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Argentine born Delia Viader came to the United States as a post-graduate college student. Even before establishing VIADER, Delia Viader found she was decidedly more attracted to Old World wines. She was particularly impressed by the wines of Chateau Cheval Blanc in St. Emilion, from which she based the idea for her first blend, the 1989 VIADER (40% cabernet franc, 60% cabernet sauvignon). Always "daring to be different," Delia 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. At the time, she met against strong opposition and criticism for planting her vines in this way, simply due to the fact that it had never been done before. However, soon after successfully releasing her first vintage, it was clear that her efforts to develop the vineyard were worthwhile. With optimal sun exposure, and unique soil that allows for natural drainage, the vines struggle to survive in the rocky terroir and produce fruit of exceptional quality. 
Since childhood, Alan has assisted in the vineyards at VIADER, primarily working during his summer vacation. Today he looks back fondly on those early summer mornings when he was responsible for manually clearing the piles of rocks from between the rows to allow the tractor to pass… In college, he formally pursued his interest in viticulture with a hands-on program in Sonoma and he learned the fundamentals of winemaking at UC Davis. There, he accumulated more knowledge and respect for the organic farming principles he grew up with at VIADER. Alan also spearheaded the biodynamic project with consultant Phillipe Armenier, integrating the biodynamic calendar and several herbal treatments to the vines and in the cellar with fervor. Alan has been managing the VIADER vineyards
since 2002, but has worked in all areas of wine production, and also national sales. In 2005, looking to gain more winery experience, Alan worked the harvest in Mendoza, Argentina with close friends Manuel Ferrer Minettti and Santiago Achaval from Bodega Achaval-Ferrer. While in Argentina, he was picking fruit from hundred-year-old Malbec vines, and soon after, out of his appreciation for the Bordeaux varietal, he installed 174
vines of Malbec at VIADER to have “something to play with.” The following year in 2006, Alan started dedicating his time to both vineyard management and winemaking, and would later become the Director of Operations, responsible for the 2005 wines at VIADER. As Delia's right-hand, Alan has the opportunity of overseeing production from start to finish. And having inherited his mother’s passion for winemaking and expressing the terroir, Alan is looking forward to many exciting vintages in the family business.
Delia Viader, Alan Viader, Dany Rolland (Michel's wife) Rolland works with two other independent consultants, Athanase Fakorellis and Pascal Chatonnet. His wife Dany runs the company laboratory and many aspects of the family wineries, Chateaux Le Bon Pasteur, Fontenil in Fronsac and La Grande Clotte in Lussac. |
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