About This Wine:

The DARE Tempranillo comes from a small 1.5 acre lot on the Somerston Ranch Vineyard on the northeast side of the Napa Valley. The Somerston Ranch has the ideal climate and terroir for growing Tempranillo. The vineyard was planted using a clone selection from Ribera del Duero, the famous winegrowing region of Spain specializing in Tempranillo. Temperatures at the Somerston Ranch Vineyard tend to be cooler as they are in the northern winemaking regions of Spain. The cooler climate gives floral notes, a softer mineral to earthy edge and more fruit concentration, as the grapes tend to ripen later and at a much slower pace. Sustainable farming practices are closely monitored by Alan Viader to ensure only the top quality fruit is produced.

Winemaker Notes:

Tempranillo is a very distinct grape variety. Good-sized and thick-skinned berries give rich color, solid tannin structure and ability to age. Aged in French oak barrels, the wines produced from this variety are full to medium-bodied, yet elegant and smooth.

The 2006 DARE Tempranillo has a beautiful bouquet of violets on the nose amid layers of spice, dark fruit, bitter chocolate, tobacco, rich caramel, cigar wrap and hints of leather on the firm and powerful finish. Our Tempranillo would easily pair well with an array of grilled vegetables, luscious meats, game or even mildly spiced tapas.

Winemaking:

The Tempranillo receives extended cold soaking, warm fermentation in cement tank, manual punchdowns, and extended maceration up to 38 days on the skins. Once in barrel, the wine undergoes Malolactic fermentation. The wine spends 6 months sur less to add to its structure and help broaden the mid-palate. The wine ages up to 12 months in French oak barrels tucked away in our underground caves. Our 100% Tempranillo is then hand bottled and hand labeled.

Growing Season:

The 2006 harvest finished in early November and will go down as a ’grower’s year’ as we were faced with a variety of challenges. Wet weather continued late into spring delaying budbreak. Mid-July presented a record-setting ten day heat wave. Somewhat cooler weather arrived in August and continued throughout harvest, allowing for moderately paced and deliberate ripening and a long harvest period. Cool weather dominated early October, with a light rain in the first week. Harvest numbers (yields) were down a bit from 2005 but the long growing season helped with tannin maturity and flavor concentration delivering one of the best vintages of Tempranillo we’ve seen from this vineyard.

About The Winery:

Founded in 1986 by Delia Viader, VIADER is located 1200 feet above the Napa Valley floor just northeast of St. Helena on the steep, rocky slopes of Howell Mountain. 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.

The first VIADER wine was produced in 1989 and with that vintage a proprietary estate blend was established that features Cabernet Franc with Cabernet Sauvignon as its base element. At the time, this blend was a daring diversion from other Cabernet-based wines being made in Napa Valley. This blend has come to be the signature wine from VIADER.

Over the years, the product line has grown to include Syrah under the VIADER label and two additional brands: The “V” is a reserve Bordeaux-style blend featuring Petit Verdot. The DARE line features two distinct wines – a Cabernet Franc and a Tempranillo – made from selected vineyards. Born in Argentina, Proprietor Delia Viader spent much of her formative years in Europe and especially in France. She developed an international approach to business and a long range vision of success. Delia came to the United States as a post-graduate student and earned her PhD. While raising four children on her own, Delia forged the vision and design for this unique estate vineyard property, wine blend and brand.

Because of Delia’s dedication, persistence and attention to high ideals, VIADER was recognized early on as a first growth property and the wines have been highly coveted since inception. In the last few years, Delia’s children have come back to help manage and operate the business making this a true family concern. Alan Viader is Direction of Operations and Winemaking, Janet Viader is Director of Marketing and Sales. Mariela Viader (married to Alan) is in charge of the Culinary Program. In the winter of 2006, Michel Rolland, the world-renowned enologist, and family friend, was brought on as a winemaking consultant.

Delia has earned the reputation as a pioneer for planting the vines running directly down the mountain, in a style normally found in Bordeaux. After receiving initial cirticism, eventually Delia’s vineyards on Howell Mountain were regarded as an ideal model for growing super-premium quality grapes. The original focus on Cabernet Franc as the main blending component, thought to be radical upon release, was a natural harkening back to Delia’s European roots and her love of Cheval Blanc. The idea of a single woman running a successful winery business while raising a family of four children on her own was a rare happening in Napa Valley’s developing fine wine business in the late ‘80’s.

Over the years, Delia has remained true to her vision. Today Viader Vineyards is a thriving family business producing world-class wines from a magnificent, mature estate vineyard property complete with small bonded winery, underground caves, and a Hospitality Center which offers tours and tastings by appointment and a sophisticated wine and food pairing Culinary Program.

About The Winemaker:

Delia Viader, Owner/Winemaker – Argentine-born Delia Viader came to the United States as a post-graduate college student in the 1980s. She holds a doctorate in Philosophy from the Sorbonne University in Paris, France and pursued advanced business Studies at three American universities. At the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Delia studied Executive Programs in Financial Management, Corporate Strategy and Negotiation. She then moved to California and at the University of California Berkeley studied Financial Management, Corporate Market-Focused Organizations and Masters Program in Business Administration. Delia has four children ranging in age from 13 to 28 year of age, and even with the great feat of raising a family, has also managed to create a successful vineyard and winery. Delia’s family and fascination with fine wines has been her primary motivation for starting her beautiful winery overlooking the Napa Valley. After founding VIADER in 1986, Delia pursued programs in Enology and Viticulture offered at University of California Davis to better learn the practical theory behind making fine wine.

Technical Analysis:

RELEASE DATE: Summer 2009

WINEMAKER: Alan Viader (son) & Delia Viader

APPELLATION: Napa Valley

HARVEST DATE: October 1, 2006

BRIX AT HARVEST: 23.8º

PH: 4.03

PRODUCTION: 350 cases