Renowned winemaker is pleased to come to a settlement with Sonoma County District Attorney and continue focus on responsible vineyard development
Sebastopol, Calif. – Winemaker Paul Hobbs announced today that a settlement has been reached in a civil suit brought by the Sonoma County District Attorney against him involving three vineyard developments.
“We’ve reached an agreement that is consistent with our own practices and which upholds Sonoma County’s environmental regulations, which we have always supported,” said Hobbs spokesperson Christopher O’Gorman.
Under the terms of the settlement, Hobbs agreed that his future vineyard developments will comply with applicable laws. “We are already committed to standards for vineyard development which exceed those in the injunction” said O’Gorman.
Hobbs’ dedication to responsible development was apparent well before the settlement was reached. In 2014, Hobbs took voluntary action at one of the properties named in the suit to address community concerns, implementing costly environmental restoration projects and building a fence to ameliorate worries about dust. In 2013, Hobbs downsized a proposed vineyard, placing 117 acres of redwoods into an open space easement along with a $175,750 endowment to fund it. These actions were remarkable as the open space easement substantially de-valued the land without any guarantee that grapes would ever be allowed to grow on the property. Sonoma County Supervisors called Hobbs’s gesture “unprecedented.”
“Paul is an experienced vineyard professional and a devoted environmentalist,” said O’Gorman. “The past few years have only deepened his commitment to farming responsibly.”
Indeed, Paul Hobbs Wines is leading a separate legal battle to protect the Sonoma County laws that set strict standards for environmentally responsible vineyard development. Those laws were years in the making and are being challenged by special interest groups who have vowed to have them invalidated.
Having amicably settled with the County, Hobbs looks forward to completing his remaining Sonoma vineyard projects.
