paul hobbs
farmer. winemaker. founder.
Paul Hobbs is a world-renowned winemaker. In 2013, Forbes Magazine referred to Hobbs as “The Steve Jobs of Wine”. He has been twice named “Wine Personality of the Year” by Robert Parker of The Wine Advocate. Over his 40+ year career, Hobbs has received more than ten 100-point scores across his portfolio—a rare feat that places him in the top echelon of the world’s winemakers. He graduated from Newfane in 1971, earned his BS in Chemistry from the University of Notre Dame in 1975, and MS in Viticulture & Enology from the University of California, Davis in 1978.
Regarded as an international visionary for his accomplishments in the vineyard and winery, Hobbs combines his childhood roots on the family farm in Western New York with an innovative scientific approach to refine the art of winemaking. He is recognized across the globe for breaking with tradition and forging new paths in the pursuit of excellence; both in stewardship of the land, and the crafting of wines that represent the purist concept of place–leading the way in the early 90’s as a pioneer of site-specific, vineyard designate wines. Robert Parker notes that “Paul Hobbs is like a good truffle-hunting dog when it comes to finding great vineyards.”
In 1979, he was appointed a member of the inaugural Opus One winemaking team joint venture between Robert Mondavi / Mouton Rothschild of Bordeaux.
Later, a first trip to Argentina in 1988 marked the beginning of what today has become a highly consequential South American winemaking career. Prominently featured in Ian Mount’s “The Vineyard at the End of the World: Maverick Winemakers and the Rebirth of Malbec,” Hobbs is recognized for his legendary status as the pioneer winemaker who played the leading role in launching the variety’s rise to fame.
Today, Hobbs is owner and vintner for seven wineries around the world: Paul Hobbs and Crossbarn (Sebastopol, California), Hillick & Hobbs (Finger Lakes, New York), Viña Cobos (Mendoza, Argentina), Crocus (Cahors, France), Yacoubian-Hobbs (Vayots Dzor, Armenia), and Alvaredos-Hobbs (Galicia, Spain).
To learn more about his international projects, visit paulhobbsselections.com.
press
ROBB REPORT - “Meet the Man Behind Napa’s Buzziest New Cabernet” by Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen | January 14, 2024
THE WINE INDEPENDENT - “Paul Hobbs’ New Releases” by Lisa Perrotti-Brown | October 19, 2023
ROBB REPORT - “9 Best Magnums to Serve at Your Next Holiday Soiree” by Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen | November 25, 2023
WINE SPECTATOR - “2020 California Cabernet” by James Molesworth | November 15, 2023
FINE+RARE - “The Nature of the Numbers: Paul Hobbs on Alcohol” by Sophie Thorpe | January 10, 2023
THE WINE CONVERSATION - “Great Wine Lives” by Elin McCoy | June 13, 2022
JAMES SUCKLING - “Top 100 Wines of the USA 2021” by Nathan Sloane | December 13, 2021
WINE SPECTATOR - “Legends of California Chardonnay” by MaryAnn Worobiec | July 31, 2022
WINE ENTHUSIAST - “California’s Top 10 Collectible Wines” by Jim Gordon | November 4, 2019
WINE SPECTATOR - “California’s Chardonnay Heartland” by Kim Marcus | July 31, 2019
JAMES SUCKLING - “Our Top-Rated Argentine Wines to Date” by James Suckling | July 18, 2019
VINOUS MEDIA - “Paul Hobbs’ Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon: 1999-2016” by Stephen Tanzer | July 10, 2019
WALL STREET JOURNAL - “In Search of the World’s Oldest Wine” by Lettie Teague | March 29, 2019
DECANTER - “The Decanter interview: Paul Hobbs” by Peter Richards MW | November 25, 2018
SAVEUR - “The World’s First Winery” by Adam Leith Gollner | September 12, 2016
WINE SPECTATOR - “Up From His Bootstraps” by Tim Fish | December 15, 2013
FORBES MAGAZINE - “The Steve Jobs of Wine: Winemaker Paul Hobbs” by Katie Kelly Bell | June 17, 2013
WINE SPECTATOR - “Another Sit Down with Paul Hobbs” by James Molesworth | September 9, 2009
DECANTER - “Success from the Ground Up” by Linda Murphy | November 3, 2008
LOS ANGELES TIMES - “Putting Place in a Glass” by Corie Brown | January 8, 2006
WINE SPECTATOR - “Tasting Report: Paul Hobbs” by Daniel Sogg | July 31, 2004
NEW YORK TIMES - “Why Wine Costs What It Does” by Amanda Hesser | April 9, 2003
WINE SPECTATOR - “A Quiet Trendsetter Makes Chardonnay” by Thomas Garrett | April 30, 1999