Viader Vineyards & Winery

Built on the foundations of family, perseverance and determination, VIADER (pronounced Veeya Dare) thrives today as a multi-generational, internationally-recognized boutique Napa Valley first growth estate specializing in limitedproduction, mountain-grown Bordeaux-style blends.

Planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Syrah and Petit Verdot at a steep, 32% slope, the 1200-ft elevation VIADER estate is a one-of-a-kind 92-acre vineyard parcel delivering low-yield, exceptional fruit reflective of VIADER’s unique Howell Mountain terroir. Favoring a softer, finesse-driven style focused on terroir, elegance and aromatics, as opposed to power and brawn, VIADER wines cater to the strengths of the estate’s rocky volcanic soils, western exposure and unique European-style vertical planting.

A trailblazer among the Napa Valley winemaking community, VIADER has been forging new frontiers since the winery’s inaugural Howell Mountain vineyard planting in 1986, which entailed a couple of sticks of dynamite, an unconventional vision and a nontraditional visionary: Delia Viader. As one of the first female winemakers in the Napa Valley, Delia Viader was also one of the first vintners in the region to plant her vines vertically up and down the hillside, as opposed to California’s typical horizontal terracing. And one of the first in Napa to tackle and successfully showcase Cabernet Franc as a deserving blending companion with Napa’s King, Cabernet Sauvignon.

For more than 30 years, Delia Viader’s pioneering spirit has lived up to the colloquial “dare” in VIADER – a spirit that continues to permeate throughout all facets of the family business. Born in Argentina and raised in Europe, Delia’s ambitions to pursue post-graduate education in California as a single mother of four resulted in an entrepreneurial venture that not even Delia could have predicted.

Enamored by the quiet, yet up and coming energy of the Napa Valley in the 80’s, it was along the steep, rocky volcanic slopes of Howell Mountain that Delia entertained the radical idea of pursuing her own vineyard. It was a small site hindered by large, almost impenetrable rocks that likely would have been passed over as too difficult to plant for years and even decades to come, if it weren’t for the foresight and determination of a young, driven woman from Europe who saw something special and her father who furnished the initial loan to lay down roots on this otherwise untouched Napa Valley mountainside.

While it did require several rounds of dynamite to handle some of the larger rocks, Delia’s vision, inspired by the Old World vineyards of Bordeaux that she remembered fondly from her travels in France, soon took shape with the groundbreaking release of the winery’s inaugural 1989 vintage of VIADER : a non-traditional Napa Valley Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon blend that would set the stage for future award-winning vintages to come.

Precariously positioned on dangerously rocky terrain, the VIADER vines defy adversity, testifying to the courage and determination necessary to pioneer their distinctive, award-winning wines. Emulating a European design quite rare in California, the vines are oriented up and down the steep hillsides, a planting method that optimizes sun exposure, vine density and erosion control. Planting on such a steep grade of 32% is a challenge and requires meticulous hand farming.

VIADER prides itself in producing exceptional wines that are sustainably grown and hand-farmed, with very low yields per acre. Over the years, Delia has sought out the industry’s top consultants to farm her vineyard in the most natural and sustainable ways possible. From 2001 to 2010, VIADER worked with respected biodynamic viticulture consultant, Philippe Armenier to trial the efficacy of 100% biodynamic farming on 20% of their property. The trial revealed invaluable insights to the vineyards’ limits, as well as its infinite potential when farmed with the precise combination of biodynamic and organic practices, which prevail today under the careful supervision of Alan Viader.

Spacing in VIADER vineyard is very tight at 2,200 vines per acre, planted every 5′ x 4′ - approximately four times the average planting density. The vineyard’s volcanic loamy soils offer superior drainage for each of the VIADER estate varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Syrah. The lack of topsoil stresses the plant and forces the grapevine to concentrate all of its resources into the production of the fruit.

The vineyard was planted in order to best represent the distinctiveness of this incredibly challenging terroir. The orientation of the vine rows offers the optimum conditions for the ripening of the fruit. The afternoon sun shines directly over the top of the canopy of the grapevines, which filters the light, preventing the grapes from receiving direct sunlight, which can damage the fruit. The mountain breezes easily flow between the rows, which are positioned up and down the mountain, as opposed to the traditional method of close-to-contour terracing. This is especially important in the hot months before harvest, and during the last months of winter, when temperatures drop and there is threat of frost.

Throughout the day, the volcanic rock component in the ground absorbs the sun’s heat. After sunset, this heat is released, providing VIADER’s fruit with an extra two hours of ripening after dark. This advantage allows the fruit to develop full maturity up to two weeks ahead of most, resulting in an earlier harvest before the vines are exposed to the danger of rain. This also allows Alan and his team to be selective when harvesting, without being rushed. With average yields fewer than 2 tons per acre, the result is beautiful, concentrated fruit that is full of flavor and the perfect canvas for crafting VIADER wine.