Kistler Vineyards Winemaker Jason Kesner

When it comes to California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, few names command as much respect as Sonoma’s Kistler Vineyards. In the newest episode of Wine Spectator‘s Straight Talk podcast, Kistler president and winemaker Jason Kesner tells us about growing up in the Napa wine industry—including a Robert Mondavi donut tradition that he proudly carries on—and how he strives to do a little bit less in the vineyard and winery with each passing vintage.

Straight Talk host James Molesworth also welcomes Wine Spectator senior editor for news Mitch Frank, who sheds some light on a recent health study that’s made big waves in the mainstream media—for all the wrong reasons.

Now available on Apple, Google, Spotify and more, including at WineSpectator.com/podcast, Straight Talk debuted in October 2022 and has attracted some of the wine industry’s biggest stars for honest, probing, revelatory and sometimes hilarious conversations.

Season 1 guests included winemakers Aubert de Villaine, Tim Mondavi, Tony Soter, Mark Aubert, Helen Keplinger, Thomas Rivers Brown, Greg Brewer and many more, as well as chefs Thomas Keller and Marcus Samuelsson, NBA Hall of Famer and winery investor Tony Parker and film, TV and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc star Sarah Jessica Parker.

“The Straight Talk podcast is a must-listen for anyone in the wine industry, and gives consumers a personal connection with our expert staff of tasters that no other format—or podcast—can offer,” said Wine Spectator editor and publisher Marvin R. Shanken, who himself made several guest appearances in Straight Talk‘s first season.

Wine Spectator‘s Straight Talk podcast is available for free on all major podcasting platforms, as well as at WineSpectator.com/podcast, and listeners can email their questions and comments to StraightTalk@WineSpectator.com.