Kistler Vineyards

Kistler Winery defines itself as a ‘single clone Chardonnay house’. This definition is testament to the goal that set the project’s foundation: making focused, site-specific, and single-clone wines. When Steve Kistler and Mark Bixler founded Kistler in 1978, this approach was far from obvious; their pioneering, visionary philosophy would eventually influence a whole generation of Californian winemakers, newly attuned to the local potential for Burgundian-style grapes and wines. Their steadfast commitment to this singular approach has not only shaped their own success but has also helped establish California as a world-class region for Burgundian varieties.

The vineyards owned and farmed by Kistler stretch from western Sonoma County to just north of the San Francisco Bay – fifteen vineyards planted to one heritage Californian selection of Chardonnay. From these, eleven vineyard designate Chardonnays are produced, including the acclaimed Kistler McCrea Vineyard, Kistler Hudson Vineyard, and Kistler Vine Hill Vineyard offerings. Each vineyard site has been carefully chosen for its unique terroir characteristics, allowing Kistler to craft wines that truly express their place of origin.

Kistler has been working with the same singular clone of Chardonnay since the mid-1980s. The parent material was imported from Burgundy in the early 20th century and subsequently selected for and by Californian farmers and winemakers over decades of meticulous observation and experimentation. Through this rigorous process, the plants most suited to the local growing conditions were identified and cultivated. Further selection was conducted at Kistler, honing in on the characters the team finds most compelling and have shaped the house’s style: low yields, small berries, fruit with amazing flavor concentration, and a distinct ability to retain natural acidity while ripening fully. This careful clone selection and cultivation process has been instrumental in creating wines that combine the best attributes of both their Burgundian heritage and their California terroir, resulting in Chardonnays that are both powerful and elegant, rich yet balanced.

The meticulous understanding of the vineyards and plants is further elevated in the cellar, where the winemaking process adheres to strict traditional methods. The wines are fermented exclusively with indigenous yeasts at carefully controlled cool temperatures, ensuring optimal flavor development while maintaining the grape’s natural characteristics. Minimal intervention in fruit handling preserves the pure expression of each vineyard’s terroir. All Chardonnay productions, including the highly sought-after Kistler Les Noisetiers, undergo barrel fermentation in Kistler’s state-of-the-art subterranean barrel rooms. These temperature-controlled chambers house only custom-crafted French oak barrels from the prestigious St. Romain cooperage, selected specifically for their ability to enhance the wine’s complexity without overwhelming its natural character. This unwavering attention to detail forms the foundation for wines of remarkable intensity, distinguished by their pronounced mineral backbone, impeccable natural balance, and sophisticated elegance.

This same philosophy of precision and care has been successfully applied to Kistler’s Pinot Noir program, which features two carefully selected heritage clones of Burgundian origin. These exceptional varieties are handled with extraordinary precision, receiving the same meticulous attention as their Chardonnay counterparts. The Kistler Pinot Noir portfolio, particularly those sourced from the distinguished Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast regions, has consistently earned outstanding critical acclaim and impressive ratings from leading wine authorities.

Although Steven Kistler stepped away from his visionary project in 2017, he ensured a strong foundation for the winery’s future success. A significant milestone occurred in 2008 when Bill Price, the longtime proprietor of the renowned Durell Vineyards, acquired a strategic interest in Kistler Vineyards. That same year, Jason Kesner joined the cellar team, working alongside Steve to ensure a seamless transition of the winemaking program and maintain the exceptional standards that had become synonymous with the Kistler name.

In the present day, Kistler maintains its position as a premier producer of terroir-driven wines, each bottle showcasing the distinctive characteristics of their exceptional vineyard sites. The Kistler Hyde Vineyard, renowned for its unique Gold Ridge soils, and the Kistler Stone Flat Vineyard continue to produce wines that eloquently express their specific terroir. The winery’s unwavering dedication to quality is evident across their entire portfolio, from the pristine and refined Kistler Sonoma Coast Chardonnay to the complex and layered Kistler Trenton Roadhouse Pinot Noir.

Wine connoisseurs eager to explore these extraordinary California Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs can participate in exclusive Kistler wine tasting experiences. These carefully curated events provide an unparalleled opportunity to sample wines from various distinguished vineyard sites, including the exceptional Kistler Laguna Ridge Vineyard and the prestigious Kistler Dutton Ranch, offering insights into the subtle nuances that make each vineyard designation unique.