Welcome to the online hub of the Hobo Wine Company. For the better part of my adult life, the Hobo Wine Company and I and more recently, my family, have co-evolved. These wines not only represent my professional life and work, but also reflect my personal life and the things that interest and inspire me. From the beginning, it has been my aspiration to produce memorable wines of distinction and charm.
As best as we can in this busy world, we will update this site with relative information about our wines and what we are doing. For all of my complete ranting and rambling as well as release and event information, please sign up for the email newsletter. Enjoy KL
TASTING ROOM
Hobo, Banyan, and Folk Machine wines along with the Branham Estate wines can be tasted Thursday through Monday 11 am - 6 pm at Downtown Wine, 132 Plaza Street, Healdsburg, California 95448. www.downtownwinecellars.com 707-473-0337
August 22, 2010
Family Winemakers Wine Tasting 3:00 - 6:00
Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, California
September 29, 2010
Winemaker Dinner at The Charcutterie in Healdsburg
Always good food. Will be fun.
335 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, CA 95448
707.431.7213
Wine Enthusiast September 2010
2008 Ghostwriter Pinot Noir, Woodruff Family Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains - 92 Cellar Selection
Almost all Pinots grown in these mountains south of San Francisco overlooking Silicon Valley need time in the bottle. This one certainly does. Right now, it's tannic and acidic, and the primary raspberry, cherry, and blood orange flavors are reaching out to - but haven't found, much less embraced - the French oak. Give it a good 4-5 years in the cellar. - S.H.
2008 Ghostwriter Pinot Noir, Aptos Creek Vineyard, Santa Cruz County - 87
Superrich in jammy raspberry, cherry and cola flavors, almost sweet, except it's technically dry. Shows firm acidity and even some dusty tannins, but the fruit is the alpha and the omega, dominating everything. Drink now. -S.H.
2008 Ghostwriter Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains - 87
Very tightly wound in high acidity and even some tannins, with austere aloof citrus flavors. There's not a lot of appeal to this wine now, except a certain dry, yeasty elegance. It's like a sparkling blanc de blancs without the bubbles. -S.H.
Branham and Hobo wineries pair up
The San Francisco Chronicle did a great review on our tasting room, Downtown Wine on August 20, 2010. Check out what they had to say.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/20/TR6L1EOQC5.DTL
Wine Enthusiast July 2010
2008 Hobo Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley - 92 CELLAR SELECTION
This Zinfandel specialist tries his hand at Cabernet, with excellent results. With modest alcohol, the wine is thoroughly ripe, showing complex flavors of blackberries, creme de cassis, herbs and cedar. It will be fascinating to watch this Bordeaux-style with develop over the years.
Wine Enthusiast June 2010
2009 Banyan Gewurztraminer - 89 BEST BUY
With quite low alcohol (12.7%), this Gewurz has a little residual sugar, giving it a rich edge of honey. That's the perfect counterpoint to the pineapple, peach, lychee and Indian spice flavors that are so savory and crisp. Great buy in this exotic variety. - S.H.
2008 Hobo Zinfandel, Branham Vineyard, Rockpile - 92
A beautiful Zin, dry and spicy. Shows lush, intricate flavors of blackberries, black raspberries, anise, pepper, cola and cedar. A very fine interpretation of a dusty Sonoma Zinfandel. - S.H.
2008 Hobo Zinfandel, Treborce Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley - 92
Hobo's Zins are almost always among the most balanced and elegant out there, while preserving the variety's spicy, briary personality. This lovely single-vineyard bottling is dry and refined, showing complex flavors of blackberries, cherries, raspberries, blueberries, and spices. Drink now. -S.H.
2008 Hobo Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley - 89
A little hot and peppery, but it's Sonoma Zin, and a chunk of grilled beef will be a great match to the heat and tannins. The drily robust wine has flavors of wild berries, cherries, bacon, ad Asian spices. - S.H.
San Francisco MOMA's Muse Campaign
Kenny was chosen by the MOMA as a "prominent creative individual" to be part of their 75th anniversary advertising campaign. Check it out around the Bay Area or at
Rare Vintage: Asian American Winemakers Are Gaining Visibility
Hyphen Magazine's Trailblazing issue which just came out in December 09 has a feature written by Pia Sakar on Asian American winemakers including Kenny and the Banyan, Hobo, Folk Machine wines. You can check out a teaser on the hyphen website.
Muddy Roots Interview
Muddy Roots just posted an interview with us on their website. It is a privilege and an honor to be included among the folks that they have interviewed. Check it out here. www.muddyrootsmagazine.com
