Stéphane Vivier grew up in the village of Meloisey, located on a small hill just behind Volnay in Burgundy. After receiving his enology degree at Université de Bourgogne, Stéphane left Burgundy to work in vineyards in Switzerland, New Zealand, and the United States. Stéphane was immediately captivated by California's Sonoma Coast. In 2002, he accepted a winemaker position at Hyde de Villaine, where he met his wife and partner, Dana Sexton, a UC Davis graduate with a shared passion for low-intervention winemaking, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Stéphane and Dana founded Vivier Wines in 2009, a family owned and operated project where their two children can regularly be found helping out in the vineyards. According to Stéphane, the best winemakers "keep their hands to themselves and let nature do what it does best."

Gap’s Crown Vineyard, tucked on the western hillside of Sonoma Mountain, is fanned by the cool ocean breezes that push through the Petaluma Gap. The Vivier Gap's Crown Pinot Noir shows a light garnet color in the glass. Aromas of spice, violet and fresh red fruits intermingled with a savory mineral note plume from the glass. On the palate, the wine is racy and elegant, yet shows great density and concentration of flavor with svelte tannins and invigorating acidity. Flavors of raspberries, rose petals, spice and rocks cascade across the palate and flow into a complex finish. Enjoy with duck confit or roasted lamb.