WINEMAKER

KRISTINA SHIDELER

It didn't take long for Kristina Shideler to discover the allure of wine and the integral role it plays in cultures around the world. After traveling throughout Western Europe she developed a love of wine, particularly for Barolo and Bordeaux blends.

Born in San Diego and raised in Missouri, Kristina attended University of Missouri where she double-majored in Biochemistry and Agricultural Economics. In 2007, she interned with a Missouri winemaker, working her way from the vineyards and bottling line to the cellar. Kristina remembers the invaluable wisdom she recieved, "Taste everything you can get your hands on. Never stop learning and never get bored."

Following harvest stints in New Zealand, Kristina enrolled at the University of California Davis Viticulture and Enology Masters of Science program in 2009, specializing in viticulture coursework.

Kristina's next adventure took her to the steep vineyards of Neipoort Vinhos in Portugal's Douro Valley. She became fascinated by the unique complexities of mountain vineyards and studied how the dramatic interplay between climate and elevation as well as varying soil types are critical to making high quality wine. Kristina's subsequent experiences at Bodega Caelum in Mendoza, Argentina as well as Verite and Stonestreet in Sonoma County, California, cemented her desire to produce artisan Bordeaux wines reflecting the terroir of truly remarkable vineyard sites.

Kristina joined Arrowood Winery in 2015 as Winemaker. She works closely with the cellar and vineyard team to make wines of extraordinary balance, complexity, and beauty. Kristina is passionate about crafting distinctive Cabernet Sauvignons from Sonoma's diverse AVAs and vineyards along the western ridges of the Mayacamas Mountains.

In her spare time, Kristina enjoys spending time with her family and two small children. When she is not in the vineyard or with her family, she spends time running, gardening, and hosting food and wine pairing dinners.