2011 Pinot Noir Occidental Station Cuvée Catherine

Occidental is Steve Kistler's new Pinot Noir project, which is starting essentially as a spin-out from Kistler Vineyards. Steve Kistler remains CEO of Kistler Vineyards and very much in charge of day to day operations. At the same time, Kistler understandably wanted to manage a small project of his own with an eye towards his two younger daughters who will one day run Occidental. For the moment, the Occidental range is composed of two Pinots; the Pinot Noir Occidental Station Cuvée Catherine and Pinot Noir Bodega Headlands Cuvée Elizabeth, which are the same wines that were sold under the Kistler label through the 2010 vintage. Kistler is building a new winery in Bodega, where 20 acres of Pinot are planted and another 60 are in development. The Occidental Pinots will be marketed through the Kistler mailing list for the next 2-3 years, after which Occidental will become its own free-standing, independent winery. The focus will continue to be solely on Pinot Noir.