Domaine Faiveley Acquires Majority Stake in Iconic Sonoma Winery Williams Selyem

Four years after investing in the icon of California Pinot Noir, Erwan Faiveley has purchased a majority stake

One of the prominent figures in Burgundy has secured a major share in a renowned California Pinot Noir winery. Four years post investing as a minor stakeholder, Domaine Faiveley has escalated to a majority ownership in Williams Selyem, a distinguished winery established by Burt Williams and Ed Selyem in 1979, located in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley. This deal encompasses the brand, existing inventory, the winery facility, and over 135 acres of vineyards. The winery produces approximately 30,000 cases annually. Details of the transaction cost were not revealed.

Former majority owners John and Kathe Dyson will maintain a minor ownership share, with John continuing as the CEO for at least the next three years. Director of Winemaking Jeff Mangahas along with the existing winery staff, will continue in their current roles.

“We’re not going to change anything,” said Erwan Faiveley, currently co-owner of Domaine Faiveley, during an interview with Wine Spectator. He praised the existing team and location and expressed his admiration for the winery’s style of wines.

Williams Selyem’s inaugural batch was crafted in a garage in Fulton, Calif., back in 1981, amid skepticism about California’s potential for Pinot Noir. Founders Burt Williams and Ed Selyem quickly made Williams Selyem a trailblazing name in California’s wine circles, especially with their exclusive, direct-to-consumer mailing list that garnered a high demand for their wines.

The founders sold the winery in 1998 due to its expanded size. The Dysons, already experienced in winery management with holdings such as Millbrook Winery in upstate New York and Villa Pillo in Tuscany, helped the brand grow further. They expanded the vineyard holdings to 135 acres and transformed the winemaking facilities from basic to advanced, including establishing their own vine propagation nursery at the Vista Verde estate.

The Faiveley family, now in its seventh generation led by Erwan and Eve Faiveley, commands a significant presence in the Burgundy region since its establishment in 1825 by Pierre Faiveley, possessing 331 acres including valuable grand cru and premier cru plots.

Erwan Faiveley has stated their satisfactory domain size in Burgundy prompted them to consider expansion to the American market about 15 years ago. The friendship between François Faiveley, Erwan’s father, and Dyson, played a role in this business move. Since their investment in 2020, Domaine Faiveley has increased production, now offering 24 different varieties of Pinot Noir, totaling 24,000 cases annually, alongside Chardonnay and Zinfandel.

“Kathe and I have been seeking the ideal successor for our family,” Dyson commented. “Over the years, we’ve upheld and enhanced the winemaking heritage initiated by Burl Williams and Ed Selyem. We’ve rejected numerous proposals from parties that didn’t align with our passion and vision. In the Faiveley family, we’ve identified partners who are equally committed for the long haul and whose philosophy in crafting exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines mirrors ours.”

—Reported by James Molesworth

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