. If you want a personalized experience then I highly recommend Williams Selyem. If you love Pinot Noir, why haven't you made an appointment yet?

This place is like a mausoleum and one of the severs, Kathleen, is a rude, arrogant pig who should be fired for the way she treats her co-workers. Kathleen actually called a group of guests "a worthless waste of time" because they weren't high on the member list. Yes folks, the winery gives you a score A- Z. The claim to fame for this place is that they had an award winning wine like 30 years ago. The wine really isn't all that great and visiting is so boring! Don't waste your time and money.

As a list member since 2006 or so, this is one of my favorite wineries. This was our 1st visit to the Estate tasting room and it was stunning. Service and wines pored were fantastic. Personally I was not a fan of the Carignan or the Cabernet. The Pinots were phenomenal, as expected. The surprise of the visit was the Chenin Blanc.

Looking for one of the better wine tastings in the area from an OG (original gangster) producer? Well, WS is such a lovely treat and very unassuming. In a recent visit, we were able to taste through a number of their selections (they make wine from a bunch of well respected single vineyards) and they were all just lovely in their own right. I'm a fan of old world styled wines and this portfolio has a nice balance of all things old and new. One of the highlights for me was the Gruner from the Russian River as there isn't much planted in California so it's nice to see a well made expression. The weir vineyard Pinot noir is so light yet, has such bracing acidity that it will make your head spin. It's a sign of the amazing grape growers WS works with and how the winemaking changes per vineyard and vintage. Make an appointment well in advance as it's quite a local treasure.

I came here with some friends during the fall. It was a nice winery. They offer appointments so they can make it quite a personalized experience. The entrance to the winery is really nice. And the interior is even nicer; you just HAVE to take photos inside the "lobby" area. We went upstairs to a tasting room that kind of reminded me of a small office building conference room. The room had a really nice view of the rolling hills covered in parallel grape vines. We each had a name card. We munched on thin, crunchy breadsticks and tried different wines. We then took a small tour of the outside area and of course, took more pictures. A few other small groups came in while we were there, but otherwise, this place was pretty empty, which was nice.

Always delicious wines. You come for the Pinot noirs but they do everything well. Chardonnay is also right up our ally, oaked. They don't do too buttery which we enjoy. The Pinots all vary so I'm sure everyone can find something they enjoy. Beautiful grounds, inviting staff, clean facility, slightly rushed for the tasting but I suppose they try to move things along for everyone which is fine. If you want to learn about the process and care about what's in the bottle then you come here. No food offering just to keep in mind and pours are not over the top so you can easily visit another winery as well. Appointment only. I'll be back soon, I hope to someday visit on a pickup party.

Tasted here yesterday with friends ....delicious wines! Our host, John, was terrific.....a true gentleman, very knowledgeable about wine i general and specifically Williams Selyem offerings . Highly recommended! Make an appointment though

My partner is a member of this winery, and we finally booked a tasting at Williams Selyem. First thing first, the wine is AMAZING! We walked in, and our table was already set up with a welcome deck set out for us. The gentleman that was serving us honestly was fantastic. He was super knowledgeable, gave us a lot of history of the area, family, and wine, and took a lot of time to answer all of the questions we had. We honestly cannot wait to come back here!

What's not to love about this winery, or their wines?! Everything from their sparkling wine, vin gris, chenin blanc, vast number of pinot noir, chardonnay, and zinfandel is fantastic. We are "on the list" and pick up our wines at the Millbrook winery, one of the Dyson's other wineries. During pick up, you can sample many of their current releases and meet members of the wine team, including John Dyson and Jeff Mangahas. Wow, what fun! We have visited the winery on westside road a few times and got to learn so much about the history, terrior, and their state of the art wine making process. Of course, the grounds are stunning! Love their wines!!!

One of the best places for pinots!! Heard about this place from a coworker and after checking out the website immediately signed up for the waiting list. A few months later we received a letter and allocation, chose a few in our order and picked them up at the allocation members pickup party. 1- the pick up party is amazing!!! The people are great and there are a bunch of vendors for food and accoutrements 2- we recently went for a wine tasting with a group of friends. Scott was an amazing host, knowledgeable and took us on a nice tour of the place. It was the first tasting and al of our friends made purchases- the stuff was that good. Highly recommend if you're in healdsburg. Yes, it's a trek from the bay but it was way worth it!

Blink and you will miss the entrance, but once you get through the gates, a beautiful property awaits. We were seated upstairs, where we had anexcellent view of the property. We didn't have a bad wine, plus there were a few suprises we had no idea they made! We can't wait to come back!

We had a wonderful wine tasting last Christmas, and it was amazing. I miss going there this year due to Covid-19, but I hope to get back there soon. The wines are very good, and the tour is also done nicely.

Yes, the wines are good, but very pricey. They are a bit pretentious for my taste. If you bring a picnic, they will NOT let you use their glasses nor open a bottle that you buy there. Pretty unusual. The picnic are has no trash cans. So be prepared to carry out your smelly trash.

This place is the best kept secret for Pinots! Every sip is delightful. We had a wonderful tasting. The property is beautiful. I made it on their allocation list and ordered everything. Looking forward to the pick up party.

I've been on their allocation list for several years. I had an appointment to pick up my wine this morning. When I stopped in, I checked in at the gate and told them why I was there. I was buzzed in and proceeded up to the parking lot. When I arrived at the door to the tasting area, just after another couple had walked in maybe a minute before me, I was greeted by one of the salon hosts with a "Can I help you?" said in the way you do when someone is unexpected and unwelcome. I told him that I was there to pick up my wine and gave him my name. He went back into the office and after several minutes, came back out and asked if it was my allocation. (Since to the best of my knowledge, the only way William Selyem sells wine is through their allocation list, that confused me a bit) I responded yes, and he suggested that it was probably back in the barrel room. He returned with my wine, and I asked if there was a possibility to taste a sample of the wine I had just picked up? He told me that he didn't know what was in there, so no, probably not. The entire time I was there, I had the impression that I was interrupting his day and that I shouldn't be there. I was hoping to be asked to do a tasting, or at least be offered a splash of wine while I was waiting which is the norm at nearly every winery in Sonoma County. I'm not their biggest buyer for sure, but I am a big buyer at several other wineries because of the great wine and the great service that I receive when I stop in. I've been steadily increasing my purchase of William Selyem wines when the allocation comes out, because in the past one particular person in the tasting room has done an exceptional job and really turned me on to their wines. Today's experience left me embarrassed and feeling awkward about even being there. I think it might be time to re-evaluate whether I want to continue to buy wine from William Selyem. If this is how they treat buyers, I'd be afraid to see how they treat someone who has never been there before. I emailed the Concierge after I got home. She told me that she intended to come down and meet me, but got tied up on the phone. And the two men in the salon had other people to take care of. I would think in that situation, you would ask another person to go down and greet the person you knew was coming in, or at least ask the tasting room to ask me to wait until she was off the phone. None of that happened, and I left shaking my head.

Of course their Pinots are legendary but so is the tasting experience here. We were lucky to have Sandrew as our host and had a great time. The place takes COVID precautions seriously: masks, outdoor private space, all that. At the same time the organizers made it easy to forget about the pandemic for an hour, to sit back and just enjoy the wine.

One of the best California wine tastings I've been to! Amazing wines and such gracious, friendly staff. I loved the velvety Ferrington Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley, the racy RRV Westside Road Neighbors Pinot Noir, and the earthy RRV Bucher Vineyard Pinot Noir.

If you love Pinots, then you already know that you need to go to Williams Selyem. They have more Pinot varietals than any other winery (I'd imagine) in the valley. Each Pinot provides a different flavor, some are big and some are lighter. As a Pinot lover, I obviously enjoy all but my wife who is a Cab lover loves the bigger Pinots that WS makes. They have fabulous events, should you be lucky enough to be on their list, two times a year with wonderful food and other vendors also in attendance. The only reason they aren't getting 5/5 stars is from a bad experience two times with the same host. We are younger than their most frequent visitors, I assume. One male host who I have been with twice has left a sour taste in our mouth and prevented us from coming back for the last several months as a result, which is a bummer. When we shared our experience with the staff, the staff did not seem to care for the feedback. Oh well.

The tasting experience is always spectacular and their Pinot Noir is super delicious and totally worth the value. I love the Westside Road Neighbors, Weir, and their signature WS Estate Pinot, just to name a few. I do get excited whenever I receive the Order Form in the mail, time for new release! :P Love the wine pick-up events that happen twice a year, beautiful property, generous pour of almost all the current release, and friendly staff. At the Wine Pick-Up Event, there are also local merchants present, so we can sample a variety of food (pastry, olive oil tasting, popcorn, sausage, truffles/chocolates) and even cold brew coffee as well. Make sure you sign up and join the WS List to become an Allocation List Member if you have not already done so. This is the only way you get to purchase current and past releases, and schedule a winery tour. :D

Absolutely a must stop in Sonoma. This stunning building and property is only magnified by the stunning quality and array of Pinot Noir produced. It's a great tasting room with a staff who is ready to pour and talk wine with you.

Wait list is currently 9 months, but selections such as their Rose make the wait totally worth it. Beautiful grounds. Delicious wines. And unlike certain competitors, their selections sell quickly and are not known to be available elsewhere. Can't wait to go back.

A winery that consistently turns out the best Pinot Noir I've ever had. They seem to manage to dance their way around the sins of most California producers--that overcooked, stewed flavor of a climate that may just be too damn hot for the varietal. At the same time, they manage to avoid the sins of Burgundy in off years: lack of concentration. (Well, WS isn't ridiculously overpriced like Burgundy, either, which is the reason I still buy it and not Burgundy.) And it ages like a champ. Although I've collected a tad shy of 10 vintages, I've had friends who were kind enough to share bottles from as far back as the 80's. It pays to have friends with good taste and large cellars! Previously, 5-stars would only describe the wine, now it applies to the facility as well. Impressive it is. Stunning views of the surrounding vineyards, this imposing edifice just takes your breath away as you walk up to it. I think it may be the best example of modern architecture at a winery in California (see my pictures). Note that to taste here requires an appointment, and also for you to be on the distribution "List".

Williams-Seylem makes perfect pinots that are perfect for a celebration, anniversary, out of town visitors, birthday, and AWESOME presents! ;D They are a bit expensive, $50/bottle which is why they're more for special occasions. Their pinots come from the Sonoma Coast, Russian River and some others - but their best is the Sonoma Coast, year after year! They also make a good Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Rose even though they're not the star quarterbacks (Chard 2011 is delicious!) Their wine tasting is personable (you make an appointment with them), and it's just one of their representatives and your party. Also, the facility is beautiful since it was just built a few years ago. Also, everything is very sustainable (wall of rocks outside is made from their pavement!). Joining a wine tasting here also entitles you to get on their mailing list, which otherwise would put you on a waiting list to get on. The mailing list comes out probably 2 times a year. The great thing about this mailing list is that it's non-obligatory, so you don't have to order the wines (unlike a wine club). If you do order the wines, you get to attend their Pick-up Party (twice a year) that happens around April and October. Free wine tastings, and third party booths are there too, like coffee, chocolate, cheese, breads, and olive oil stands that are locally produced. I love Williams Seylem!

This place is stunning! The staff is friendly, absolutely loves Trasi and Greg. To book a tasting you have to sign up for their newsletter and wait a couple of weeks, get a recommendation from a member, be a member, or be industry. This is one of the first wineries where I really liked the unoaked Chardonnay - it had a much creamier texture than most unoaked Chardonnays. But for $37, it sets the tone that this place is crazy expensive. I enjoyed their oaked Chardonnay, but it was a little overly coconut-y. Their two Pinots on the flight were also tasty, but I'm not sure for $85 and $90 a bottle. Being a club member gives you only access to buying the wine (I believe the winery is the only place where you can get it and they sell out every year) and their two member parties a year, there's no price break. If I had that kind of money I would've become a member, but since I don't, I'll enjoy the wines through a tasting flight only. Also included an awesome and informative tour of the winery. Worth going to!

Went to the Pick Up party special event today. It couldn't have been more impersonal. No music, no food, no ambience. The only non-wine-tasting booths were for others to sell you more product. My friend had a problem with his shipment and there was absolutely no empathy or effort to make it right. At the prices for this wine, I expect far better customer service and event planning. There are a lot of great wineries in the area. I will choose to spend my money with those who make me feel like a valued and welcomed member. WS has lost me as a consumer.

Absolutely fabulous! Ask for Jeff! He is the best! The grounds are amazing and the wines are fantastic and reasonable. Worth the drive.

Calling all pinot noir lovers, this place is an absolute must for you! First off, this property is only open to list members, so drop everything you're doing right now and sign up to be on their distribution list! It is free to join but you will get booted from the list if you got more than a couple of allocations without purchase. Now that the above is taken care of, what are you waiting for? Go visit! They have a beautiful property with an open seated tasting room. The staff are incredibly friendly, educational, and passionate about what they do. I saw glints of pride in their eyes. Fun fact: Williams Selyem is one of the few vineyards where it is actually cheaper to buy direct from them. You will not find their wines for less through distributors as the cost they charge them is the same as what you and I would pay. More incentive to join their distribution list!

It's ok to come here for the architecture alone. It is magnificent from the inside and outside. If you dig excellent Pinot Noir and want a personalized tasting experience, this is definitely your place too. I've been here twice now, and I definitely liked my first experience better with the amazing Sari. My friends and I had a good time during my second visit, but the person touring us was a little dry and boring. Another reviewer commented about this being the only place where she loved the unoaked chard, and I totally agree! Normally I love all the tropical and toast flavors in oaked chard, but this is beautiful and full of body in its own way. It's also one of the cheapest selections at $39. Or you can pay $60 for the same wine at Oakville Grocery. No thanks. It's worth it to be on the list just for that. I got sucked into buying one of their most expensive bottles too after trying the 2013 vintage in the barrel and the 2012 vintage at our tasting. Sari instructed us to give the barrel sample lots of time to aerate, and it was devine. I'm really hoping they can start shipping to AZ soon once SB1381 passes. Write your representative!

Been buying their wines for about 12 years now. I have always enjoyed all three types of Pinots: Regional Blends (about $40+), Neighborhood blends (about $50+) and Single Vineyard wines ($60++). Their unoaked and single vineyard Chards are also consistently great. They are also pushing a Rose now which is great. At these price points their Pinots are competing for value against any/all of the regions wineries so keep that in mind. Their bi annual pickup parties are worth the price of admission (now 6 bottles). Some people don't like how crowded they are, I actually enjoy it and they are ready to deal with the number of people there. Do not be intimidated by the wait list. Everyone we have had "sign up" has purchased wine well within a year. This is part of their marketing (like it is for all of the "allocation list" wineries, IMHO). Just have a friend buy you some wine on their allocation which is large. Their wines are also carried by many wine stores in the Bay Area and are usually not marked up much beyond the winery price. The tour/seated tasting they do is wonderful, especially if you are taking out of town guests. However it will take about 90 minutes so keep that in mind if you are trying to visit multiple places on a schedule.

Great tasting experience at Williams Selyem. I was so impressed with the highest level of their caring barrels and vines. No wonder they produce great wines.

1) Wait 2 years to get on their list. 2) Buy as much as they offer you (which is not much to start with) 3) Drink. 4) Enjoy. Some of the finest Pinot Noirs to come out of California, always highly rated. If you've never had an Allen Vineyard Pinot or a West Side Road Neighbor Pinot, then you've not lived a full life yet. Thats all I have to say about this wine. Its amazing. Period. Tip: Like the other reviewers said, they dont open their doors for anyone. No tasting... so get on the waiting list for the list.

This is much more than a wine tasting. I can only describe it as a great personalized wine experience that everyone should experience at least once in their life. Jeff was a great host, presenting the wines and the facility. Every wine served was very well done with the passion and experience shining through. Call weeks ahead for a tasting appointment, well worth it!! Cheers.

I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. Yeah, the wines are good, but there's good wines on every corner in this neighborhood. Pinots? Got them everywhere! Williams Selyem has 25 Pinots? Well Siduri has 28, and they're happy to see me. I know its just their marketing strategy, but I don't like having to beg for an appointment two weeks in advance, and then drive right by the entrance because they're too elitist to have a sign outside. The locked gate isn't beckoning either. If exclusive, high-end, snobby, pretentious and sterile fit your description, then this is the place for you!

There is a waitlist for this winery but it is delicious. We had Rich as our host today and he was very knowledgeable and friendly. Definitely recommend their estate Pinot along with many of their other wines!

Wow!! A must see!! Beautiful, impressive setting. Personal, yet professional tasting. The wines are incredible and hard to find, so we brought many home from the winery. Their Pinots are spectacular across the board. I'm not normally a Chardonnay drinker, but I liked the Chardonnay at WS.

This was an amazing tasting experience unlike any other that I have ever had. You need to be an active customer on the mailing list and set up an appointment to visit but if you do - you will love the personalized service and incredibly beautiful tasting room and vineyard.

Williams Seylem is an institution. The original cult pinot negociant in America. For pinotfiles like myself this place was a mecca. Since then it has changed hands (and by that I mean about a decade ago). The juice is still superb, sourced from the best vineyards in the area, and service wonderful. Though you've got to be on the mailing list to visit. My only knock is that the prices for even the non-single vineyard wines are high. I mean, they are nice, but not that nice. The single vineyard prices, while higher are at least ballpark at market value for their ilk, but their regional wines are good, but fairly non-descript. This is what you'd expect for wines of this category, but just not sure why you'd spend $40+ (obviously for the cashay, but still). Maybe 4 stars is even being a bit harsh, but plenty of good single vineyard RRV pinots out there for the same or less (Porter Bass, Hirsch, Littorai, Walter Hansel, etc). Appointment required: yes, and you need to be on the list (or find someone who is) Overall: A must try for pinotfiles. Perhaps the best batting average for a pinot negociant. Hard to see how they could disappoint even the most discerning palates.

About a year ago, we were fortunate to find our way onto Williams Selyem's wine list. It feels like Christmas morning whenever we get our allocation letter! So of course as we planned our trip up north, Williams Selyem was on the list of "can't miss" stops. We were not disappointed! We pulled up to the big gate and rang the bell. Katie answered and opened the gate. As we pulled up, Katie was walking out to the parking lot to greet us. Nice start! The tasting set up was nice. Clean and modern look. A nice custom-made sign welcoming our party. Another little touch. Katie was knowledgeable about the area, and the relationships w/ other growers/vineyards that WS partners with. Very educational. We walked the grounds with Katie and she poured some great wines. We enjoyed them all, but especially the Unoaked Chardonnay and the Hirsch Pinot. We bought a bottle of each. Great visit and amazing wines! Final touch was about a week after our visit, we received a handwritten note from Katie, thanking us for our visit. Icing on the cake. In an area with literally hundreds of options...Williams Selyem managed to stand out.