Winemaker Interview Series – Marla & Geoff Bedrosian and Kale Anderson of Domaine de la Riviere – October 2025

On Wednesday, October 21, 2025, we had the opportunity to interview Geoff Bedrosian and Kale Anderson. Geoff and Marla Bedrosian are the owners of Domaine de la Riviere and Kale is their Winemaker. On the white side, we covered three 2021 Chardonnays. On the red side, we covered three 2021 and three 2022 Pinot Noirs. In this post you will learn more about Geoff, Marla, Kale, Domaine de la Riviere, and all of these terrific wines.

Before we get to the wines, I thought I would share some tidbits Geoff and Kale shared.

• Geoff and Marla are originally from New York. They worked in New York for 25 years. Both worked in client facing jobs and they did a lot of entertaining of clients.
  • Marla worked at the Fairmont in New York.
  • Geoff worked for Deutsche Bank in real estate. He was a people connector.
• Their wine journey started with an inexpensive Chenin Blanc while skiing in the Berkshires.
• In 2001 one of Geoff’s clients bought the Sonoma Mission Inn.
  • For 9-10 years they visited and were based out of this location for wine exploration.
• In 2010, they wanted a summer home. So, they bought a 22-acre ranch. It also has 11 acres already planted to Pinot Noir.
  • It was a couple years before they actually built their home.
  • They had contracts Paul Hobbs, Kosta Browne, Gary Farrell, and Dave Phinney’s (Pinot Program)
  • The problem was the vineyard had red blotch and needed to be replanted.
  • In 2016 they planted 3 acres, now called “Heritage Block.” It came online in 2019.
  • In 2018 they planted 8 acres, now called “Red Barn Block.” It came online in 2021.
  • They hand planted over 15,000 plants.
• 2017 was their first vintage. They made 700 cases.
  • They wanted to make wines in a Burgundian style.
• They wanted all their wines to originate from the Middle Reach area of the Russian River Valley.
• They had to contract fruit during the replant. Their two sources were the Star Ridge Vineyard which was a Gary Farrell Estate Vineyard and the other was El Diablo Vineyard.
• Who are some of the other Wineries and Vineyards in the Middle Reach?
  • Rochioli
  • Williams Selyem
  • Gary Farrell
  • Arista
  • Joseph Swan
  • Bacigalupi
  • Ritchie Vineyard
  • Flora Marie Vineyard
  • El Diablo
• Currently they make 1,200 cases and feel that it is their ideal size.
  • In 2024 and going forward all of their Pinot Noir will be “Estate” fruit.
    • They sell a small portion of their grapes to Kale’s clients.
  • All the Chardonnay is still contracted.
• Walsh Vineyard Management (Matt Rielly) manages all of their vineyards for them.
• All the Domaine de la Riviere wines are made at Grand Cru Custom Crush.
• Kale Anderson has been working with Domaine de la Riviere since 2017
  • Kale meet Marla and Geoff in 2011 at a barbecue.
  • They chatted back and forth for a month and then he asked if he could make their wine.
  • In 2016 he was at Pahlmeyer.
  • Kale has his own brand and also consults for about 10-12 other clients.
    • One of those clients is VGS. He works very closely with their winemaker Eric Stauffer.
  • Kale, Geoff, and Duff (Son) blend the wines. Duff has a good palate.
  • The Chardonnays
    • Richie Vineyard. They get the original Old Wente fruit. It comes from wide rows and calcareous soils.
    • Next Door Neighbor is literally next door. The vineyard is the Lone Oak Vineyard. It is owned by the Rosenblum family.
    • Flora Maria Vineyard – was ended in 2023. They added Bacigalupi in 2024 to replace it.
  • The Pinot Noirs
    • The 2022 Middle Reach is 1/3 El Diablo and 2/3 Estate fruit.
    • Two Forces is Geoff’s two favorite clones. Pommard and Swan. The 2022 is 70% Pommard and 30% Swan.
    • Heritage Black is mainly Mt. Eden with some Swan.
    • Red Barn – 2021 was the first vintage from this block.
  • If you want to learn even more about Domaine de la Riviere, check out the Life Between the Vines podcast with Ray Fister from June of 2025 for even more details.

Below is a summary of the wine offerings from Domaine de la Riviere that we covered with Geoff and Kale. The links below are to our full reviews. If you are interested in ordering and trying these wines, you will find some of these wines via your favorite fine wine shop or on top quality wines lists. You can also purchase these wines on the Domaine de la Riviere website.

1. Domaine de la Riviere 2021 Chardonnay “Ritchie Vineyard” $85 (KWGTP 93)
2. Domaine de la Riviere 2021 Chardonnay “Flora Marie Vineyard” $75 (KWGTP 94)
3. Domaine de la Riviere 2021 Chardonnay “Next Door Neighbor” $65 (KWGTP 93.5)
4. Domaine de la Riviere 2022 Pinot Noir “Middle Reach Vineyard” $78 (KWGTP 93)
5. Domaine de la Riviere 2022 Pinot Noir “Two Forces Vineyard Eleven” $90 (KWGTP 94)
6. Domaine de la Riviere 2021 Pinot Noir “Two Forces” $90 (KWGTP 93)
7. Domaine de la Riviere 2022 Pinot Noir “Heritage Block Vineyard Eleven” $95 (KWGTP 95.5)
8. Domaine de la Riviere 2021 Pinot Noir “Heritage Block Vineyard Eleven” $90 (KWGTP 94)
9. Domaine de la Riviere 2021 Pinot Noir “Red Barn Block” $90 (KWGTP 91.5)

Other Domaine de la Riviere Wines That We Covered In Others Tastings

10) Domaine de la Riviere 2022 Chardonnay “Next Door Neighbor” $68 (KWGTP 94)
11) Domaine de la Riviere 2022 Chardonnay “Flora Marie Vineyard” $78 (KWGTP 91)

You can find reviews of past and future Domaine de la Riviere wines that we cover on the Domaine de la Riviere KWG winery page on our website. We hope you enjoy these terrific wines as much as we did. Cheers! – Ken