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Location: United States, California
Winemaker: Kenny Likitprakong
Grapes: Carignan, Carignane, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Zinfandel
From the Producer: The Hobo Wine Company is the brainchild of Kenny Likitprakong. Kenny grew up at the winery, Domain Saint George, where his father Somchai worked as general manager since 1972. He considered several career options, including medicine, film and professional skateboarding before a gig in San Francisco introduced him to wine. UC Davis subsequently beckoned, and Kenny started spending time with the professors and students studying organic farming practices. Kenny found his first winemaking job in the Santa Cruz mountains in 1999 before starting Hobo Wine Company in 2002. The “Hobo” name refers to Kenny’s winemaking experiences traveling and working place to place. It applies now to the fact that Kenny does not own his own vineyards, but sources fruit from vineyard owners who he has longstanding relationships with around California, some of which he worked with before starting Hobo. The Hobo winery has been based in Santa Rosa since 2013. You can look at a map and see the spread of his 42 vineyards: 240 miles between his most southerly parcels in Arroyo Seco and his most northerly vineyards in Redwood Valley. His vineyards go as far east as Clarksburg, near Sacramento, over 60 miles from his winery in Santa Rosa. Kenny has cultivated relationships with 27 different farmers across 14 or more AVAs. Nearly all of the vineyards they lease are organically farmed and 88% of the total vineyards that they source from are sustainably, organically, or biodyamically farmed. The winery itself is Certified Organic which will be represented on the labels beginning with the 2021 vintage. Kenny’s wines are accessibly priced, especially for California. The labels are eye-catching and without capsules, helping to eliminate waste. The winery is committed to sustainable packaging including a high percentage of recycled glass (all domestic) and natural corks. On the back of his labels, it is noted that he is a member of 1% for the Planet, an organization started by the founders of Patagonia to facilitate donations to green organizations. He donates 1% of his gross sales to non-profits. Kenny’s wines are well thought of in the wine industry community. Eric Asimov of the New York Times has written about five of Kenny’s wines just since 2017. Jon Bonne, a former writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, included Kenny in his landmark book, The New California Wine.
Location: United States, California
Winemaker: Kenny Likitprakong
Grapes: Carignan, Carignane, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Zinfandel
From the Producer: The Hobo Wine Company is the brainchild of Kenny Likitprakong. Kenny grew up at the winery, Domain Saint George, where his father Somchai worked as general manager since 1972. He considered several career options, including medicine, film and professional skateboarding before a gig in San Francisco introduced him to wine. UC Davis subsequently beckoned, and Kenny started spending time with the professors and students studying organic farming practices. Kenny found his first winemaking job in the Santa Cruz mountains in 1999 before starting Hobo Wine Company in 2002. The “Hobo” name refers to Kenny’s winemaking experiences traveling and working place to place. It applies now to the fact that Kenny does not own his own vineyards, but sources fruit from vineyard owners who he has longstanding relationships with around California, some of which he worked with before starting Hobo. The Hobo winery has been based in Santa Rosa since 2013. You can look at a map and see the spread of his 42 vineyards: 240 miles between his most southerly parcels in Arroyo Seco and his most northerly vineyards in Redwood Valley. His vineyards go as far east as Clarksburg, near Sacramento, over 60 miles from his winery in Santa Rosa. Kenny has cultivated relationships with 27 different farmers across 14 or more AVAs. Nearly all of the vineyards they lease are organically farmed and 88% of the total vineyards that they source from are sustainably, organically, or biodyamically farmed. The winery itself is Certified Organic which will be represented on the labels beginning with the 2021 vintage. Kenny’s wines are accessibly priced, especially for California. The labels are eye-catching and without capsules, helping to eliminate waste. The winery is committed to sustainable packaging including a high percentage of recycled glass (all domestic) and natural corks. On the back of his labels, it is noted that he is a member of 1% for the Planet, an organization started by the founders of Patagonia to facilitate donations to green organizations. He donates 1% of his gross sales to non-profits. Kenny’s wines are well thought of in the wine industry community. Eric Asimov of the New York Times has written about five of Kenny’s wines just since 2017. Jon Bonne, a former writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, included Kenny in his landmark book, The New California Wine.