Beginnings
Punk, pinot, and planting roots.
Ross Cobb grew up mountain biking and skateboarding the hills of Marin County. His father was a marine biologist and Ross was fortunate enough to travel the world at an early age, often skin-diving with his parents on the weekends. Suffice to say, the ocean always played a big role in Ross’s life.
College brought him to University of Santa Cruz where he studied agroecology with a focus on soil science. Music had found Ross early, and his affinity for the bass guitar and the sound of punk would never leave him. One of Ross’s first mentors was a professor at UCSC. He moonlit as a weekend radio DJ and would let Ross sit in on sessions. What began as a love of music, grew into an obsession for collecting vinyl.
Upon graduating, Ross found himself spending weekends driving up to Sonoma County to help his parents farm their fledgling vineyard Coastlands. He wanted to be closer to the family business (and the new skate park in Santa Rosa) and took a job with Ferrari Carrano in 1994. There he launched their first soil science lab over the course of two vintages.
On The Path
A passion and dedication to the craft.
In 1998, Ross’s tour of winemaking in the Sonoma Coast began in earnest. Hired by the founders Burt and Ed, Ross took over as viticulturist and enologist at Williams Selyem. After two years he then moved to Flowers Winery as associate winemaker in 2000. He worked under Hugh Chappelle for four years before taking over as head winemaker for the subsequent five vintages.
Over the years Ross became friends with David Hirsch, having purchased his fruit at Williams Selyem, and living in proximity to his vineyard at Flowers. In 2009, Ross became the head winemaker of Hirsch helping to launch the eponymous brand into prominence for six vintages. Throughout his time as winemaker at Hirsch, Ross lived on the vineyard with his wife and newborn daughter.
In 2001, Ross started the family brand Cobb Wines with his parents. He utilized years of experience with cool-climate Pinot Noir to craft wines from the estate vineyard Coastlands that maintain a true sense of place, allowing the site to speak through his winemaking.
Mastery
A life dedicated to the land and the pursuit of the perfect Pinot Noir.
Ross continues to make wine for fellow bassist Les Claypool at Pachyderm Cellars and Furthermore Wines both in Sebastopol. Today, Ross not only farms the estate himself but also lives on property with his wife Cindy and their daughter Kennedy.
Mastery
A life dedicated to the land and the pursuit of the perfect Pinot Noir.
Ross continues to make wine for fellow bassist Les Claypool at Pachyderm Cellars and Furthermore Wines both in Sebastopol. Today, Ross not only farms the estate himself but also lives on property with his wife Cindy and their daughter Kennedy.
To me, collecting records is as important as making wine. Having a wide range of musical influences makes you a better musician, just as tasting across the world makes you a better winemaker.