THE FIRST SINGLE VINEYARD
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
It all started in 1973, when Davis Bynum first released his small lot of single vineyard Pinot Noir from the famed Rochioli vineyard in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley. At that time, Pinot Noir was a relative stranger to the region, but the fickle grapes thrived in the unique terroir and became the first single vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ever created. Davis was instrumental in bringing prestige to Russian River Valley and putting it on the map for generations to come.
In 2007, when it was time for Bynum to sell the winery, he hand-picked his successor with the same care and attention as he used when choosing his grapes. He selected Tom Klein and the Klein family, fourth-generation California farmers who shared the same values and principles he built his own reputation on.
Born from a passion for hard work and testing limits, a love of place—Russian River Valley—and enthusiasm for all things wine, Davis Bynum wines are a living legacy to their namesake—a true pioneer and champion of the Russian River Valley.
Drawing on more than 50 years of experience capturing the essence of the Russian River Valley, we craft award-winning Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from River West Vineyard that tell the story of the land we love.
Greg Morthole, Winemaker
Greg Morthole started working for Rodney Strong Vineyards in 2005, when he accepted a job as lab director. His acumen for winemaking became immediately clear and he quickly ascended to associate winemaker in late 2007. In the spring of 2010, Greg was promoted to Davis Bynum Winemaker, overseeing all aspects operations and winemaking. Morthole first met Davis Bynum in the fall of 2010 and their relationship became a real friendship with regular lunch dates where they talked about a wide range of topics and swapping stories. “Davis was always a gentleman and we grew to have a great relationship. He was a pioneer of Russian River Valley in the truest sense and what he did opened doors and paved the way for future generations of winemakers.”
Today the winery remains in the capable hands of proprietor Tom Klein who, along with winemaker Greg Morthole, honor the expertise and shared innovative winemaking spirit with founder, friend and mentor Davis Bynum.
Humbled and proud to be carrying on the Davis Bynum legacy, Greg is committed to staying true to Bynum’s philosophy. Through bold innovation in the vineyard and the cellar, his deft guidance keeps the winery moving forward, while never losing touch with the past. Asked to describe his approach to winemaking, Greg responds, “Mostly low impact, with the thinking that 98% of the work is done in the vineyard and at fermentation,” a true embodiment of our philosophy to Let The Land Speak.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
This passion for the land is at the core of winemaker Greg Morthole’s “Let the Land Speak” approach to winemaking. His intentionality and imagination continue the quality-driven approach of Davis Bynum and the commitment to the pursuit of excellence, quality, and consistency in all that we do. We believe great wine comes from great grapes and together we invite you to share our passion for letting the land speak.
SUSTAINABILITY
The guiding principle behind Davis Bynum wines has always been, and will forever be, to let the land speak. We determined long ago that our wines should be shaped by the land from which they come and it is our responsibility to safeguard Sonoma County’s ecosystem. We do this in many ways including, but not limited to, selecting the right vines for the vineyard. We carefully select cover crop that supports healthy soil structure. We monitor soil moisture and vine growth to determine irrigation cycles that allow us to water less and supplement with recycled water. We recognize that a healthy wildlife habitat in and around our vineyards is integral to the longevity of the region’s ecosystem and we consider it an honor to protect and support that.
Each of our wines proudly bear the Sonoma County sustainably farmed grapes seal, a rigorous certification process that takes place each vintage. Many of our wines are vegan friendly, using no animal-derived products in the winemaking process. Finding a balance in sustainability, innovation and producing the best of what this land gives us is at the core of who we are.
