Kistler Vineyards | Trenton Roadhouse

“If your idea of a rough afternoon involves being forced to sit under a picturesque trellis with sweeping breezes keeping you perfectly refreshed, Kistler Vineyards-Trenton Roadhouse Tastings by Appointment is going to be an absolute ordeal for you. The views are unapologetically amazing, and the airflow is efficient enough to keep the tasting civilized, no matter how long your glasses have been sitting out in the California sun. We embarked on the Seven Single Vineyard tasting, which is essentially an exercise in over-analyzing white grapes. The 2023 Stock Ranch Chardonnay was easily the most balanced of the lineup. Moving through the flights, the 2021 Stone Flat was noticeably light, while the 2022 McCrea took a sharp turn into clean, tropical territory. The real plot twist was the 2023 Hyde Vineyard, which came across as surprisingly smoky—perfect if you like a little campfire drama in your stemware. However, the undisputed crowd favorite was the 2015 Vine Hill Vineyard. Naturally, because it’s spectacular and proves just how beautifully these vintages can age, it’s strictly not for sale. Outstanding marketing strategy, really. Whatever you do, do not skip out on the snacks. The Liptauer paprika cheese and sprouted chickpea hummus hold their own, but the real engineering marvel here is the house-made crackers. They’re crafted using the Chardonnay by-product, meaning you can efficiently consume the wine while simultaneously eating its leftovers.”

“The finest wine tasting experience in all of Sonoma County. We were greeted by Camille, a charming and knowledgeable woman with family roots from both Russian River Valley and Dijon, France. We saw soil samples from the different properties and learned how that variable influenced the various single-clone Chardonnays produced at this world-class estate.”

“Day 1 was travel and getting off the plane to head right to @kistlervineyards The grounds are amazing and gated making you feel even more special. Their wines are Chardonnays and Pinot Noir. The chardonnays range from clean, crisp to buttery. My favorite was the 2014 Trenton Roadhouse. The 2016 Laguna Ridge Pinot Noir is full bodied and in your face which was different and welcomed.”

“A first class experience that is detailed, personal and authentic. We are huge fans of the wines so this felt like meeting a celebrity, but it truly is a unique experience around this area. Rosemary was our host and was an amazing guide with her knowledge of the estate and wines, as well as, a great conversationalist to some winos. From working with Katie to set up our reservation to the time we left the hospitality was amazing! Very generous and fun! Can't thank you enough! Well worth the money! Do yourself a favor and fill out the tock questionnaire associated with your reservation and enjoy! UPDATE: We went again…still amazing! UPDATE 5/21: We went again, even more amazing! Matt took us through an afternoon of great wine and entertainment! Such a special place!!!”

“Kistler Chardonnay is one of my favorite white wine for years! Love to have a vineyard visit to understand the manufacturing progress. Friendly staff to explain well to let us try different white coming from the grapes in different fields! What an enjoyable wine tasting & fantastic environment! Gorgeous!”