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! read more

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. read more

All you need is a gondola just like Sterling Winery... They took the rustic scenery out of Westside Road and made it Hwy 29 in Napa. There is a whole lot of high priced wine there but just down the street you can find some great wine for half the price and half the attitude as well. Love W&S wines back in the old days before the New Yorker took it over.. Burt and Ed made the name and the recipe for a fair price...Then sold, now look at the place ..who paid for it we did with a 20 year increase price from a $40. btl to now $ 100. over rated over oaked and priced.. Wine for the 1% read more

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. read more

Visited the winery during their recent release party. You will be paying a premium for these wines, a good part due to the hype. Their style is a bit riper, but the juice is spectacular. There are about 10 different pinots, starting at $50/bottle. Grounds have a new feel to them, but beautiful. Pourers were knowledgeable, friendly and approachable. This novelty winery will appeal to the pinot extremists, and yes . . . I will be back for more. read more

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! read more

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

The "list" isn't as hard to get on anymore now that the economy has dropped...certain selections are still hard to come by though. I have really enjoy bottle that I have been allocated. Their pick up parties are well attended, organized and fun to mingle with other people. My favorite wine from them was their Blanc de Blanc sparkling in a magnum format. It was wonderful. I really hope they have another vintage available soon! read more

As Yelp says, "As good as it gets". And for any Pinot Noir lover, it really is as good as it gets! Their facilities is beautiful as with their estate. Very modern and definitely reflective of their nearly cult-status wine. Went here twice, my first visit was with an older guy who was uninteresting and boring. Second visit I took my parents and we had a blast! We had an awesome guy named Zack who was not only very knowledgeable about their wines, but was absolutely hilarious and definitely a great color commentator. If you ever visit WS, ask for Zack! Now their wines, as most people write here, the wines are of course exceptional. Their "good" wine is probably the best wine outside of WS. But their "great" wines would even make Jesus proud! They offer a really great variety of different regional Pinot Noir so each bottle will taste significantly different than the other. I hate visiting this place because all their wines are great and its tempting just to buy up everything! WS is definitely a special wine and I can see what the hype is about. Although it is on the expensive side, it's totally worth it. read more

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. read more

Williams Selyem Winery - Beautiful location! Amazing staff. - Wineries Near Me - Healdsburg, California

This was a really special visit! Mike treated us to a tour of the grounds by appointment. His tour was perfectly paced. Every Pinot was superb and we tried MANY. And the un-oaked Chardonnay was an unexpected crowd-pleaser. The building and grounds are artfully designed with lots of glass and natural materials. Very peaceful with an energetic buzz. If you like what you've tasted, buy it while you're here. It's difficult to buy later! read more

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. read more

As far as I am concerned, Williams Selyem wines are hands down, consistently the best in their class. They are primarily known for their pinots - which rock, but their chardonnays and zinfandels are world-class as well. They age beautifully and often have the texture of velvet. The vineyard designates are truly outstanding and it's always exciting to see how they vary/evolve from vintage to vintage. Not on the "list"? Go up with a friend to a pick-up weekend, sign up to be on the wait list, buy a few bottles that are sold that day and within 12 months or so - you too will join the list. The pick-up weekends are fun - mellow and laid back. They sample the wines being released, have local cheeses and meats for nibbles, and usually have a live band - plus they usually sell some wines from earlier releases. read more

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. read more

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Amazing! I love the wines and the pick up parties are always fun. Also, the tasting room appointment is really a treat as well. Williams Selyem Pinots are among the best and we are discovering that their Chardonnays are quite fantastic as well. The only thing I would like to see at the facility is a changing table. We called to see if we could bring our 5month baby along and they said it was just fine. Wish they had told us there was no changing table in the restrooms. read more

***DISCLAIMER: Anything I write in a winery review about the actual wine is based on my personal tastes / opinions / palette and is not intended to be taken as an objective measure of quality or deliciousness. (I would think this is obvious, but apparently not.)*** I've been to the pickup party here several times because my boyfriend's parents are club members and live out of town. Since we're in SF, we frequently using picking up their wine as an excuse to spend a day wine tasting in Sonoma. It took me a while to warm up to pinot noirs, having gotten started on big, hearty zins and syrahs, but the more I tasted, the more I got use to what good pinot is like. And damn. On our last trip, I was more impressed than I've ever been. Their pinots are just fruity enough, just tannic enough, and have some amazing mineral tastes. All the different ones we tasted were distinctly different, but all were fabulous. They were also pouring a zin that day, which, while clearly bigger and bolder and spicier than the pinots, bore a striking resemblance to some of the pinots in terms of its refined flavor and mineral notes. Really good! Not cheap, but if you really like pinot, not a bad place to hit if you're in the area. read more

Scheduled a visit in advance and were treated to a great visit by hospitality manager, Michael Traverso. Loved his casual approach to the wine and the location. He made the wine very approachable and gave us a great tour of the grounds. We brought our infant and Michael was very accommodating and happy to have our young son along for the visit. I would definitely recommend this location very highly to visitors to Sonoma. Plan ahead, make an appointment, and you won't be disappointed. Oh, I can't forget to mention that their Pinot Noir rocks. We bought a bottle of the 2006 Pinot Noir - my favorite, and am now saving it for a special occasion. read more

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. read more

We tasted and toured on October 31. Rich gave us a wonderful tour of this beautiful facility and we tasted some great Chardonnays and Pinots. Also got a pour of the 2008 Cabernet as a treat. This was our first visit to Williams Selyem and it was impressive. They make wines from many places and you get to try a few from different locales. The Sonoma Coast AVA was tasting very good on this morning! Thanks to Rich for his warm hospitality. read more

One of the best 2007 Pinot Noirs I have ever had. Great tasting experience with Taylor, very knowledgeable and had some great recommendations. Every wine they pour is amazing, will definitely be back next time we are up. read more

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! read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

I went to a release party with a member, two other friends and my dog. I've been wine tasting a million times and have seen that wineries allow dogs to visit. When we got there a woman approached me and very quietly let me know that dogs were not allowed on the premises. I acknowledged her and started to walk out with my dog. She then started to follow me telling me how it was in all of the paper work etc. in a very snooty way. I told her that I understood and no more needed to or should be said. I took my dog down to my friends mini van, unrolled all of the windows and gave her a huge bowl of water. I went back up to the winery with every intention of checking on her often. We went to check into the event and my lucky stars...Jennifer the snooty employee checked us in. She then said "Did you leave your dog in the car?? Because that's against the law here." I let her know that I had every intention of checking on my dog often and went into the tasting. The tasting were so small. Less than half an ounce pours. Another employee came up to me and said that some people in the parking lot were concerned for my dog. I went down to the car and my dog was napping quite comfortably on the back seat out of view in a huge van with tinted windows. I'm assuming this was the work of Jennifer yet again. At that point I gave up and just sat in the car with her while my friends ate appetizers and drank their sour wine with the smallest tasting portions on the west coast. There was a man sleeping with the windows unrolled in the car next to ours. I wonder if she was so intent on harassing his wife. Honestly, the most disgusting, rude encounter of my life. My only solace is that Jennifer clearly has a miserable life to be so rude to a patron. I gave this place 2 stars because the winery grounds are beautiful. FYI, We went to Moshin right afterwards and they had the most amazing wine and incredible service. They brought out a water bowl for my dog and gave our designated driver juice and brownies. Skip Williams Selyem and go straight to Moshin if you want to be treated like you and your money matter! read more

Williams Selyem Winery - Wineries Near Me - Healdsburg, California

Bad Year or End of an Era? It is with a heavy heart that I write this review. Year after year we Williams Selyem lovers blindly trust that when we place our orders we can expect the wines will delight us with the consistent style we adore. Not anymore, or at least not the 2011 release. The change is slight, but very unpleasant. I'm not the only one who noticed. At the pick up event, couple was asking a volunteer if 2011 was a really bad year. He floundered a bit with his description of the weather, etc., and the couple seemed unsatisfied with the explanation. "Why would ALL of the vineyards be affected?", they asked. I fear that this is not a case of a bad year, but the winemaking. Something is different and not in a good way. All of the pinot noirs now have a low-level acrid taste permeating the mouth. This happened in the wines from the Spring release and I was praying that the single vineyard wines would be spared this affliction. OK. The fruit is still great, flavors present and the nose does not seem to be affected. It's just when you put it in your mouth. That taste. Horrible disappointment. I tried to make excuses when I tasted the first 2011 wines in the Spring. Like, they're young and need time. The problem is that we are very experienced at tasting Williams Selyem new releases. I am willing to bet that the acridity will still be there years from now. This wasn't simple a matter of tannins. The great fruit isn't going to make up for it. What the heck are you doing to our wines? Until now, if I decided to share a bottle of Williams Selyem with someone I ALWAYS knew that we were in for a treat. Beautiful, luscious mouthfeel. Even the lightest of their wines were delicious, even when young. I haven't tasted the current Rochioli Riverblock yet, nor the Hirsh, etc., only the wines at the pick up event. I sincerely hope that the acrid permeation is not present in those as well. Change is inevitable. We don't have to like it, or buy it. I'll try the 2012 release and hope that it is not the end of an era. If so, I'll savor my older previous release wines. I love Williams Selyem but my heart is breaking. (If I was one of the WS marketing people (great team by the way), Id respond to this review.) read more

williams selyem is delicious. like a little glass(or bottle...or bottles) of happiness. their pinot's are breathtaking. now, if only i can get on their list before i turn 30..... read more

Certainly among the finest Pinot Noir makes in the United States, and certainly competes with the best from France. There is no tasting room and does not accept visitors exccept on semiannual "pick-up" weekends. The waiting list to receive allocation is less than a year, but every drop of their liquid is worth every $$$. read more

There aren't enough great things I can say about this winery. Great property, great wines, great service! Once you're on the list you have access to the wines. There is no traditional wine club so you don't get discounts by being on the list. The wines are worth every penny, and they cost a lot of pennies. They are without a doubt a Pinot house, though they do have other varietals as well. I've never left empty-handed because the wines are so tasty. They have great events, though you must purchase at least 6 bottles from your biannual allotment to attend. When you visit the winery for a tasting they have the names of everyone who is attending and you have a private table with your own dedicated host who talks about the history of the winery and each specific wine. I ha w yet to ask them a question they can't answer, and we've had 5 or 6 different hosts since we got on the list. Anytime anyone comes to visit us we try to take them here. They have nowhere to go but down after they visit! read more

I accompanied someone to a pick up party this past weekend--in their new location. It was quite a treat! Got to taste some delicious pinot but the hightlight was the Zin. Even on a rainy day..the place was buzzing. The event was very well-organized--fully staffed with people directing traffic and allocating parking spaces. Made it easy to get in and out of. The event was held in tents--so I didn't get to tour the space. Would love to do that at some point. read more

An absolutely beautiful facility with some of the greatest pinots I've ever had! You must be on their list or know someone who is on their list in order to make reservations for a tasting, but it is a very unique tasting experience. Greg was our host and took us through a couple wines before taking us on a tour of the estate. Once we returned to the tasting room we went through the last couple wines on the list and even got to try a couple other wines he had open including a zin and a mild dessert wine. They are pricey, but they are also delicious! My favorites were the Unoaked Chardonnay and the Calegari. read more

Still make good pinot. Still no tasting room. Still a fan, though the QPR isn't what it used to be.

Went with my boyfriend's family for a wine tasting and pick-up. If you have the opportunity to be invited with someone that is a member of Williams Selyem, do it! It has a couple of tents outside and I believe I tasted over 15 different types of wine, and there were different pastries, cheese plates and coffee tastings scattered in both tents. Also, the facility is beautiful, up to date and clean. Not enough restrooms to accommodate large events. I believe I counted only 2 women's and men's restroom (one person per restroom). read more

This wine will make you weep it is so good. I first had it at $150/bottle in a nice San Francisco restaurant. After my 2 year wait, I've been on the list for about 4 years now. Never been anything but thrilled with what they bottle. My wife and I visited just before our wedding in Yountville and the staff here was just swell. It's nice to have a personal tour (groups are limited to a handful -- we had 4) and you get to taste some lovely wines (well, we did...). read more

Pleasantly surprised. My dear friend invited me for wine tasting the weekend before my b'd. Well lite, nice warm and soothing tasting room environment. The tasting room hosts were pleasant, knowledgable and made great selections for our tasting. I did not plan to buy at the first stop just because we had several to attend. WSW is know for their Pinot Noirs, and I purchases a spring release Russian River Valley red. I tasted enuf wine at WSW, that I definitely left slightly tilted. No alarm; I wasn't driving. :-p read more

Burt and Ed were sure nice enough and the wines were incredible, but now they are able to handle visitors and the wines are always superb.

Fabulous pinots, service and tour of the beautiful property. Nice intimate tasting experience! A great experience.

I have to first say, i wanted to wait till i had been here a couple times to write a review. So many ppl have 1 good/ bad experience and base it off that. This place is simply amazing! I work in the industry and Pinot is my #1 wine for sure so i can get picky. Rich was the first person who did our tour/ tasting and was great in every way. Knowledgable, friendly, generous pours, all around great 1st experience. Then came the pick up party.... And it was all over from their. Grounds were gorgeous after harvest, employees let u roam the grounds (except for the environmentally sensitive areas of course) and the wine... 12 different selections to choose from and no limit. Pours were small but they should be since u can go back to one as much as u like. Salami, cheese and bread galore. It was my first pick up party and it has turned me into a life long fan. Keep it up Williams Selyum! read more

What a wonderful experience! Great wines with a gorgeous facility and property. I especially loved their Blanc de Noirs.

I spent 3 hours at this amazing winery and Jesse was our host! He is one of the Best wine Host in all of Sonoma Valley! The Wines were outstanding and the views will take your breath away. Don't miss this winery! The best Pinot Noir in the world! read more