Winery Story

Kistler

Kistler Vineyards was founded in 1978 by Steve Kistler and his friend Mark Bixler, who were committed to the idea that world-class, terroir-expressive Chardonnays could be produced in Sonoma. Their concept was simple yet inspired—plant the same Old Wente Clone Chardonnay selection in sweet-spot locations around the county. Each vineyard was to be vinified separately, using the same techniques, allowing the differences in the sites to shine. Today, the Chardonnays of Kistler Vineyards stand shoulder to shoulder with the greatest examples of this variety in the world.

The Golden Age

The original Kistler Vineyard is located in a small bowl on Sonoma Mountain at an elevation of 1800 feet. Today, these 40-year-old dry-farmed vines grown on iron-rich volcanic soils continue to produce the “Kistler Vineyard” label. In 1998, Kistler first bottled a wine from a single block, planted in the early 1990s, with a soil...