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 15 100-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 

