Atmosphere Wines: winery information
Winemaker: Paul Hoffman
-- Owner and Winemaker, Atmosphere & Curveball Wines
-- Founder & President, PJH Vines and Wines Export Broker Agency
-- Owner & Designer, Napa Valley Surf Club Clothing Line
-- Owner/Winemaker, The Private Winemaker Consulting Firm
Paul Hoffman has always had a passion for fine wines and the wine business. Having over sixteen years experience in hospitality, sales & marketing, distribution, winemaking/production, and business ownership, he has the experienced the world of wine through many facets. Paul began his career in the hotel industry with Stouffer, and then Renaissance Resorts, gaining a great understanding of sales and marketing. In 1995 he took a position as Director of Sales at Bellows International in St. Thomas (USVI) and expanded his skills in profitably managing a diverse product portfolio and preserving strong partner relations. Paul left the Caribbean in 2000 and joined Robert Mondavi Corporation. He moved up quickly through the organization assuming responsibility for wine education programs, developing a new sales function for private label wine, and enhancing and developing worldwide sales, marketing and educational programs for fine wine accounts, including duty free. His organizational contributions in national accounts and wine education resulted in his selection of the prestigious Michael Mondavi “Inspiration and Leadership” award.
In 2002, Paul teamed up with three other partners to follow their passion and start producing wine. The partners began Medusa & Spellbound Wines. Paul took the helm and established these two new brands nationally and in key international markets. In a two year period he grew the brands to impressive levels, won several wine quality awards, received “outstanding” scores from periodicals, and managed the company to a profitable position.
In 2006, Paul had the opportunity to partner with a few outstanding winegrowers and harvest grapes from their vineyards to make wine of his own. These wines represent unique parcels of pristine vineyards in Sonoma County farmed with A+ quality in mind. In addition to the vineyard and winery influence, Paul believes a large part of wine’s magic is due to your surroundings while enjoying a bottle, therefore he named the program, Atmosphere Wines. Knowing these vineyards could only produce a small amount of wine, Paul decided to create Curveball Wines along with a close partner. These wines are focused on putting different appellations, varietals, winemaking techniques and taste profiles together to represent the best of the vintage. Two other wines, Headbanger and 401K will soon follow.
In addition to the main wine programs, Paul is a consulting winemaker for three private wineries, operates a small wine brokerage in the Caribbean, and owns/designs a new clothing line under the Napa Valley Surf Club name. He resides in the quiet wine country setting of Sonoma Valley.
Annual Production: 500 cases
All fruit for our wines is sourced from amazing Sonoma County growers.
Grape Varieties Planted