Dubbed the ‘Steve Jobs of wine’ by Forbes magazine, Paul Hobbs is a renowned winemaker and consultant. Highly regarded not only for his ability to identify exceptional vineyards, but also for his pioneering spirit in working innovatively with new and historical sites and regions.

Hired by Robert Mondavi for his advanced understanding of oak ageing, he went on to become winemaker for Opus One and Simi wineries. He founded Paul Hobbs Winery in 1991 and Viña Cobos in Argentina in 1999.

“Terroir-driven Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon are the focus at Paul Hobbs Winery.” Paul Hobbs

Paul Hobbs Winery bought its first estate property in the Russian River Valley naming it Lindsay Vineyard in honour of Paul’s great grandmother and planted it with five clones of Pinot Noir. Two neighbouring estate properties have since been planted with Chardonnay. The winery also works closely with growers of some of Napa and Sonoma’s most compelling and historical properties.

“I strive to create exuberant, intensely flavoured, richly textured wines of structure and balance that reflect the specific personality of each vineyard site. You might describe our winemaking as modern classic. Making wine, like living well, is a balance of experience and intuition, discipline and discovery. We believe we can make the best wines by keeping our roots firmly planted in traditional winemaking principles while availing ourselves of modern techniques. This approach allows us to constantly improve the quality of our wines.” Paul Hobbs

Californië strekt zich bijna 800 mijl uit langs de Pacifische kust en staat bekend als de vierde grootste wijnproducerende regio ter wereld naar volume. De gevarieerde geografie van de staat omvat kustvalleien, binnenlandse bergen en woestijngebieden, met wijngaarden die zich uitstrekken van Mendocino County in het noorden tot San Diego County in het zuiden. Wijnproductie begon tijdens de Spaanse missieperiode in de late 18de eeuw, hoewel de moderne Californische wijnindustrie ontstond na de opheffing van de drooglegging in 1933.

De maritieme invloed van de Pacifische Oceaan creëert verschillende microklimaten in alle wijnregio's van Californië, met kustgebieden die verkoelende mist ervaren en binnenlandse valleien onderhevig aan grotere temperatuurvariatie. Napa Valley en Sonoma County vertegenwoordigen de meest erkende appellatiegebieden van de staat, terwijl opkomende regio's zoals Santa Barbara County en Paso Robles bijdragen aan de diversiteit van Californische wijnbouw. Bodemtypes variëren van vulkanische as in Napa Valley tot kalkrijke bodems in delen van Paso Robles, wat gevarieërde terroir-uitingen in appellatiegebieden biedt.

Cabernet Sauvignon domineert de productie van rode wijn, vooral in Napa Valley, terwijl Chardonnay de witte variëteiten aanvoert met opmerkelijke uitingen uit koelklimaat-regio's zoals Russian River Valley en Carneros. Pinot Noir gedijt in kust-appellatiegebieden waaronder Sonoma Coast en Santa Barbara County, profiterend van maritieme invloed en langere groeiseizoenen. Het mediterrane klimaat van Californië maakt uitgebreide hangtijd mogelijk, wat doorgaans wijnen oplevert met rijpe fruitkarakteristieken en hogere alcoholgehalten in vergelijking met Europese tegenhangers.

Napa Valley is California's most famous wine region, located north of San Francisco Bay between the Mayacamas and Vaca mountain ranges. The appellation stretches approximately 30 miles from San Pablo Bay in the south to Calistoga in the north, encompassing about 45,000 acres of vineyards. Established as an American Viticultural Area in 1981, the valley contains numerous sub-appellations that reflect distinct microclimates and soil compositions along its length.

The region benefits from a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Morning fog from San Pablo Bay provides natural cooling, particularly important for the southern portions of the valley. Soils vary considerably, ranging from volcanic ash and rock in the north to clay and sedimentary deposits in the south. While over 30 grape varieties are grown, Cabernet Sauvignon dominates plantings, followed by Chardonnay, Merlot, and Pinot Noir. The valley also produces notable Sauvignon Blanc and increasingly successful Syrah.

Napa Valley wines are characterized by their power and concentration, particularly the Cabernet Sauvignon-based reds that have established the region's reputation. These wines typically display rich dark fruit flavors, firm tannins, and the ability to age gracefully. Chardonnays from the valley tend to be full-bodied with tropical fruit characteristics, often enhanced by oak aging. The combination of consistent climate, diverse terroir, and meticulous winemaking has produced wines that compete with the world's finest, establishing Napa Valley as America's premier wine region.