Lynn Wheeler: Hobo Wines, Edith & Ida Wines

Graton Rancheria, Southern Pomo land - Santa Rosa, California

www.hobowines.com, @lynnwheeler_ , @hobowinecompany

The Hobo Wine Company is a group effort owned by life partners Kenny Likitprakong and Lynn Wheeler.

A native of Pueblo, Colorado, Lynn landed in California by way of long hot summers in the Panhandle of Texas on her grandparent’s farm. A botanist by way of UCD, Agriculture has long been a centerpiece of her life. For 22 years she has co-owned and co-run the Hobo Wine Company, where she makes her own wine Edith and Ida. She grows food for her family and winery crew, tends a heritage popcorn plot, ferments things on her countertop, and loves to bring together food, wine and friends. 

Kenny Likitprakong, a Santa Rosa native, has for the last 22 years tried to balance the building of business with his life while taking care of his employees. He prioritizes decreasing the winery's carbon footprint by making smart environmental decisions that are good for the planet and the brand. These include organic farming, reduced packaging, and green winery practices. When he isn't making or drinking wine, he enjoys riding his bike in Annadel with his family.

Social Justice and Environmental Restoration Statement
Social Justice and Environmental Preservation statement, unless you want to use the same one as last year. Below:
The Hobo Wine Company is committed to a value system that extends beyond financial progress. We believe a business has an effect on its micro & macro communities with an obligation to better both. We are constantly striving to fight the environmental crisis and we stand behind groups fighting for freedom, liberation, and justice.
Packaging

  • Labels are printed using HP’s environmentally friendly Indigo ElectroInk on 100% post-consumer recycled paper.

  • We discontinued using capsules in 2005 

  • We continue to use natural corks and natural cork products because of their lower carbon footprint to produce. They’re also more recyclable, reusable, and compostable compared to cork alternatives

  • We use 100% antique green glass to ensure the highest percentage of recycled material in our bottles. We also only source domestic glass to reduce the petrol needed for transportation.

  • Our Workbook brand exclusively produces wine packaged in 20L Petainer & stainless steel kegs. By using kegs, we are able to minimize the amount of glass we use. With roughly 8,000 kegs to date, we’ve diverted about 216,000 glass bottles.

Environmental

  • In 2021, we certified our winery as a CCOF certified organic facility.

  • Our winery is powered by local renewable sustainable geothermal energy via Sonoma County’s EVERGREEN CLEAN POWER program.

  • 70 acres of vineyards that we lease are CCOF certified organic.

  • The 8 acres we farm in Sonoma County are CCOF certified organic.

  • 92% of the total vineyards that we source from are sustainably, organically, or biodynamically farmed. The remaining 8% are all farmed under a third party monitored sustainable program.

Community & Giving Back

  • We are members of 1% for the Planet and donate 1% of our gross revenue from all of our brands to 1% for the Planet organizations. Since joining, we have donated over $250,000.

  • In 2017 & 2019 we hosted and organized ping pong tournaments with other businesses in our community that raised over $70,000 benefitting The School Box Project, a non-profit that  provides mobile, trauma informed education, art and play to children displaced by crisis.

  • To support the fight against racism, we give financially to Black Lives Matter, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and Fair Fight.

  • We often donate cash and many cases of wine to non-profits, schools, and other organizations that promote community on an annual basis.

  • We are 50% female owned, 50% female employed, and offer health insurance and retirement accounts.  

  • We hire artists from all backgrounds to design our wine labels.

  • Currently, we are building community through collaborations with Mitote Park in Roseland and pop ups at the winery to provide space for 2 female entrepreneurs.