{"id":2885,"date":"2026-09-29T12:37:41","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T12:37:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/?p=2885"},"modified":"2026-09-29T12:37:41","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T12:37:41","slug":"winemaker-interview-series-mike-kobler-of-kobler-estate-winery-july-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/?p=2885","title":{"rendered":"Winemaker Interview Series &#8211; Mike Kobler of Kobler Estate Winery &#8211; July 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Michael-Kobler-of-Kobler-Estate-Winery-Home.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-2887\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Michael-Kobler-of-Kobler-Estate-Winery-Home.gif\" alt=\"Michael Kobler of Kobler Estate Winery\" width=\"260\" height=\"291\" \/><\/a>On Wednesday, July 1, 2026, we had the opportunity to interview <a href=\"https:\/\/nantucketwinefestival.com\/participants\/mike-kobler\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Mike Kobler Jr<\/strong><\/a>. Mike is the winemaker at <a href=\"https:\/\/koblerestatewinery.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Kobler Estate Winery<\/strong><\/a>. During the interview, we covered two 2024 Ros\u00e9 wines, one made from Pinot Noir, and one made from Syrah. We also covered a 2023 and a 2024 Viognier from the Russian River Valley. Those discussions were followed by a focus on a 2023 and a 2024 Chardonnay from the Bacigalupi Vineyards. We wrapped up the interview with a 2022 Syrah and a 2023 \u201cReserve\u201d Syrah. We also learned a bit about Kobler Family Estate and Mike. You can read the summary of our reviews of all these wines in this post!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Before we get to the wines, I thought I would share some tidbits that Mike shared in the interview.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A Little Family History.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mike\u2019s grandfather Helmut retired from engineering to Dry Creek.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">His grandfather was a concentration camp survivor.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mike\u2019s grandmother planted 4 acres of Sauvignon Blanc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">His grandfather wanted to do something. So, he tended to the vineyard as a hobby.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mike\u2019s father was commuting to San Francisco.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The vineyard was just there as a kid for Mike.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mike\u2019s parents (Mike Sr. and Debbie) have four kids and Uncle Otto and his wife Barbara have two kids.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In 2000 his grandparents went to assisted living, and the initial passion project vineyard was sold.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The story of Kobler Estate began in 1996 when Mike Sr. and his brother Otto, along with their wives Debbie and Barbara, planted the estate\u2019s first Syrah vineyard.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Otto\u2019s family lives on that vineyard.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">5 acres are planted.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mike\u2019s parents bought a nearby Viognier vineyard. (1\/2 acre) They live on that vineyard.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Initially all they did was sell grapes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mike\u2019s path to the family business.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He graduated with an economics degree in 2007.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He could not get a job in finance, so he worked at Abercrombie for 2 years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>So, he decided to start a wine brand using the family grapes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Kobler-Winery-Tasting-Room.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-2889\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Kobler-Winery-Tasting-Room.gif\" alt=\"Kobler Winery Tasting Room\" width=\"350\" height=\"184\" \/><\/a><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Starting Kobler Estate Winery<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In 2010, Mike Kobler, Jr., founded Kobler Estate Winery and released its first Pinot Noir.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mike was managing the sales for the winery.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They started with a little Pinot Noir. Then Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">His brother Brian worked for Korbel, Clos du Bois, and Geyser Peak.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He also worked at Ross Road Custom Crush as a cellar master.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He was hired as winemaker for the family winery in 2012.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In 2013 Mike asked his friend Nicole Bacigalupi if they could buy a little fruit.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They were granted their wish in 2014. They received 2 tons.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mike wanted to make a Chardonnay.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">His brother made it in 2014, and it was rated 95 points by Robert Parker.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Their Bacigalupi contract is year to year.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Each year you must submit barrel samples. If they bless it, they award you a trademark agreement to use their name.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Healdsburg Custom Crush<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This facility was opened in 2015 by Mike Sr., Brian, and Stephanie.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Brian was making their Kobler Estate wine there.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As production manager, he also oversaw the production of wine for 26 other wineries.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When Covid came around, he decided in 2021 he wanted to spend more time with his kids.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As a result, Mike became the Estate winemaker in 2021.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mike transitioned from sales to become the winemaker for the winery.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This brother wrote out the winemaking process like a recipe.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2022 was Mike\u2019s first vintage.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He is also still in charge of sales. From February thru May he is gone and on the road selling wine.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Winery Today and the Wines.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The total production is between 1,200 and 1,600 cases per year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They tend to pick early.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He changed the yeast they use for the Viognier and Chardonnay in 2024.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They use 20% to 25% new French oak on the Chardonnay.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mike treats Viognier very gently in the winemaking process.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Syrah Ros\u00e9 comes from the lowest part of the vineyard. It takes forever for that fruit to get ripe. (It is perfect for Ros\u00e9)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My first introduction to Kobler Syrah was a 2009 vintage wine made by Donelan. Donelan still buys the Syrah grapes from the family.<\/span><\/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 Kobler Family that we covered with Mike. 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:\/\/koblerestatewinery.com\/collection\/current-releases\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><u>Kobler Family Estate website<\/u><\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Kobler-Estate-Winery-Logo.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2886\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Kobler-Estate-Winery-Logo.gif\" alt=\"Kobler Estate Winery Logo\" width=\"230\" height=\"191\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Kobler-2024-Rose-of-Pinot-Noir\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Kobler 2024 &#8220;Ros\u00e9 of Pinot Noir&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (North Coast) $24 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 88.5<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Kobler-2024-Rose-of-Syrah\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Kobler 2024 &#8220;Ros\u00e9 of Syrah&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (North Coast) $28 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 90<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Kobler-2024-Viognier\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Kobler 2024 Viognier &#8220;Russian River Valley&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> $36 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 93<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Kobler-2023-Viognier\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Kobler 2023 Viognier &#8220;Russian River Valley&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> $36 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 92<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Kobler-2024-Bacigalupi-Vineyards-Chardonnay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Kobler 2024 Chardonnay &#8220;Bacigalupi Vineyards&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Russian River Valley) $65 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 90.5<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Kobler-2023-Bacigalupi-Vineyards-Chardonnay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Kobler 2023 Chardonnay &#8220;Bacigalupi Vineyards&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Russian River Valley) $65 (<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\/Kobler-Family-Vineyards-2023-Reserve-Syrah\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Kobler 2023 Syrah &#8220;Reserve&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Green Valley) $85 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 92.5<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine_review\/Kobler-2022-Syrah-Kobler-Family-Vineyards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Kobler 2022 Syrah &#8220;Kobler Family Vineyards&#8221;<\/strong><\/a> (Green Valley) $70 (<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>KWGTP 91.5<\/strong><\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can find reviews of past and future Kobler wines that we cover on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/wine.php?winery=3226\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>K<\/strong><strong>obler KWG winery page<\/strong><\/a> on our website. We hope you enjoy these wines as much as we did. Cheers! &#8211; Ken<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Wednesday, July 1, 2026, we had the opportunity to interview Mike Kobler Jr. Mike is the winemaker at Kobler Estate Winery. During the interview, we covered two 2024 Ros\u00e9 wines, one made from Pinot Noir, and one made from Syrah. We also covered a 2023 and a 2024 Viognier from the Russian River Valley. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2887,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2067,13,153,1846,2875,11,3757,3756,3758,12,2900,24,102,9,43,31,126,8,6,1292,1288],"tags":[3746,1558,3055,3747,3615,491,3749,320,3742,3750,2404,3753,3743,3739,3741,3755,3748,3738,3752,1226,492,3740,3377,467,730,3754,3751,1469,518,3745,633,3744,1272],"class_list":["post-2885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bacigalupi-vineyard","category-chardonnay","category-donelan-family-wines","category-estate-wines","category-green-valley","category-kens-wine-guide-tasting-panel","category-kobler-estate","category-mike-kobler","category-north-coast","category-pinot-noir","category-reserve-wine","category-rose","category-russian-river-valley","category-sauvignon-blanc","category-syrah","category-viognier","category-wine-ratings","category-wine-recommendations","category-wine-reviews","category-winemaker","category-zoom-wine-tasting","tag-abercrombie","tag-bacigalupi","tag-bacigalupi-vineyards","tag-brian-kobler","tag-cellar-master","tag-chardonnay","tag-clos-du-bois","tag-donelan","tag-estate-wine","tag-geyser-peak","tag-green-valley","tag-healdsburg-custom-crush","tag-helmut-kobler","tag-kobler-estate-winery","tag-kobler-family","tag-kobler-family-vineyards","tag-korbel","tag-mike-kobler","tag-nicole-bacigalupi","tag-north-coast","tag-pinot-noir","tag-reserve-syrah","tag-robert-parker","tag-rose","tag-rose-of-pinot-noir","tag-rose-of-syrah","tag-ross-road-custom-crush","tag-russian-river-valley","tag-sauvignon-blanc","tag-sell-grapes","tag-syrah","tag-uncle-otto","tag-viognier"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2885","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=2885"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2885\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2891,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2885\/revisions\/2891"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2887"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kenswineguide.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}