Where the Wild Things Sip

Trophies for Our Cider, Cheers from the Farm

Cougars, Cider, and Pinot and Perspective

We’ve had some majestic—and sometimes mischievous—visitors at Kristof Farms lately. A mountain lion has been roaming through the vineyard, black bears have been inspecting our wildlife cameras, and one particularly photogenic raccoon seems ready to start an Instagram account. The wildlife has returned with the spring, and the cameras have captured some remarkable moments. (Scroll down for videos and clips—we promise, it’s worth it.)

But first, for some human visitors:

On Saturday, June 28, we’ll be hosting our first summer tasting day here at Kristof Farms, with 90-minute gatherings at 1:00, 2:45, and 4:30 p.m.

We’ll be pouring wine and cider, walking through the vineyard and orchard, and talking about what’s growing—on the farm and in the world. It’s informal, thoughtful, and often a little meandering. We wouldn’t be surprised if conversation drifts from grape tannins to tariffs, the Middle East or the tumult in Washington DC.

We’re calling it a day of Pinot and Perspective, and we’d love to have you join us. If you’re over 21, you can reserve a spot by emailing info@kristoffarms.com. Members of our wine and cider clubs get priority. Dogs are welcome, too—just keep them leashed near the tasting area. They’re free to roam as you walk the grounds. 💵 $50 per person, credited toward any purchase of a half-case of wine or cider.

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While our wines often draw the most attention, our ciders just brought home four exciting wins from GLINTCAP, the world’s largest cider competition:

• Best in Class: Orchard Cider (dry, mineral-driven, and elegant)

• Best in Class: Reserve Cider (barrel-aged with a touch more richness)

• Silver: Noir Cider, a co-ferment of apples and Pinot Noir grape skins

• Bronze: Kingston Black, a single-varietal dry cider

A huge thanks to our cider maker, Christine Bauman Walter, who is not only the president of the American Cider Association but also—yes, we’re biased—the best cider maker in America.

Cider is a go-to for summer: bright, layered, and refreshingly immune to shipping heat. You can find all of our ciders here.

Our wines sometimes get more attention, but we truly are very proud of our hard ciders. As we head for summer, remember that cider is a delightfully refreshing summer drink. You can order our ciders here, and they’ll be delivered to your door around the country.

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Now, back to the wildlife.

We hadn’t seen any bears for months—but lately, they’ve been showing up regularly on our wildlife cameras. Maybe they’re salivating over the grapes and apples just starting to form on the vines and trees. Like clockwork, the bears always return when fruit appears.

One of the things we love about Kristof Farms is that we’re living in a wildlife coridor. The biodiversity here is unusually rich for a vineyard, and the cameras have become our window into the lives of our four-legged neighbors.

Here’s one bear who wandered up to give our camera a very close inspection:

The wildlife cameras give you a sense of how burly the bears are — and these are black bears, nothing like a grizzly or polar bear. Check out this clip:

Our resident mountain lion seems to have settled in for good, while the younger cat we saw earlier has likely moved on—cougars are famously territorial, and this kitty-cat seems to have claimed her vineyard:

Of course, it’s not all apex predators. Raccoons, ever the mischief-makers, show up often. This masked intruder gave us a moment of comic relief—caught mid-sneak, with the Pinot Noir vineyard in the background:

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A few other updates from the farm:

• Kristof wines and ciders are now distributed in California through Vinifera. Know a restaurant or shop that might want to carry them? Ping us at info@kristoffarms.com —we’ll connect the dots.

• We’re now open for private tastings and small events—groups of 10+ gatherings. Reach out to info@kristoffarm.com if you’re planning one.

• Jane Kristof just turned 93 and is still walking the farm daily with Connie-the-dog. Three generations of Kristofs remain hands-on here, from vineyard to cellar.

• Summer heat can damage wine in transit, so we pause ground shipping for wine during the hottest months. If you’d like to stock up, now’s the time—we’ll check weather routes before shipping to make sure it arrives in perfect condition. (Cider ships just fine year-round.)

• We were proud to participate in the AAPI Food and Wine Festival, with Sheryl representing Kristof Farms alongside a wonderful lineup of Asian-American vintners and chefs.