Founded in 2002 by Al and Janis McWilliams, who bought the 36-acre Westside Road estate in 2004 and planted it in 2006. Winemaker Matt Courtney joined in 2013 after a decade at Marcassin; sons Mark and Ben now run the business. Native ferment, unfined and unfiltered, in a Japanese-garden setting.
Arista Winery is the Russian River Valley project of the McWilliams family — Texas natives Al and Janis McWilliams founded the winery in 2002 with a singular focus on elegant, site-driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In 2004 they purchased a 36-acre property on Westside Road, situated on the Middle Reach of the Russian River and flanked by two of California's most legendary Pinot Noir estates, Williams Selyem and Rochioli. The vineyard was planted in 2006 in partnership with the late Ulises Valdez, one of Sonoma's most respected viticulturalists. In 2012 Al and Janis transitioned ownership to their sons Mark and Ben McWilliams, who continue to run the operation with their wives.
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir — The appellation flagship in Arista's elegant, small-lot house style.
Harper's Rest Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley — From the Westside Road estate between Williams Selyem and Rochioli.
Ferrington Vineyard Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley — A long-standing single-vineyard bottling from a famed Mendocino site.
U.V. Lucky Well Vineyard Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley — From the Valdez family's prized Westside Road planting.
Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay, Russian River Valley — Old-vine Chardonnay from Kent Ritchie's legendary vineyard.
Winemaker Matt Courtney joined Arista in 2013 after a decade at Helen Turley's Marcassin, bringing a refined, low-intervention sensibility to the estate. Wines are natively fermented, unfined and unfiltered, and sourced from estate vineyards plus a select group of partner growers including Banfield, Ferrington (Anderson Valley), Toboni, and Mononi. Beyond the estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the lineup includes single-vineyard bottlings and the iconic El Diablo Vineyard Chardonnay. The tasting experience is built around a series of Japanese water gardens, mountain and vineyard vistas, and an outdoor pavilion patio. Visits are by reservation only, Monday through Friday at 11 AM and 1:30 PM. Wines are allocated primarily through Arista's A-List mailing list with occasional public releases.
Born in Meridian, Mississippi, and raised in the Bay Area from age ten, Matt Courtney developed his craft under the legendary consulting winemaker Helen Turley, including time at Marcassin. He joined Arista as winemaker in 2013, drawn by the chance to work with the winery's estate vineyards and a hand-picked roster of grand-cru-level Russian River Valley sites such as Ritchie, Kanzler, and Reuling. Under his direction Arista's small-lot, single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay became benchmarks for the appellation, earning consistent critical acclaim. His approach is vineyard-first and low-intervention — vigilant farming, minimal manipulation in cellar and barrel — letting each site speak. He continues to lead winemaking for the McWilliams family's Arista following the 2025 sale of its Westside Road estate.
Brothers Mark and Ben McWilliams are the second generation behind Arista, the Westside Road estate their parents, Al and Janis McWilliams, founded in 2002 between the legendary Williams Selyem and Rochioli vineyards. When Al retired after the 2012 harvest, the brothers took the reins — Mark leading sales, marketing, and grower relations, Ben overseeing the estate and operations — and brought in winemaker Matt Courtney to elevate the small-lot Pinot Noir and Chardonnay program, earning a 2018 Wine Spectator cover. They have steered the family brand for more than a decade as devoted custodians of its grand-cru vineyard sources.
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Russian River Valley Pinot Noir — The appellation flagship in Arista's elegant, small-lot house style.
Harper's Rest Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley — From the Westside Road estate between Williams Selyem and Rochioli.
Ferrington Vineyard Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley — A long-standing single-vineyard bottling from a famed Mendocino site.
U.V. Lucky Well Vineyard Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley — From the Valdez family's prized Westside Road planting.
Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay, Russian River Valley — Old-vine Chardonnay from Kent Ritchie's legendary vineyard.
Arista Winery is the Russian River Valley project of the McWilliams family — Texas natives Al and Janis McWilliams founded the winery in 2002 with a singular focus on elegant, site-driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In 2004 they purchased a 36-acre property on Westside Road, situated on the Middle Reach of the Russian River and flanked by two of California's most legendary Pinot Noir estates, Williams Selyem and Rochioli. The vineyard was planted in 2006 in partnership with the late Ulises Valdez, one of Sonoma's most respected viticulturalists. In 2012 Al and Janis transitioned ownership to their sons Mark and Ben McWilliams, who continue to run the operation with their wives.
Winemaker Matt Courtney joined Arista in 2013 after a decade at Helen Turley's Marcassin, bringing a refined, low-intervention sensibility to the estate. Wines are natively fermented, unfined and unfiltered, and sourced from estate vineyards plus a select group of partner growers including Banfield, Ferrington (Anderson Valley), Toboni, and Mononi. Beyond the estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the lineup includes single-vineyard bottlings and the iconic El Diablo Vineyard Chardonnay. The tasting experience is built around a series of Japanese water gardens, mountain and vineyard vistas, and an outdoor pavilion patio. Visits are by reservation only, Monday through Friday at 11 AM and 1:30 PM. Wines are allocated primarily through Arista's A-List mailing list with occasional public releases.
Born in Meridian, Mississippi, and raised in the Bay Area from age ten, Matt Courtney developed his craft under the legendary consulting winemaker Helen Turley, including time at Marcassin. He joined Arista as winemaker in 2013, drawn by the chance to work with the winery's estate vineyards and a hand-picked roster of grand-cru-level Russian River Valley sites such as Ritchie, Kanzler, and Reuling. Under his direction Arista's small-lot, single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay became benchmarks for the appellation, earning consistent critical acclaim. His approach is vineyard-first and low-intervention — vigilant farming, minimal manipulation in cellar and barrel — letting each site speak. He continues to lead winemaking for the McWilliams family's Arista following the 2025 sale of its Westside Road estate.
Brothers Mark and Ben McWilliams are the second generation behind Arista, the Westside Road estate their parents, Al and Janis McWilliams, founded in 2002 between the legendary Williams Selyem and Rochioli vineyards. When Al retired after the 2012 harvest, the brothers took the reins — Mark leading sales, marketing, and grower relations, Ben overseeing the estate and operations — and brought in winemaker Matt Courtney to elevate the small-lot Pinot Noir and Chardonnay program, earning a 2018 Wine Spectator cover. They have steered the family brand for more than a decade as devoted custodians of its grand-cru vineyard sources.
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