Collection: The Hilt

The Hilt Estate is a wine producer in the Santa Rita Hills AVA of California’s Central Coast, focused on cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from estate vineyards in a maritime-influenced valley about 13 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The estate is part of a roughly 3,600-acre property at Rancho Salsipuedes and includes three principal vineyards - Radian, Bentrock and Puerta del Mar - each with distinct soils, elevations and microclimates. The site’s cool temperatures, strong winds and generally poor, rocky soils force vines into low vigor and slow ripening, contributing to concentrated fruit with notable acidity.

The Hilt was founded in 2008 under the ownership of Stan Kroenke, who also owns other wine properties including Screaming Eagle and Jonata. Winemaker Matt Dees oversees viticulture and winemaking, often vinifying grapes from the estate parcels separately to capture site-specific character.

The core portfolio includes multiple tiers of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines, such as single-vineyard bottlings as well as broader estate blends, and historically has produced additional small-lot wines like Syrah and pétillant naturel. Farming emphasises low yields and concentrated fruit, and herbicides/pesticides have been phased out in favour of more sustainable practices on estate vineyards.