Other
Paul Hobbs
Winemaker
- Discipline
- Other
i. Biography
Site selection, cellar discipline, and varietal clarity define the working frame here: Paul Hobbs is associated with single-vineyard wines, California Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon, and Argentine Malbec, with an emphasis on reading place through finished wine rather than masking it with a house style.
The Ascent
Formal wine training in the United States often runs through agricultural science before it reaches the cellar. Paul Hobbs graduated from Newfane High School in 1971, the University of Notre Dame in 1975, and the University of California, Davis, in 1978, where the study of viticulture and enology provided the technical base for vineyard and cellar work. California winemaking in the late 1970s was shaped by estates building modern cellar systems and by collaborations that required precision across teams. In 1977, Hobbs joined Robert Mondavi Winery. By 1979, he was a member of the Inaugural Winemaking Team at Opus One. His later work at Simi Winery added another established California cellar to that practical formation. Estate building and international partnership became the next part of the craft record. Paul Hobbs founded Paul Hobbs Winery, became a partner of Viña Cobos since 1998, and has been the owner and vintner of Crocus since 2011. The same owner-vintner role extends to Crossbarn, Hillick & Hobbs, and Yacoubian-Hobbs, placing the work across multiple labels and regions while keeping the focus on winegrowing, site expression, and cellar execution.
At Work Now
Single-vineyard winemaking asks for repeated decisions in the vineyard and cellar: what to pick, what to separate, and how to let a site remain legible in the glass. In Sebastopol, California, Paul Hobbs works as founder-winemaker of Paul Hobbs Winery. As owner and vintner of Crossbarn, Hillick & Hobbs, Viña Cobos, Crocus, Yacoubian-Hobbs, and Alvaredos-Hobbs, his current practice is tied to California sites and international projects. The stated focus remains on single-vineyard wines from California’s most intriguing vineyard sites, with continued work across new and existing sites in Sonoma and Napa.
Credentials
Industry recognition has marked both the public profile and the market influence of the work. In 2013, Paul Hobbs was honored with the title “The Steve Jobs of Wine.” He has also been recognized as “Wine Personality of the Year.”
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Paul
What is Paul Hobbs's current role?
Paul Hobbs is founder-winemaker.
Where did Paul Hobbs train or study?
Paul Hobbs trained at Newfane High School and University of Notre Dame.
