Drinks
with Les Dames:
Delia Viader, Viader Vineyards
Wine Skinny Managing Editor Robyn Tinsley
is a member of Les Dames d'Escoffier, an
international organization of women in the
food, beverage and hospitality professions.
Les Dames (or LDEI)
is a great community-based group that offers
a supportive network to its members and
participates in local educational and philanthropic
efforts like the LDEI
Civic Agriculture & Garden Initiative.
These are also some women who can really
get into a wine tasting, if you know what
we mean! Each issue, we'll bring
you the results of a Drinks with Les Dames
tasting -- what they liked, what they didn't,
food pairing ideas, and more.
There are several reasons why Delia Viader
is a perfect choice for this column and
its focus on pioneering and (not to be redundant)
outstanding women in the wine industry.
As the founder of Napa Valley's Viader
Vineyards, Delia Viader (pronounced vee-ah-DARE,
by the way) blazed a trail in a number of
ways, not the least of which was being a
single woman running a successful winery
while raising four children on her own.
Beyond that, however, she also was one of
the first in California to plan vines running
up and down the steep hillsides of Howell
Mountain - addressing erosion control issues
in the process and establishing vineyards
that require careful hand farming.
She also was one of the few growing and
blending Cabernet Franc in California at
the time, daring to veer away from the 100%
Cabernet Sauvignons that were, and remain,
much more the Napa norm.
Since its inception in 1986, Delia has
kept Viader Vineyards true to her vision
of the brand while expanding its offerings
from that early Cabernet Franc - Cabernet
Sauvignon flagship blend.
Today the lineup incorporates Syrah, Petit
Verdot and Tempranillo and includes DARE,
a second label that, in a very French way,
offers excellent quality fruit and winemaking
at a more accessible, and affordable, level
than the Viader wines.
We recently had the opportunity to meet
with Janet Viader, Delia's daughter and
now the winery's Director of Marketing and
Sales, and taste through a number of current
releases. Here are our notes:
($90). A blend of
60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Cabernet
Franc, this wine offers up a smoky, earthy
nose followed by pretty black cherry and
berry fruit flavors that are evolve into
a complex, elegant, smooth finish. Ready
to drink now and over the next three or
four years. Locate
this wine online or in your area.
($120). Earthy, anise and
dried herb aromas accent tightly-wound currant
and concentrated berry fruit. A chewy mouthful
of wine with distinctive character and exotic,
spicy notes. A blend of 55% Petit Verdot
and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. Could use a
bit of decanting now or drink over the next
four or five years. Locate
this wine online or in your area.
($50). Just
a lovely wine, with heady, concentrated,
sweet red currant and berry aromas and flavors
laced with mushroom and baking spices that
linger on the focused finish. Should age
nicely - drink now and over the next five
or six years. Locate
this wine online or in your area.
($40). An
intriguing play between sleek, aromatic
red fruit and dusty, spice-laced tannins
that offer underlying grip to the plush
finish. Ready to drink now and over the
next two or three years. Locate
this wine online or in your area.
($40). It's easy to fall for this wine at
first whiff, with its pretty wild strawberry,
floral and sweet cedar aromas. Supple red
fruit flavors pick up soft earthy notes
through the finish, along with dashes of
brown spice and toast. Ready to drink now
and over the next two or three years. Locate
this wine online or in your area.
Learn more about Viader and its wines
at www.viader.com.
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Viader
2004 Napa Valley
Viader
2005 Syrah Napa Valley
Viader
2005 Tempranillo Napa Valley DARE