Kistler’s Darker Side

Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ups the ante at the house that Chardonnay built

Jason Kesner in the barrel room of Kistler in Sonoma, California
Jason Kesner, with Kistler since 2008 and head winemaker for over a decade, leads a team of more than 50 employees whose emphasis on hard work in the vineyards ensures great fruit in the cellar. (Alina Tyulyu)

Senior editor and lead taster for California Pinot Noir, James Molesworth, went to Kistler to investigate its 2021 Russian River Valley cuvées. With Pinot as a new frontier for this Sonoma house, known for Chardonnay, winemaker Jason Kesner walks Molesworth through the recent releases and current strategies for sustainability and growth at Kistler. Read the feature here!

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