The Art of "Lazy" Winemaking from an Ancient Forest Sanctuary

Two magnums of exceptional Russian River Pinot Noir from Stéphane Vivier, crafted at Tobias Glen Vineyard—more than a vineyard, a unique forest sanctuary in the Russian River Valley AVA. Here, wines for tomorrow are created using soil derived from the movement of an ancient inland sea.

Stéphane believes the best winemaker "largely keeps his hands to himself, allowing the alchemy of nature to do what it does best." His philosophy: "Being a lazy winemaker is all about being patient, letting the place talk, and being gentle with the grapes. Making it simple."

This laissez-faire approach was learned at the feet of an elderly neighbor in Meloisey, Burgundy, whose family had crafted wine for centuries. After studying viticulture and enology at Université de Bourgogne in Dijon, Stéphane explored winemaking in Switzerland, Sonoma, and New Zealand before landing at HDV (Hyde de Villaine) in 2002, where he met Dana, beginning both a personal and professional partnership.

These magnums represent the marriage of Old World wisdom and New World innovation—patient winemaking that lets this ancient forest sanctuary's prehistoric soils speak through elegant, authentic Russian River terroir.