United States · California

Williams Selyem

Williams Selyem was founded by Burt Williams and Ed Selyem in 1981 in Healdsburg, Sonoma County, pioneering Russian River Valley Pinot Noir as a world-class wine category during a period when California Pinot was largely dismissed by serious collectors. The partnership produced wines from purchased fruit, most famously from the Rochioli, Allen, and Hirsch vineyards, through a mailing-list model that built a waiting list of thousands during the 1980s and 1990s. Williams and Selyem sold the winery in 1998 to John Dyson of New York, and current winemaker Ulises Valdez — who joined in 2012 — has maintained the single-vineyard focus with expanded sources in the Sonoma Coast and Anderson Valley. The auction market reflects both the historical significance of original Williams and Selyem vintages and ongoing demand for current releases: 2,025 lots at a $70 average with prices to $605. The Allen Vineyard Chardonnay leads at $90 across 86 lots; Rochioli Riverblock Pinot Noir averages $96 across 77 lots; Olivet Lane Pinot Noir commands $99 across 52 lots. Ferrington Vineyard Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley averages $69 across 72 lots. Original Williams-Selyem bottles from the 1980s–1990s attract collector premiums for their historical novelty and, in good storage, impressive aged expression — key indicators of the Russian River Valley's aging potential. The 2008 vintage is the most actively traded across the portfolio.