Domaine de la Rivière Wines, Explained: Every Pinot Noir, Chardonnay & Rosé

Domaine de la Rivière, a family winery in the Russian River Valley, makes nine wines: Shoshana Rosé of Pinot Noir; Next Door Neighbor, Flora Marie and Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay; and Middle Reach, Two Forces, Heritage Block, Red Barn Block and El Diablo Pinot Noir. For a crisp, mineral white choose Ritchie; for a fuller one, Flora Marie; for a gift, Two Forces; for the cellar, Heritage Block; for summer, Shoshana.

Below: every current Domaine de la Rivière wine at a glance, then the Chardonnays, the Pinot Noirs and the Rosé in turn, with the questions people most often ask — which Chardonnay is least oaky, which Pinot Noir ages longest, and what to bring to a gift, Thanksgiving or a dinner party.

Which Domaine de la Rivière wine should you choose?

Domaine de la Rivière makes three styles of wine, all from the Russian River Valley. The three Chardonnays run from clean and Burgundian (Next Door Neighbor) to mineral and high-acid (Ritchie) to full and rich (Flora Marie). The five Pinot Noirs run from silky and perfumed (Heritage Block) to dark and firm (El Diablo). Shoshana is a dry Rosé.

Cellar notes quote the winery's own descriptions or a Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selection; a dash means no drinking window has been published. Scores are tied to the vintage named — the vintage for sale may be newer.

What do Domaine de la Rivière's Chardonnays taste like?

Domaine de la Rivière makes three single-vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnays, all barrel-fermented. Next Door Neighbor is round, bright and clean, with golden apple and pear. Ritchie Vineyard is layered and mineral, with Meyer lemon, river rock and the highest acidity of the three. Flora Marie is the fullest, with spiced pear, honeysuckle and brioche.

For a clean, Burgundian whiteNext Door Neighbor Chardonnay2021: 93 points and an Editor's Choice, Wine Enthusiast; Gold, San Francisco Chronicle.2021 · $65

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For a mineral, high-acid whiteRitchie Vineyard Chardonnay2022: 96 points, The Tasting Panel; 95 points and an Editor's Choice, Wine Enthusiast. 1972 Old Wente vines.2022 · $90

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For a full, rich whiteFlora Marie Vineyard Chardonnay2021: 94 points, Wine Enthusiast and Cristaldi Report; Double Gold, American Fine Wine Competition.2021 · $75

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Next Door Neighbor Chardonnay

Domaine de la Rivière's Next Door Neighbor Chardonnay is a round, welcoming Russian River Valley Chardonnay of golden apple, ripe pear, stone fruit and lemon zest, with a touch of toasted brioche and marzipan and a clean, citrus-bright finish. It is made mostly from Old Wente-clone fruit from Lone Oak Vineyard, fermented with native yeast in barrel (about 37% new French oak in 2022), and the winery describes its intent as "clean, crisp, Burgundian." The 2021 earned 93 points and an Editor's Choice from Wine Enthusiast and a Gold at the San Francisco Chronicle.

Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay

Domaine de la Rivière's Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay comes from Ritchie Vineyard, planted in 1972 to the Old Wente clone on Goldridge and limestone soils and farmed by Kent Ritchie — one of California's most celebrated old-vine Chardonnay sites. It tastes of Meyer lemon, green apple, lemon curd, orange blossom and toasted hazelnut over a river-rock minerality, with the highest acidity of the estate's three Chardonnays. The 2022 scored 96 points from Tasting Panel and 95 with an Editor's Choice from Wine Enthusiast.

Flora Marie Vineyard Chardonnay

Domaine de la Rivière's Flora Marie Vineyard Chardonnay is the fullest-bodied and most oak-evident of its Chardonnays: Meyer lemon, spiced pear, golden melon, honeysuckle and brioche, with a flinty edge. It comes from Flora Marie Vineyard, planted in 2013 to the Montrachet clone on gravelly sandy loam and farmed by Duff Bevill. The 2021 earned 94 points from Wine Enthusiast and 94 from the Cristaldi Report, and 95 points with a Double Gold at the American Fine Wine Competition.

Which Domaine de la Rivière Chardonnay is not oaky or buttery?

Choose Ritchie Vineyard or Next Door Neighbor. None of Domaine de la Rivière's Chardonnays is unoaked, but Ritchie shows the lightest oak and the most acidity of the three — layered, mineral and citrus-driven. Next Door Neighbor is the winery's deliberately "clean, crisp, Burgundian" style. Flora Marie is the fullest and most oak-evident, for readers who want richness.

All three are barrel-fermented with native yeast, so each shows some oak — brioche, hazelnut, a creamy texture — rather than the oak-and-butter weight of a warm-climate California Chardonnay. The difference is balance. Ritchie's Old Wente fruit and Goldridge-and-limestone soils give a tense, stony wine that Wine Enthusiast described as vibrating with acidity. Next Door Neighbor is rounder but finishes clean and citrus-bright. Flora Marie leans into fruit and texture. If you usually avoid California Chardonnay because it tastes of oak, start with Ritchie.

What does Russian River Valley Pinot Noir from Domaine de la Rivière taste like?

Domaine de la Rivière's Pinot Noirs taste of red and dark cherry, raspberry, black tea and forest floor, with fresh acidity from the fog-cooled Middle Reach of the Russian River Valley. Heritage Block is the lightest and most perfumed, Middle Reach the most savory, Two Forces silky and earthy, Red Barn Block fuller and spiced, and El Diablo the darkest and firmest.

For a giftTwo Forces Pinot Noir2021: 95 points, Wine Enthusiast; Double Gold, American Fine Wine Competition.2021 · $90

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For the cellarHeritage Block Pinot Noir2021: 95 points, Cristaldi Report, No. 66 of its Top 100 Wines of 2025; Gold, San Francisco Chronicle.2021 · $90

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For the dinner tableMiddle Reach Vineyards Pinot Noir2021: 94 points and a Cellar Selection, Wine Enthusiast; Double Gold, San Francisco Chronicle.2021 · $75

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For a fuller PinotRed Barn Block Pinot Noir2021: 98 points, The Tasting Panel; Best of Class, San Francisco Chronicle.2021 · $90

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For a structured redEl Diablo Vineyard Pinot Noir2021: Double Gold and Best of Class, San Francisco Chronicle; 96 points, American Fine Wine Competition.2021 · $110

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Middle Reach Vineyards Pinot Noir

Domaine de la Rivière's Middle Reach Vineyards Pinot Noir draws on several Middle Reach sites, including El Diablo and the estate's Vineyard Eleven. It is savory and concentrated — pomegranate, red cherry, wild strawberry, black tea, forest floor and black truffle — and the winery describes it as built to age. The 2021 was a Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selection at 94 points and took a Double Gold at the San Francisco Chronicle.

Two Forces Pinot Noir

Domaine de la Rivière's Two Forces Pinot Noir is the estate's signature Pinot Noir, blending El Diablo and Vineyard Eleven fruit and named for the fog and sun that shape the Middle Reach. It is silky over fine-grained tannin, with black cherry, cranberry, black tea, licorice, forest floor and black truffle. The 2021 scored 95 points from Wine Enthusiast and took a Double Gold at the American Fine Wine Competition.

Heritage Block Pinot Noir

Domaine de la Rivière's Heritage Block Pinot Noir comes from the oldest plantings of the estate's Vineyard Eleven, Mt. Eden and Swan clones. It is the lightest-bodied and most perfumed of the five — red cherry, raspberry, rose petal, black tea and baking spice, with silky tannin and high acidity — and the winery calls it its most complete Pinot Noir, built for the long cellar. The 2021 scored 95 points from the Cristaldi Report, which ranked it No. 66 of its Top 100 Wines of 2025, and won a Gold at the San Francisco Chronicle.

Red Barn Block Pinot Noir

Domaine de la Rivière's Red Barn Block Pinot Noir comes from the Vineyard Eleven block beside the old red barn. It is fuller and darker than Heritage Block — raspberry, black cherry, rose petal, cinnamon and cedar over wet stone — structured, savory and built for the cellar. The 2021 scored 98 points from Tasting Panel and won Best of Class at the San Francisco Chronicle.

El Diablo Vineyard Pinot Noir

Domaine de la Rivière's El Diablo Vineyard Pinot Noir comes from a steep ridge site planted in 2008 to Pommard and Vosne-Romanée clones and farmed by Ulises Valdez & Sons. It is the darkest and most structured of the five — dark plum, Bing cherry, black tea, clove and forest floor over firm, fine-grained tannin. The 2021 took a Double Gold and Best of Class at the San Francisco Chronicle, and 96 points with a Double Gold at the American Fine Wine Competition.

Which Domaine de la Rivière Pinot Noir is the most age-worthy?

Heritage Block Pinot Noir is the one Domaine de la Rivière describes as built for the long cellar — its most complete Pinot Noir, with high acidity and silky, fine tannin. Red Barn Block is also "built for the cellar," and Middle Reach is "built to age"; its 2021 was a Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selection.

The winery has not published year-by-year drinking windows, so treat these as the family's own guidance rather than a fixed date. For someone building a cellar, a bottle each of Heritage Block and Red Barn Block from the same vintage shows two blocks of one vineyard ageing side by side. Store them on their side, in the dark, at a steady cellar temperature.

Which Domaine de la Rivière wine is best for a gift?

Two Forces Pinot Noir is the natural gift from Domaine de la Rivière: the 2021 scored 95 points from Wine Enthusiast and won a Double Gold at the American Fine Wine Competition. For a Chardonnay lover, Ritchie Vineyard — the 2022 scored 96 points from Tasting Panel and 95 with an Editor's Choice from Wine Enthusiast. For a lighter thank-you, Shoshana Rosé.

A gift lands best when you can say one sentence about it. Two Forces is named for the fog and sun of the Middle Reach; Ritchie comes from vines planted in 1972; Shoshana is named for the family's daughter. Every bottle ships where legal through Vinoshipper, and an adult 21 or older must sign for delivery, so send it to a home or workplace rather than a P.O. box.

Which Domaine de la Rivière Pinot Noir is best for Thanksgiving?

Middle Reach Vineyards Pinot Noir or Heritage Block Pinot Noir. Middle Reach is savory and red-fruited — its listed pairings are duck, mushroom risotto and grilled salmon — and suits a long, mixed Thanksgiving table. Heritage Block is the lightest and most perfumed, and lists herb-roast chicken among its pairings. Both keep turkey, stuffing and cranberry in balance.

Pinot Noir is the classic Thanksgiving red because its acidity and moderate tannin work with lean poultry, herbs and tart sides without overpowering them. Save El Diablo, the firmest of the five, for a meal built around lamb or game. For a white on the same table, Next Door Neighbor Chardonnay lists roast chicken and creamy dishes among its pairings.

Which wine should I choose for a dinner party?

Pour Domaine de la Rivière's Shoshana Rosé as guests arrive, Next Door Neighbor Chardonnay with the first course, and Middle Reach Vineyards Pinot Noir with the main. That covers a full table from one producer: a dry, saline Rosé for oysters or goat cheese, a round Chardonnay for crab or pasta, and a savory Pinot Noir for duck or mushroom risotto.

• Seafood or shellfish main: Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay (oysters, halibut, lobster).
• Roast chicken or creamy pasta: Next Door Neighbor or Flora Marie Chardonnay.
• Duck, salmon or mushroom dishes: Middle Reach, Two Forces or Heritage Block Pinot Noir.
• Lamb, beef or game: El Diablo Vineyard Pinot Noir.

What is Domaine de la Rivière's Shoshana Rosé like?

Shoshana Rosé of Pinot Noir is Domaine de la Rivière's dry, pale-copper Rosé, whole-cluster pressed from estate Pinot Noir and never oaked. It tastes of watermelon, wild strawberry, ruby grapefruit and rose petal, crisp and saline with a long mineral finish. It is made in a run of about 100 cases and named for the Bedrosians' daughter.

For summer and seafoodShoshana Rosé of Pinot NoirDry and saline, about 100 cases; the 2024 scored 93 points from Tasting Panel.2025 · $40

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Shoshana is the lightest wine in the lineup, around 12.5% alcohol in the current vintage, with very high acidity — which makes it an easy match for oysters, shellfish, goat cheese and grilled salmon. The 2020 was Best of Show at the Tournament of Rosé at the NOLA Food & Wine Experience, the 2024 scored 93 points from Tasting Panel, and the 2023 won a Double Gold at the American Fine Wine Competition with 94 points.

Where are Domaine de la Rivière's wines grown and how are they made?

Every Domaine de la Rivière wine comes from the Middle Reach of the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County — a narrow corridor along the river between southern Healdsburg and Forestville, with a daily rhythm of fog and sun. The estate's 11-acre Vineyard Eleven grows its estate Pinot Noir; Ritchie, Flora Marie, Lone Oak and El Diablo are partner sites.

Winemaker Kale Anderson ferments with native yeast and uses a restrained share of new French oak — around 35% — with a nod to Burgundy; the Rosé is whole-cluster pressed. Proprietors Marla and Geoff Bedrosian bought the vineyard in 2011, sold fruit to respected producers while they replanted it, and made their first wine from the 2017 harvest. Vineyard Eleven was planted in 2016 and 2018 to four Pinot Noir clones: Swan, Mt. Eden, Pommard and Vosne-Romanée.

How can you get Domaine de la Rivière wines every season?

Through Les Clubs, Domaine de la Rivière's membership. Friends de la Rivière sends a half-case — three Chardonnay, three Pinot Noir — and Concierge de la Rivière a full case, six and six, every March and October. There is no membership fee, members save 10% or 15%, and any bottle can be swapped for a current wine.