PRESS KIT
Who We Are
In 1981, Doug and Darci Hill settled down on an acre of land at the northern edge of Yountville. Their children, Ryan and Carly, grew up playing in the vineyards, tending chickens, and played baseball and basketball. they also helped their neighbors grow organic fruits and vegetables for the local restaurants including Thomas Keller’s world renowned French Laundry restaurant. Hill Family Estate produced their first wines in 2001, a Merlot and a red blend called Origin. Production ranges between 9,000 to 12,000 cases annually. Having a repertoire of 12 different vineyards to draw from they are able to select only the highest quality fruit for their wines. Today the Hill Family owns 120 acres of vineyards with a focus on Atlas Peak, Carneros and Oak Knoll. They are 100% family-farmed, family-owned and family-operated.
Hill Family Estate is built upon strong agricultural roots. Doug Hill spent his early childhood on a farm in San Jose. His family then moved to Healdsburg where his father was the mailman for the town, and they grew apples and prunes. Doug and his family had a large garden, fruit orchard and livestock. They shared a cow with the neighbors, and the neighbors would milk the cow in the morning and Doug’s family milked the cow in the evening. Roughly 80% of what they consumed as a family came from the land they tended.
Our Goal
Our goal at Hill Family Estate is to create balanced vines while utilizing sustainable, environmentally friendly farming practices.
Our Mission
Our mission at Hill Family Estate is to source the best grapes from our vineyards to create high quality consumer-friendly wines.
The Vineyards
The Hill family began to select and plant their own vineyards in the 1980s, using their intimate knowledge of the multiple Napa Valley microclimates, soil variations and the many subtle growing factors which influence the characteristics of the grape and the resulting quality of wine. They planted Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Albariño, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc in the Carneros appellation. Known for its clay soils and cool climate, Carneros creates
perfect conditions to allow these varieties to develop their complex flavors. They planted Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon in the Oak Knoll district, and Cabernet Sauvignon,Merlot, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah at 1,500 feet elevation near Atlas Peak; both areas with a perfect environment to develop the rich berry flavor and intense fruit color that make these red wines some of the best in the world.
Production
The Hill Family Estate wine production takes place at a facility located just south of Yountville.
The Winery
In 2019 our family realized a dream that started with the bottling of our first vintage: owning our own winery in the Napa Valley. It is a privilege to
live here, to farm here and to make wine here, but having a place that is uniquely “ours” in this wonderful valley has been a dream that long eluded us. They say good things come to those who wait, and waiting has helped secure a spot that is perfect for our family. Located in the Yountville appellation, just a short distance from the tasting room and the town and community that have long been “home” to the Hill Family, our new winery and vineyard sit just below the benchlands of the Mayacamas mountain range. The winery is small and rustic; it is a perfect reflection of who we are and how we tarted as family farmers who wanted to bring people together to enjoy the beauty of this place and the wines we produce.
The Secret Garden
Hill Family Farms is an idyllic 1.3 acre oasis hidden within the little town of Yountville. The verdant plot brims with more than 120 different kinds of fruit trees, including 10 varieties of figs, 10 varieties of pears, 15 varieties of peaches, and dozens of other unusual fruits, plus a wide range of vegetables, herbs and 25 different culinary flowers. Highlights include tastings of fresh-plucked delights like peach leaves, which smell like amaretto when crushed.
The Tasting Room
Our salon-styled tasting room is located in downtown Yountville, in the heart of Napa Valley. It offers a relxed, welcoming setting amid eclectic décor such as a Fender electric guitar, antique furniture, a surfboard and baseball bats stained with a Hill Family red wine stain.
Visiting Hill Family Estate
Winery Address
6155 Solano Avenue
Napa, CA 94558
707-947-7218
Open daily by appointment only
Yountville Tasting Room Address
6512 Washington Street
Yountville, CA 94599
707-944-9580 ext. 1
SEASONAL HOURS OF OPERATION:
Thursday-Monday: 11:00am-6:00pm daily
Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays
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