July 22, 2025 — Kari Auringer has been named winemaker for Hill Family Estate winery in Yountville, CA. She replaces Alison Doran, who has been crafting wines at Hill Family Estate since the brand launched in 2001. Hill Family Estate started with two wines totaling 800 cases which included the release of a proprietary red blend, Origin, and a vineyard designated Merlot. Today, the family produces 35 different wines totaling 15,000 cases and operates a tasting room and winery in Yountville.
While Alison is not officially retiring from winemaking, she is seeking more balance in life. “I’ve been making wine for 52 years and felt it was time to slow down and enjoy more time with friends and family. I have loved working with the Hill family and feel extremely proud of what we accomplished together over the last 24 vintages. It was an emotional time for me saying goodbye to the vineyards last fall but passing the torch to Kari Auringer and knowing she will continue to build upon what I started is very comforting.”
Kari formed Kari Auringer Consulting in 2000 and since then has spent the last two decades creating ultra-premium wines from some of the best vineyards in Napa Valley and Sonoma County. She began working with some of California’s great winemakers and put herself through enology programs, which included A.S. Degrees in Viticulture and Winemaking and Wine Marketing and Sales through Napa Valley College. Moreover, Kari spent six years working with a well-respected consulting winemaker, before branching out on her own and making wine for Cornerstone Cellars and Silver Trident wineries.
“Alison Doran has truly been a part of our family over the last twenty years,” said Ryan Hill, Hill Family Estate’s Vice President. “It’s hard for me to fathom a new vintage without her, except for the fact that she is leaving us in such experienced hands. Kari has made wine for other brands from vineyards managed by my dad, Doug Hill, who is a partner in Hill Family Estate. Kari’s familiarity with our sites, our farming and what our grapes can express will help our transition, providing strong continuity for our brand, while also leaving space for Kari to add her own unique twist on things.”
About Hill Family Estate
Hill Family Estate is a small family wine business located in Napa Valley. They have been producing wine since 2001, and farming grapes throughout the valley since the late 1970s. Hill Family Estate has two locations; a tasting room in the town of Yountville and a winery that serves as both a production facility and hospitality location. Production ranges between 9,000 to 15,000 cases annually. The Hill family owns 75 acres of vineyards with a focus on Atlas Peak, Carneros and Oak Knoll. They are 100% family-farmed, family-owned and family-operated.
