Wine Portfolio

Delia Viader

Winemaker, Viader Vineyards & Winery

I came to the United States as a post-graduate college student. Even before establishing VIADER, I was decidedly more attracted to Old World wines, and particularly impressed by the wines of St. Emilion which incorporate a lot of Cabernet Franc.

This was my inspiration for creating a blend with a high percentage of Cabernet Franc (the VIADER blend usually comprises of nearly 40% Cabernet Franc, and 60% Cabernet Sauvignon).

Always "daring to be different," I decided to bring the Bordeaux style of winemaking and vineyard cultivation to the California hillside by planting the vines in rows going up and down the mountain, following the path of the afternoon sun down the steep slopes of Howell Mountain. Soon after successfully releasing my first vintage, it was clear that with optimal sun exposure, and unique soil that allows for natural drainage, the vines in the rocky terroir produce fruit of exceptional quality.

In 2002, my son Alan came on board first to manage the vineyards and later became our Director of Operations, joining me on the winemaking and production team.

Country born: Argentina

Education: PhD in philosophy from Sorbonne Paris, MBA from MIT Sloan School, Financial Management from UC Berkeley, and Viticulture & Enology classes from UC Davis.

Years in the wine industry: 30+ years

Winemaking Philosophy:
Our philosophy is to allow the grapes and terroir (all factors that influence the character of grapes grown in a specific microclimate), to express themselves naturally in every glass of Viader.