{"id":2876,"date":"2026-09-17T03:21:30","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T03:21:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/?p=2876"},"modified":"2026-09-17T03:23:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T03:23:39","slug":"winemaker-interview-series-daniel-estrin-of-cristom-june-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/?p=2876","title":{"rendered":"Winemaker Interview Series &#8211; Daniel Estrin of Cristom \u2013 June 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Cristom-Daniel-Estrin-in-the-Winery.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-2877\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Cristom-Daniel-Estrin-in-the-Winery.gif\" alt=\"Cristom - Daniel Estrin in the Winery\" width=\"300\" height=\"401\" \/><\/a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, we had the opportunity to interview <a href=\"https:\/\/cristomvineyards.com\/our-people\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Daniel Estrin<\/strong><\/a> again. Daniel is the winemaker at <a href=\"https:\/\/cristomvineyards.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Cristom Vineyards<\/strong><\/a>. During the interview, we covered two single-vineyard 2024 Chardonnays, five single-vineyard 2023 Pinot Noirs, and a single 2024 Pinot Noir cuv\u00e9e. We wrapped up the interview with some updates and tidbits since our last chat that Daniel shared with the group. You can read the summary of our reviews of all these new-release wines in this post! (Note that the post also has reviews of a 2024 \u201cWillamette Valley\u201d Chardonnay and a 2024 \u201cWillamette Valley\u201d Pinot Noir that we covered in subsequent tastings.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Before we get to the wines, I thought I would share some tidbits that Daniel shared in the interview.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2024 Vintage Update<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Magical Vintage \u2013 Even growing season.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You would have to mess things up to make a bad wine.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Long cool window for picking grapes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Wonderful flowering which led to plenty of fruit.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Diligent producers dropped fruit.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Broke records for the amount of fruit brought in.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Rain and heat events moved into the Pinot harvest, but they ended with perfect acidity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2023 Pinot Vintage Update<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Warmer and generous vintage.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Daniel likes the juxtaposition between fruit and tannin.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Thoughts on 2024 Chardonnays<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Seven Springs Vineyard<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This is the last vintage from this vineyard \u2013 their 1-acre contract is ending.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">No new oak barrels were used on this wine.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They are moving to all Estate fruit.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Louise Vineyard<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">30% new oak was used on this wine.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Estate Updates<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While not certified, All Estate fruit is 100% organic and biodynamic.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In 2026 only Chardonnay is from Royer Vineyard.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In 2026 &#8211; 90% of the fruit used for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay will be Estate fruit.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Winemaking and Vineyard Management Practices<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They make their own compost.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They believe in whole cluster. On average 40% to 50%.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They have over 100 sheep and some KuneKune pigs in their grazing program.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They have a full-time vineyard staff.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They make their wines unfined and unfiltered.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Thoughts on Pinot Noirs and their Vineyards.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The 2024 Mt. Jefferson Cuv\u00e9e is celebrating its 30<sup>th<\/sup><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It also the first time it was made from 100% Estate fruit.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Jesse Vineyard is a very steep vineyard.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It takes twice as long to do all the hand work.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Louise Vineyard is the lowest elevation site.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It has less wind and is warmer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">10% warmer than Eileen.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The lower half of the vineyard has 777 and Pommard clones.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The upper half has Dijon and Pommard clones.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Eileen Vineyard has the highest elevation.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It is picked later.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It has the largest array of clones. At least 6 different clones.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Marjorie Vineyard is in the middle.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It was first planted in 1982.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In the 2000\u2019s if got infected with Phylloxera. 1\/2 the vineyard had to be replanted.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It was replanted vine by vine.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Because they ripped out a lot. They only get 20 to 22 barrels of wine from it in a good vintage.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Paul Gerrie Vineyard is the youngest vineyard.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It was planted in 2014.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It is the last Estate fruit to get picked.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It has a lot of Pommard clone. It can get powerful really fast.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The 2024 Chardonnay and 2024 Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They contain very high-quality fruit.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Intended for glass pour programs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">75% of the Chardonnay is from Paul Gerrie Vineyard.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Pinot Noir is all purchased fruit from Eola-Amity, Yamhill-Carlton &amp; Ribbon Ridge AVA\u2019s.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Van Duzer Corridor is Oregon\u2019s Petaluma Gap.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Eola Amity Hills is on the other side.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Below is a summary of the wine offerings from Cristom that we covered with Daniel. The links below are to our full reviews. If you are interested in ordering and trying these wines, you will find some of these wines via your favorite fine wine shop or on top quality wines lists. You can also find a few online. For example, you can purchase these wines on the <a href=\"https:\/\/cristomvineyards.com\/shop\/#all\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><u>Cristom website<\/u><\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Cristom-Logo.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2397\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Cristom-Logo.jpg\" alt=\"Cristom Logo\" width=\"300\" height=\"62\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Cristom-2024-Seven-Springs-Vineyard-Chardonnay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Cristom Vineyards 2024 Chardonnay &#8220;Seven Springs Vineyard&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Eola Amity Hills) $60 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 94<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Cristom-2024-Louise-Vineyard-Chardonnay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Cristom Vineyards 2024 Chardonnay &#8220;Louise Vineyard&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Eola Amity Hills) $70 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 93.5<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Cristom-2024-Mt-Jefferson-Cuvee-Pinot-Noir\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Cristom Vineyards 2024 Pinot Noir &#8220;Mt. Jefferson Cuv\u00e9e&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Eola Amity Hills) $45 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 94<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Cristom-2023-Jessie-Vineyard-Pinot-Noir\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Cristom Vineyards 2023 Pinot Noir &#8220;Jessie Vineyard&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> $80 (Eola Amity Hills) (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 93.5<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Cristom-2023-Louise-Vineyard-Pinot-Noir\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Cristom Vineyards 2023 Pinot Noir &#8220;Louise Vineyard&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> $80 (Eola Amity Hills) (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 93.5<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Cristom-2023-Eileen-Vineyard-Pinot-Noir\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Cristom Vineyards 2023 Pinot Noir &#8220;Eileen Vineyard&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Eola Amity Hills) $80 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 94.5<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Cristom-2023-Marjorie-Vineyard-Pinot-Noir\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Cristom Vineyards 2023 Pinot Noir &#8220;Marjorie Vineyard&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Eola Amity Hills) $80 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 93.5<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Cristom-2023-Paul-Gerrie-Vineyard-Pinot-Noir\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Cristom Vineyards 2023 Pinot Noir &#8220;Paul Gerrie Vineyard&#8221;<\/strong><\/a><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> (Eola Amity Hills) $80 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 95<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Additional Cristom Wines Covered In Subsequent Tastings:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"9\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Cristom-Vineyards-2024-Willamette-Valley-Pinot-Noir\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Cristom Vineyards 2024 Pinot Noir &#8220;Willamette Valley&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> $30 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 91.5<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Cristom-2024-Willamette-Valley-Chardonnay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Cristom Vineyards 2024 Chardonnay &#8220;Willamette Valley&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> $30 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 91<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can find reviews of past and future Cristom wines that we cover on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine.php?winery=355\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Cristom Vineyards KWG winery page<\/strong><\/a> on our website. We hope you enjoy these terrific wines as much as we did. Cheers! \u2013 Ken<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, we had the opportunity to interview Daniel Estrin again. Daniel is the winemaker at Cristom Vineyards. During the interview, we covered two single-vineyard 2024 Chardonnays, five single-vineyard 2023 Pinot Noirs, and a single 2024 Pinot Noir cuv\u00e9e. We wrapped up the interview with some updates and tidbits since our last [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2395,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2556,13,2554,2553,2555,1846,11,58,193,2557,12,3643,1187,90,2558,202,126,8,6,1292,1288],"tags":[3014,2567,491,2565,2564,2563,3622,2589,2455,3731,2566,3736,3735,2586,3734,2587,3729,2588,2585,724,1938,2572,2590,3728,492,3626,3732,3730,3733,2573,3058,3057,3737,2570,546,1434],"class_list":["post-2876","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-biodynamic-farming","category-chardonnay","category-cristom-vineyards","category-daniel-estrin","category-eola-amity-hills","category-estate-wines","category-kens-wine-guide-tasting-panel","category-oregon","category-oregon-wine-country","category-organic-farming","category-pinot-noir","category-pommard-clone","category-red-wine","category-white-wine","category-whole-cluster-fermentation","category-willamette-valley","category-wine-ratings","category-wine-recommendations","category-wine-reviews","category-winemaker","category-zoom-wine-tasting","tag-777-clone","tag-biodynamic-farming","tag-chardonnay","tag-cristom","tag-cristom-vineyards","tag-daniel-estrin","tag-dijon-clone","tag-eileen-vineyard","tag-eola-amity-hills","tag-estate-fruit","tag-gerrie-family","tag-glass-pour-programs","tag-grazing-program","tag-jessie-vineyard","tag-kunekune-pigs","tag-louise-vineyard","tag-magical-vintage","tag-marjorie-vineyard","tag-mt-jefferson-cuvee","tag-oregon","tag-organic-farming","tag-paul-gerrie","tag-paul-gerrie-vineyard","tag-phylloxera","tag-pinot-noir","tag-pommard-clone","tag-royer-vineyard","tag-seven-springs-vineyard","tag-sheep","tag-tom-gerrie","tag-unfiltered","tag-unfined","tag-van-duzer-corridor","tag-whole-cluster-fermentation","tag-willamette-valley","tag-winemaker"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2876","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2876"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2876\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2880,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2876\/revisions\/2880"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2876"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}