The hobel, the German word for a traditional woodworking plane, has been used for centuries by skilled craftsmen to smooth, balance and finish wood surfaces. Hobel is also our family name.
The story of Hobel Wine Works began in 1998, when Cameron first met friend and winemaker Thomas Brown in Napa. Cameron was working as the Director of Business Development at Winebid.com and Thomas was working as Assistant Winemaker at Turley Wine Cellars. Their mutual love of great wine led to many shared dinners and glasses of wine, where they discussed the prospect of finding a project that would allow them to work together in producing a world-class wine. The opportunity finally arose eleven years later, with the 2009 Hobel Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cameron’s career in the wine business began in 1996, when Cameron took his first job out of college working for a winery in California. After literally getting his hands dirty in the vineyards, Cameron started specializing in the area of fine wines while working at Christie’s Auction House, quickly becoming the youngest person in the history of the company to hold the position of Wine Department Head. Cameron eventually moved to Napa to join Winebid.com, where he held two top positions including Director of Business Development. Following some time in Europe working for a wine broker, Cameron formed his own wine importation and wholesale company largely with the support and encouragement of European wine suppliers, collectors, and producers he had met during his time abroad. Cameron still serves as President of Milton Road Trading Company and oversees its day to day operations.
When Bahaneh first met Cameron in 2003, little did she know she too would one day be working in the wine business. Following her graduation from Boalt Hall School of Law (UC Berkeley) in 2001 and her clerkship with a federal court of appeals judge, Bahaneh returned to her hometown of Los Angeles to begin her career as an attorney at the law firm of O’Melveny & Myers LLP. While on vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Bahaneh met Cameron and her new life in the wine business began. By working with Cameron to establish and operate his fledgling company, and assisting him and his colleagues with licensing and other matters over the years, Bahaneh realized she had found a niche in the legal business that she truly enjoyed. Bahaneh quickly began to gain expertise in the field of alcohol beverage law and regulation and now practices as an alcohol beverage attorney at the Napa law firm of Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty.
We are fortunate to have as our winemaker not only someone that is one of the most interesting young winemakers in the business today, but also a good friend. Originally from Sumter, South Carolina, Thomas first developed his interest in wine while studying at the University of Virginia. Following graduation, Thomas moved to Napa and eventually began working as assistant winemaker at Turley Wine Cellars in the late 1990s. Thomas’s talent grew with his experience and his minimalist approach to winemaking has won him and the wines that he has crafted many accolades. In addition to his own Pinot Noir project, Rivers-Marie, today Thomas serves as winemaker for several other exceptional wine brands including Outpost, Maybach and Schrader. We are thrilled to be working with Thomas and so fortunate to be able to work with someone who shares our love of great wine.
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