Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Chardonnay is 85% from the Lloyd Vineyard in Alexander Valley off of Soda Rock Road, 5% from Mark Way Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, 5% from the Prior Vineyard in Sonoma Valley, 4% from the very old Lolonis Vineyard in Redwood Valley, and 1% Viognier from Morrison Ranch in Suisun Valley. The Lloyd portion was harvested in 3 picks, two were early for acid and one was a bit later for brighter more lush tropical flavors. All lots were whole cluster pressed co-fermented in stainless steel, then transferred to neutral oak barrels for 10 weeks before being racked back to stainless steel and prepared for bottling.
Since beginning in 2002, The Hobo Wine Company has been a family owned and independently operated winery. In 2013, they converted an old warehouse in the historic Roseland neighborhood of Santa Rosa to be their production facility. This move allows them complete independence and full control over our winemaking and production.
Stylistically, Hobo Wine Company makes artisanally crafted wines of integrity and charm that respect their role at the table. This means they are true to character and origin, generally moderate in alcohol, and noticeable in acidity. The wines are made without commercial yeast or malolactic bacteria or other commercial additives and sulfur levels are always kept to a minimum.
There is a small tasting room at the winery, which is run on 100% local renewable energy, and they welcome visitors from around the world.
Camp Wines were created by the Hobo Wine Co. in 2011 to showcase the quality and value of Sonoma County wine. Camp works with top growers and vineyard managers in very high quality and responsibly farmed, though lesser known, vineyards throughout Sonoma County to produce delicious, approachable, and affordable wines.
Like Hobo, the Camp wines employ native yeasts and malolactic bacterias for the primary and secondary fermentations without the use of commercial fermentation aids or additives. The wines are aged in real oak barrels and/or stainless steel tanks vs. alternatives or flavoring agents.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.