Wine Portfolio

Alison Doran

Winemaker, Hill Family Estate

Raised in Palos Verdes with plenty of horses and surfing, Alison Green Doran was drawn into winemaking in 1973. Her father, oil man and long-time Alexander Valley vineyard owner Russell Green, had bought the Simi Winery in 1969, and brought in Andre Tchelistcheff as a consultant soon after. By working as a harvest intern beside Andre for six months at Simi in 1973, Alison found both her life’s work and her mentor.

Andre found her a five-month stagaire position in Alsace for the crush of 1975, and then an enologist position with start-up Hoffman Mountain Ranch in Paso Robles. After finishing her Fermentation Science degree at UC Davis, she began working for the Firestone Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley in 1976. Starting as lab tech, she worked her way to bottling supervisor and then to cellar master, and then in 1981, to winemaker.

Country born: United States

Education: Fermentation Science/UC Davis

Years in the wine industry: 30+ years

Winemaking Philosophy:
To craft elegant wines that express the true terroir of Doug Hill's vineyards.