Russell Bevan has been involved in the wine industry since 1987 when he started working for the Gallo Winery as a work study student in college. From his meager beginnings, setting up displays of Carlo Rossi and Andre Champagne, Russell followed his passion and began writing about wine as a freelance writer which eventually led to a syndicated wine column and articles in the Wine Spectator.

In 2004, after moving into a home on Sonoma Mountain with several plantable acres of grapes, Russell decided that he should put all of the hours he had spent in wineries to use and make wine for himself. The results were so encouraging, 93 point scores from both Robert Parker and Wine Spectator. He then decided to plant his own vineyard and his relationship with Glenn Alexander and Sanglier Cellars began.

The partnership between Sanglier and Russell was a natural one. Russell wanted to work with a variety of special vineyards and Sanglier wanted to make a collection of wines ranging from vineyard designates to county blends so a natural partnership was formed.