Kistler
Kistler Vineyards is a family-owned, single-minded estate dedicated to producing world-class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the cool-climate vineyards of Sonoma County. Founded in 1978, Kistler is revered for its terroir-focused winemaking and Burgundian ethos.
History of Kistler
Founded by Steve Kistler in 1978, Kistler Vineyards quickly established itself as a benchmark producer of Chardonnay in the United States. The original vision was inspired by the great domaines of Burgundy, emphasizing low yields, meticulous viticulture, and minimal intervention winemaking. Initially producing only Chardonnay, Kistler later expanded to include Pinot Noir, following the same precise philosophy.
The estate remained a small, family-run business with limited production and a strong allocation-based distribution model, which helped build its cult reputation. In 2008, winemaker Jason Kesner joined the team, bringing with him a deep understanding of vineyard management. He became president and winemaker in 2017, continuing the estate's tradition while modernizing certain aspects, particularly in refining site expression and achieving even greater purity and balance.
Kistler today sources fruit from a range of exceptional sites across the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley, including some estate-owned and others under long-term lease and meticulous control. The producer is known for its deep commitment to single-vineyard bottlings, each expressing a distinct terroir while maintaining a common thread of elegance and restraint.
Region and Vineyards
Kistler farms vineyards exclusively in Sonoma County, primarily within the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley AVAs, regions celebrated for their cool-climate conditions ideal for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Morning fog, cool maritime breezes, and varied soils—ranging from sandy loam to volcanic ash and red Sebastopol series soils—enable a slow, even ripening that enhances complexity and structure in the wines.
A hallmark of Kistler's viticulture is their use of heritage clone selections, particularly their own proprietary selections refined over decades. Vineyards are managed to low yields (often under 2.5 tons per acre), with intensive canopy management and hand-harvesting done exclusively at night. Sites like Laguna Ridge and Occidental express unique geological and climatic profiles, captured through Kistler’s precision farming and clonal adaptation.
Wine Range of Kistler
Kistler produces a focused range of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with a strong emphasis on single-vineyard expressions. Notable bottlings include the Kistler Vineyard Chardonnay, Les Noisetiers Chardonnay, Durell Vineyard Chardonnay, Cuvée Cathleen, and Kistler Vineyard Pinot Noir, each reflecting a unique terroir. The wines are known for their balance of intensity, elegance, and minerality, with aging potential and a Burgundian sensibility rarely matched in California.
The estate also produces a Russian River Valley Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which blend fruit from various vineyard sites to offer a broader expression of the region while maintaining Kistler’s exacting standards.
Did you know?
Kistler's house style is so distinct and consistent that its Chardonnays have often been compared to Meursault or Puligny-Montrachet in blind tastings—even by Burgundian producers themselves. The estate ferments all its Chardonnay in barrel using only native yeasts and avoids malolactic adjustment or enzyme use, capturing a vivid expression of site and vintage.
