The Hilt located in the Sta. Rita Hills is part of a small portfolio of boutique wineries owned by E. Stanley Kroenke, an entrepreneur who owns numerous professional sports teams. He also owns Screaming Eagle and Jonata wineries. The Hilt’s debut vintage was 2008 and it makes three styles of wines: The Old Guard, The Vanguard and Estate. Winemaker is Matt Dees, who also makes wine for Jonata. The Old Guard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are “stylistically elegant” and “balanced,” according to the estate. Vanguard wines are “lusher, fleshy, and fruit-driven,” the estate notes. Estate wines are “approachable,” the estate says. The Hilt wines have earned high compliments from reviewers, who typically give the wines ratings in the low to mid-90s.