A few yers ago, I offered a live auction lot in the Central Coast Wine Classic featuring a dinner for 10 at the San Ysidro Ranch restaurant, The Stonehouse, along with 10 wines from Williams Selyem from 1988-1997 vintages. This included the rare appearance of Burt Williams as well. It sold for a bundle= $16,000.
In the auction catalogue, some of the achievements of Williams Selyem were listed. After posting the thread on which CA winery was the first to put out a mailing list {Stony Hill}, I thought it appropriate to share this list. A couple are debatable and one in particular related to the mailing list has been further updated in that thread. Perhaps there are some others that can be attributed to other wineries and board members can chime in with corrections:
"The following are among the important legacies of Burt Williams, his partner Ed Selyem, and Williams Selyem winery.
- One of California’s ultimate cult wineries and the first for Pinot Noir.
- California’s first $100 Pinot Noir.
- First California Pinot Noir to be exported to Burgundy and offered on restaurant lists in Burgundy.
- First winery to bring consumer’s attention to a sense of place reflected by specific vineyards such as Rochioli, Allen, Olivet Lane, and Summa.
- First vineyard designates from Allen Vineyard, Summa Vineyard, Precious Mountain Vineyard, Cohn Vineyard and Olivet Lane Vineyard.
- Emphasized that vineyard designated Pinot Noir should only be offered when the vineyard warrants it.
- Turned the consumer’s attention to growers and their vital importance in fine wine production. Also set the stage for vintners and growers to work together.
- Fostered the winemaking approach now widely followed by Pinot Noir producers including hand sorting of grapes, punch downs, and no pumping in the winery.
- Brought to consumer’s attention the importance of choosing carefully the type of French oak used for aging Pinot Noir
- Developed a proprietary yeast that is now in wide use in Pinot Noir winemaking.
- Brought worldwide recognition to the Russian River Valley and its wines, particularly Pinot Noir.
- Originated the mailing list (and waiting list) model for selling wine directly to consumers.
- Among the first California Pinot Noir producers to offer wines in magnum format for most bottlings.
- Demonstrated that intuition through experience is invaluable in crafting Pinot Noir.
- Most importantly, Williams Selyem showed that great wine, and in particular Pinot Noir, can be produced without artifice. Technological methods such as saignée, alcohol adjustment, addition of Rubired extract, or other products to change color, flavor, acid, tannin and mouth feel, are simply not required nor desired. Technology and expensive equipment can be useful winemaking adjuncts but are not requirements for fine wine production."
