Paul Hobbs Winery

Paul Hobbs founded his eponymous winery in 1991, bringing with him a career forged at some of California's most iconic addresses. He worked for Robert Mondavi, headed the Opus One production team, and consulted for Simi Winery before striking out on his own. The Katherine Lindsay Estate in Sebastopol was purchased in 1998, and the Howard Backen-designed winery building was completed in 2003, giving Hobbs a permanent home base in Sonoma County.

• Founded 1991 in Sebastopol, Sonoma County
• Katherine Lindsay Estate acquired 1998; winery completed 2003
• Hobbs previously led the Opus One winemaking team
• Prior experience includes Robert Mondavi and Simi Winery

Paul Hobbs Winery draws from a portfolio of distinguished vineyard sites across Russian River Valley, West Sonoma Coast, and Napa Valley. Estate sites include the Katherine Lindsay Estate and Goldrock Estate, the latter elevated at 550 feet with gravelly loam soils. The Sebastopol-area vineyards sit on the Sebastopol soil series, which includes sandy clay loam, red clay, and alluvial stones. Cool maritime conditions, coastal fog influence, and the moderating effects of San Pablo Bay define the climate across the Sonoma sites, making them well suited to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

• Goldrock Estate sits at 550 feet elevation with gravelly loam soils
• Sebastopol soils include sandy clay loam, red clay, and alluvial stones
• Cool maritime climate shaped by coastal fog and San Pablo Bay cooling
• Notable sites include Hyde Vineyard and Beckstoffer To Kalon in Napa Valley

Paul Hobbs Winery follows a minimal-intervention approach designed to express each vineyard site with clarity and precision. Wines are fermented with native yeasts, aged in French oak, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. The focus is firmly on single-vineyard, terroir-driven bottlings that highlight the distinct soil types and microclimates of each site. The winery is also committed to sustainable farming and meticulous vineyard management across all its properties.

• Native yeast fermentation used throughout the portfolio
• Aged in French oak barrels
• Bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve site character
• Committed to sustainable farming practices

Paul Hobbs has earned recognition at the highest levels of the wine world. Forbes dubbed him 'The Steve Jobs of Wine,' and Robert Parker Jr. named him 'Wine Personality of the Year' twice. The winery's 2002 Beckstoffer To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon received a perfect 100-point score from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, one of the most coveted ratings in American wine. The 2008 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir appeared in Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines in 2010.

• Dubbed 'The Steve Jobs of Wine' by Forbes
• Twice named 'Wine Personality of the Year' by Robert Parker Jr.
• 2002 Beckstoffer To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon scored 100 points from Wine Advocate
• 2008 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir featured in Wine Spectator's Top 100

The Paul Hobbs portfolio centers on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Sonoma County sites, alongside Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Sonoma-focused bottlings draw from Russian River Valley and West Sonoma Coast vineyards, while Napa Valley sources such as Hyde Vineyard and Beckstoffer To Kalon contribute to the Cabernet Sauvignon program. All wines are produced in small quantities and presented as vineyard-designates, emphasizing site specificity over a house style.

• Core varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah
• Sonoma sources include Russian River Valley and West Sonoma Coast
• Napa Valley sources include Hyde Vineyard and Beckstoffer To Kalon
• All wines produced in small quantities as vineyard-designates