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Wine Spectator's Straight Talk - 28: Growing Up Kistler … And Coming Home to Occidental

28: Growing Up Kistler … And Coming Home to Occidental

03/31/25 • 25 min

Wine Spectator's Straight Talk

Occidental winemaker Catherine Kistler grew up with an in-house wine legend: California Chardonnay icon, and also her dad, Steve. But Catherine came home to make Pinot Noir in 2017, and they landed at No. 2 on Wine Spectator’s 2023 Top 10 Wines of the Year.

“In California we’re always self-conscious of being young compared to the Old World,” she tells host James Molesworth. “And to have the opportunity to work with 25-year-old vines now, I’m absolutely excited about it. Are we seeing changes as the vineyard matures? Of course, the answer is ‘Yes.’”.


Wine Spectator senior editor for news Mitch Frank joins the program as well, for a chat about the latest wine and health news, what proposed tariffs on wine could mean for consumers, and more.


And don't forget, there's always more free content at WineSpectator.com!

2025 Wine Spectator Grand Tour Tickets & Info

Occidental: Steve Kistler's Final Frontier

Opinion: Surgeon General Opts for Simple Slogans Over Solid Science

Wine Caught in Trade War Crossfire

Opinion: Fear and Tariffs

Wine Spectator's James Laube: 1951–2025

Health News: Wine Does Not Raise Risks for Healthy Older Adults

California Pinot Noir Tasting Report

Latest News and Headlines

Ask Dr. Vinny

Sign up for Wine Spectator's free email newsletters

Subscribe to Wine Spectator


A podcast from Wine Spectator

Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher

Host: James Molesworth

Director: Robert Taylor

Producer: Gabriela Saldivia

Guests: Catherine Kistler, Mitch Frank

Assistant producer, Napa: Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Occidental winemaker Catherine Kistler grew up with an in-house wine legend: California Chardonnay icon, and also her dad, Steve. But Catherine came home to make Pinot Noir in 2017, and they landed at No. 2 on Wine Spectator’s 2023 Top 10 Wines of the Year.

“In California we’re always self-conscious of being young compared to the Old World,” she tells host James Molesworth. “And to have the opportunity to work with 25-year-old vines now, I’m absolutely excited about it. Are we seeing changes as the vineyard matures? Of course, the answer is ‘Yes.’”.


Wine Spectator senior editor for news Mitch Frank joins the program as well, for a chat about the latest wine and health news, what proposed tariffs on wine could mean for consumers, and more.


And don't forget, there's always more free content at WineSpectator.com!

2025 Wine Spectator Grand Tour Tickets & Info

Occidental: Steve Kistler's Final Frontier

Opinion: Surgeon General Opts for Simple Slogans Over Solid Science

Wine Caught in Trade War Crossfire

Opinion: Fear and Tariffs

Wine Spectator's James Laube: 1951–2025

Health News: Wine Does Not Raise Risks for Healthy Older Adults

California Pinot Noir Tasting Report

Latest News and Headlines

Ask Dr. Vinny

Sign up for Wine Spectator's free email newsletters

Subscribe to Wine Spectator


A podcast from Wine Spectator

Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher

Host: James Molesworth

Director: Robert Taylor

Producer: Gabriela Saldivia

Guests: Catherine Kistler, Mitch Frank

Assistant producer, Napa: Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

undefined - 27: Counting Down the Top 10 Wines of 2024

27: Counting Down the Top 10 Wines of 2024

It's our season 2 finale and we're counting down Wine Spectator's Top 10 Wines of 2024!


But before James reveals this year's 10 most exciting wines, including Wine Spectator's 2024 Wine of the Year, we're taking a look at the economic state of the U.S. wine market with longtime industry insider Rocco Lombardo, president of Wilson Daniels, and our very own senior editor for news Mitch Frank.


And don't forget, there's always more free content at WineSpectator.com!

Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of the Year for 2024

Latest News and Headlines

Ask Dr. Vinny

Sign up for Wine Spectator's free email newsletters

Subscribe to Wine Spectator


A podcast from Wine Spectator

Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher

Host: James Molesworth

Director: Robert Taylor

Producers: Gabriela Saldivia, Sam Popkin

Guests: Rocco Lombardo, Mitch Frank

Assistant producer, Napa: Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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