Sebastopol, Calif.—Steve Kistler, and managing partner, Bill Price, of Kistler Vineyards announced Kistler is stepping down as chief executive officer and director of winemaking after 39 years of managing the winery he founded in 1978.  Kistler will instead focus on winemaking at his family’s Occidental brand, crafting site specific Pinot Noir with his daughters Catherine and Elizabeth. 

“Steve and I have been working together since I purchased Durell Vineyard in 1997, and will continue to do so in the future,” said Bill Price in the statement announcing the transistion. “When I led a group of investors that eventually purchased a majority stake in Kistler in 2008, Steve and I planned out an orderly succession plan and brought in Jason Kesner, nine years ago to begin an Old-World style apprenticeship at Steve's side.”