Wine column: Hubba hubba – more than just an expression
Hannah Littschwager and Riley Hubbard.
– Hubba Hubba is an expression of excitement, and it’s also a winery in Paso Robles where winemaker/owner Riley Hubbard creates exciting, fun, expressive wines mirroring her effusive personality!
On Sunday evening, June 9th, Riley Hubbard, along with Hannah Littschwager, were pouring their wines at the home of one of their wine club members in the San Fernando Valley for a group of Paso Robles wine lovers who were brimming with enthusiasm. There was a palpable buzz in the air on this perfect late Spring evening as Riley shared and introduced her wines to this “fine wine” gathering.
Riley Hubbard makes “serious” wine for “unserious people!” They are expressive, captivating, and fun. With names like “Mushroomhead,” “Mutha,” “Butch,” plus others, each wine is named after a family member, having a personal connection, and a fun story behind the name.
Riley cuts no corners in sourcing the best grapes from Santa Barbara, through the Central Coast, and as far away as the Cienega Valley AVA in San Benito County.
Producing blends and single varietals (such as not-so-common Verdelho), Riley is a small boutique producer with a tasting room in Tin City, Paso Robles.
The hosts making pizzas.
The evening featured wines paired with mouth-watering creative gourmet pizzas hot from the hosts’ backyard pizza oven. Home-made dough for the crust, cooked to perfection with farm-to-table ingredients, the evening was a grape success.
After years of studying all aspects of viticulture, enology, and wine-making techniques from Australia to France, then returning to Paso Robles, Riley has worked with some of the most renowned wineries and winemakers in the area ( such as Law, Desperada, L’Aventure, Monochrome). Honing her craft, Riley took a leap of faith in 2016 to begin her own label. If you haven’t been to Hubba’s tasting room, it’s time to put that on your wine destination list.
The greater Los Angeles area is a hotbed for wine and food lovers. Paso Robles, being about a 3–4-hour drive, is a perfect and easy overnight (or longer) trip to explore this premier California wine area.
Riley was excited to come down from Paso and be able to present and talk about her wine and the Paso Robles’ wine region with an enthusiastic group of people, many of whom said Paso (and Hubba) would be their next wine trip!
Don Sonderling is a freelance writer covering California’s unique lifestyle, emphasizing the state’s distinctive wine, food, and adventure culture. He may be reached at: donsonderling@gmail.com.
