Winemaker
Kristin Belair
- Discipline
- Winemaker
- Based in
- Rutherford, California, United States
i. Biography
In Rutherford, California, Kristin Belair has built a career around two grapes and the discipline they demand: Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. At Honig Vineyard & Winery, where she became Director of Winegrowing & Sustainability in 2023, the work runs from vineyard choices to finished wine with attention to terroir, timing, and detail. Across decades in Napa Valley, her practice has stayed close to fruit, fermentation, and the character of the land, with restraint and precision carrying as much weight as longevity.
The Path
Kristin Belair trained at University of California, Davis (1981), then entered the wine world as an intern at Trefethen Vineyards in Napa Valley, California (from 1981). That start in the vineyard and cellar set a practical foundation, with close observation shaping the rest of her work. She went on to serve as winemaker at Johnson-Turnbull (now Turnbull Wine Cellars) (1985–1998), where experience and discipline continued to accumulate before she joined Honig Vineyard & Winery in Rutherford, Napa Valley, California (1998–2022) as winemaker. Today, Kristin is Winemaker Emeritus, Director of Winegrowing and Sustainability of Honig Vineyard & Winery (since 2023), a role that reflects both her long memory of the estate and her ongoing commitment to its future.
The Work Today
Since 2023, Belair has served as Director of Winegrowing & Sustainability at Honig Vineyard & Winery in Rutherford, California. The role keeps her tied to the vine, the season, and the decisions that shape what reaches the glass. In her work, winegrowing and sustainability function as linked responsibilities, each supporting the other within a house built around Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. At Honig, her production focus remains exclusive to those two varieties, a narrow frame that gives the work its clarity. Over time, that focus has become a way to refine rather than widen the brief. In her own words, the pleasure of the work lies in “being able to craft award-winning, nationally recognized Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon and being part of the dynamic Honig team has been nothing but rewarding.”
Signature
Kristin's signature wines include 39 Going On 40, Campbell Hillside, Campbell Hillside Cabernet, and West Side Trio.
Acclaim
Her recognized body of work is Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon made at Honig Vineyard & Winery, described as award-winning and nationally recognized. That recognition is built on focus rather than range: two grapes, one Rutherford winery, and a career that has remained closely tied to place from her start in 1981 to her leadership in winegrowing and sustainability in 2023.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Kristin
What is Kristin Belair's current role?
As of 2026, Kristin Belair is Director of Winegrowing & Sustainability.
Where did Kristin Belair train or study?
Kristin Belair trained at University of California, Davis.
What is Kristin Belair known for?
Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
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