About Davis Bynum Winery
Davis Bynum, a former San Francisco Chronicle journalist, became a true Russian River Valley visionary: in 1973 his winery bought all of the Rochioli family's Pinot Noir and put the vineyard's name on the label, producing the valley's first vineyard-designated Pinot Noir. His winery also became a proving ground for talent, promoting a young Gary Farrell to winemaker in 1978, whose startling Bynum Pinots helped announce the region to the world.
The Bynum legacy is thus woven through Russian River history: Rochioli's own first wines were made at the Bynum facility, and the single-vineyard Pinot concept Bynum pioneered became the valley's calling card. The brand has since changed hands, so verify current tasting arrangements, but its place in Sonoma County's Pinot story is permanent.