Vivác Winery Tasting Room & Gallery

Opened in November of 2003 and located at the corner of Highway 75 (Dixon) and Highway 68 (between Taos and Santa Fe), this 900-square-foot adobe building was built by Jesse and Chris themselves. With vaulted ceilings and a striking flagstone bar, the tasting room offers guests a chance to taste impressive Vivác wines. Guests can shop for wine gifts (corkscrews in every budget, a library of wine education books, wine racks, games, logo shirts, Riedel logo glasses, and much more) and enjoy the famous handmade chocolates, contemporary jewelry, and exquisite art (paintings, photography, and blown glass). The Padbergs' thirst for knowledge is accompanied by a desire to share that information, including an intensive training and testing schedule for staff. Each tasting room attendant is required to not only know about the Vivác wines, but also about the process of growing grapes, winemaking, and general knowledge about wines around the world. This training is in an effort to create a knowledgeable staff ready to help each customer to their fullest. Outside, the rock-framed flowerbeds welcome visitors and draw them along flagstones paths into the walled retreat of the patio. The views are breath-taking, one toward the river and mountains gazing over the vineyard, and the other of the massive sandstone mountain, Barrancos Blancos, which is so artfully depicted on the signature Vivác label. The tasting room is open 7 days a week all year long, with free Wi-Fi and a happy-hour season (from spring through fall) that attracts locals and tourists alike to the live-music Saturdays and drink specials, making it truly a community winery. -Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

You know about the grapes, now learn about THE WINERY

The winery facility is on the family property, tucked into the Dixon foothills, surrounded by apple orchards. The original building is a 500-square-foot Rastra-block space built by Jesse and Chris in 1999. This space was quickly outgrown. In 2004 the current facility, a 1500-square-foot metal building, was put up, insulated, and equipped with a full heating and cooling system designed to keep the wines at a constant temperature, from fermentation to oak aging and finally to bottle. The initial building is now used for storage of bottled wines awaiting release. The total winemaking facility is 2000 square feet, not nearly enough for the 20% yearly growth in production. Everything in the winemaking process is done entirely by hand, from hand-sorting the grapes to hand-punch-downs and hand-bottling. The 100% French oak barrique collection is formed of both new and old oak barrels. Despite French oak's high price, the Padbergs insist on using only this top-quality wood because it imparts the sweet spices that are a hallmark of Vivác's Old World-style wines. When not in oak, Vivác wines are fermented and aged in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. -Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

THE VINEYARDS

While a major portion of the grapes used at Vivác are sourced from the southern part of New Mexico (in Deming), Vivác also cultivates their own estate vineyards. The first to be planted was the Fire Vineyard in 1999. Organically farmed, this vineyard sits at 6,000 feet, and was so named because then 8-year-old Jesse and 6-year-old Chris lit the field on fire with fireworks. This vineyard is planted on the family property tucked into the hills of Dixon, near the winery facility and surrounded by apple orchards. When Jesse and Chris planted the vineyard, little was known in the area about what would grow. Local vintners and growers recommended French hybrids, including Leon Millot, Baco Noir, and Marechal Foch. As years have passed and these highly skilled winemakers learned to tame the briar-like rustic qualities of these grapes, the Fire Vineyard estate wine has become a customer favorite! The newly planted 1725 Vineyard is organically farmed and sits at 5,800 feet. It was named based on the information given to us about the land itself by Dixon native and historian, Estevan Arellano. The land where the tasting room and new vineyard are located once belonged to Mr. Arellano's great-grandmother's companion, Francisco Martin, a great-great-grandson of the original Francisco Martin who settled the Embudo Valley in 1725. The couple never married, but had three children. The land passed down through generations and finally to Vivác. Originally the boundaries of this land stretched from the Barrancos Blancos (the white sandstone mountain that is on our label and serves as a landmark to our tasting room) down to the Angostura (which is the present-day Arroyo de la Mina). The Padbergs were struck by the history of the land and the long-lost years of the past; what this soil has seen is awe-inspiring. To quickly articulate all of this, you need say no more then "1725," and thus the new vineyard name was found. 1725 Vineyard, part 1, is planted in white Chenin Blanc grapes. Vivác looks forward to expanding the vineyard in the next year with Pinot Noir. In 2008 we purchased an adjacent 2 acres to the tasting room property, and in 2010, we purchased another 8 acres, also adjacent to the tasting room property, which includes a vineyard house. All of this new property will be planted in vines and eventually house the entire winemaking facility as well. The vineyard will continue to be named 1725 Vineyard. Southern New Mexico's Mimbres Valley (at 4,300 feet) is currently the state's only AVA (American Viticulture Area), and is the site where a major portion of the state's grapes are grown. Vivác works closely with the vineyard manager to pick when the grapes have an appropriate sugar level and yet a level conducive to good acidity. The grapes are handpicked in small baskets and delivered to our winery whole. Vivác Winery, along with other growers in the area, are currently working to have the Embudo Valley named as an AVA. This will help New Mexico greatly expand its reputation and recognition in the wine world. -Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

What is Vivác?

The word "Vivác" is a Spanish term meaning "high-altitude refuge," and Vivác Winery is just that. By choosing only the highest-quality products-from the best grapes, the most advanced winemaking equipment and processes, and real corks, to Riedel logo glasses in the tasting room-Vivác is a rarity. At every turn the Padbergs treat their wines with the utmost care; hand-harvesting and hand-sorting grapes, and even using a gentle bladder pump and gravity feed so as not to bruise the wines. Only high-quality French oak barriques and stainless steel barrels are used for aging. After bottling, these unfiltered, unfined wines rest for 12 months before they are sold. Every winemaking step is done meticulously by hand. The ever-expanding estate Fire Vineyard is farmed organically and keeps this area focused on agriculture. Each item in the tasting room that represents this boutique winery is one of elegance and refinement. With record-breaking ratings in Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Vivác Winery has earned the title of "Highest Rated Red Wine Producer in New Mexico's History." Sunset Magazine has named Vivác "Notable up and coming wine makers" and "Winery to discover now!" With a commitment to excellence, the Vivác Winery family has pushed the boundaries of what New Mexico wine can be! -Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

THE LADIES

Michele and Liliana form the team that runs the business side of Vivác Winery. Michele is the Director of Marketing and Publicity. Liliana is the Tasting Room and Wine Club Manager. Together they push the winery into the forefront of people's minds through events, the Web, social media, and advertising. Vivác's growth is dependent on products getting into the hands of customers every day; the follow-up is that the product in the bottle is superb. Michele was born and raised in Taos, New Mexico. In addition to her work with the Vivác line, she is Creative Director for Red Hot Mama Wines and the host of "Wine Revolution Media," a wine Web show. Michele has a background in fine art and theatre. She studied at the renowned The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, and spent an additional 3 years as a B.F.A. Theatre major with an emphasis on Performance at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Michele also studied jewelry making at the Taos School of Metalsmithing and Lapidary Design before garnering her Executive Sommelier status with the International Wine Guild. Her contemporary paintings and jewelry are for sale at the Vivác Winery Tasting Room and Gallery. Liliana was born and raised in Aguascalientes, Mexico. She has worked as a model and studied photography both in Mexico and at the University of New Mexico-Taos prior to completing her sommelier certification at Esencial Sobre Vinos, Tecnica de la Cara, in Argentina. In addition to her managerial roles with Vivác, Liliana handles the extensive taxes for the winery, happy-hour events, and computer programming. Liliana's greatest fame comes from her business, Chocolates Ek-Chuah, along with her black-and-white photography, both of which are for sale in the Vivác Winery Tasting Room and Gallery. Chocolates Ek-Chuah are hand-made and -painted moulded truffles that delight the professional foodie and the young enthusiast alike. -Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

THE GUYS

Chris and Jesse were born and raised in Dixon, New Mexico. Chris attended the University of Tulane in New Orleans, Louisiana, for three years before transferring to and graduating from the University of New Mexico in 2001. While at UNM, Chris worked on Vivác Winery with Jesse, while he finished up his degree in history. He now lives with his lovely wife, Liliana Zavala Padberg, and their son, Maddox, in Dixon. Jesse attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he got his degree in Spanish Literature. He now lives in Dixon with his lovely wife, Michele Alexandra Padberg (formerly Bartley), and their son, Denim. Jesse and Chris are a nonstop team, making the wines, testing the wines, tasting the wines, and working the vineyards, each step done by hand, together. The perfectionist in each of them drives the two forward to create ever-better wines. Jesse and Chris's studies through UC Davis and The International Wine Guild continue, helping them to unearth the secrets to "the perfect wine." By nurturing each varietal, coaxing each wine through a slow and steady fermentation, and breathing soul into each wine, Jesse and Chris show their true love and passion for wine making. -Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

WINE EDUCATION

Through the world-renowned enology department at the University of California at Davis, the brothers gained credits and knowledge. Both Jesse and Chris continue the pursuit every day and will soon obtain their Wine Making Certification from this very prestigious school. Chris, Jesse, and Michele completed a certified wine sommelier course through the International Wine Guild in Denver, Colorado. Jesse and Michele passed their second-level wine sommelier exams and both have achieved the rank of Certified Executive Sommelier. The couple has also completed several Master-level classes. Chris and Liliana will complete their second level soon. Liliana completed her first level during their visit to Argentina at the Esencial Sobre Vinos, Tecnica de la Cara.-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

Who is Vivác? Part 1: How it started

Vivác Winery is the creation of brothers Jesse and Chris Padberg, along with their wives, Michele and Liliana Padberg, respectively. In November of 1998 Jesse and Chris embarked on a new mission "to make the best wine possible and have a good time doing it!" This meant professionally crafted, world-ranked, dry red wines-a first for New Mexico. Jesse and Chris found inspiration in France and Italy, and were especially drawn in by the Old World wine culture, where winemaking is a dance between art and science. The brothers began reading every publication they could find about grapes, winemaking, and the world of wine. Though extensive travel around the world and mentorships with other local winemakers, they learned about the wine business in general and more specifically about the wine business in Northern New Mexico; "At every turn people were there to help us out" say the brothers. -Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

Releasing our New Pinot Noir & Chardonnay!

Both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir originated in Burgundy, France, the first wine-growing region in the world to produce superb quality wines. Napoleon took control of France and set into place the "inheritance law" which required each son in a family to inherent equally rather then leaving the majority to the eldest. As a result, a piece of property could be owned by 20 men as it was passed down through the generations. An individual family may only own a couple rows in a prestigous vineyard. Not only did this disperse the wealth, but power as well and resulted in Burgundy being known as the most expensive region in the world. Pinot Noir has a legacy for being ethereal in its best form and notoriously difficult to get there in winemaking. The Vivác Pinot Noir, is sultry, finesse driven and elegant. The lighter body makes this wine perfect for a variety of foods and promises to impress even the biggest Pinot-phile. Chardonnay has a reputation for being over oaked and flabby, the Vivác version is elegant, light and creamy. The French oak application was quick in order to keep the crisp fruit and acidity in tact. This wine is truly beautiful. DID YOU KNOW? We just purchased the 10 acres adjoining the Tasting Room and will be planting it in Pinot Noir! Our test plots that we have been working on in the Fire Vineyard over the past few years have indicated that Pinot Noir will grow well and make exquisite wines. It will take several years to mature the vines after planting to get our first harvest, we believe it will be well worth the wait.-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

Live Tasting with the Wine Makers

We accomplished our first LIVE tasting on Livestream.com offering those that tuned in a special discount for an hour after the show. It was a lot of fun despite the several bumps in the road! We decided to set up our own channel as a benefit for our Wine Club members, a way for them to receive their shipment of wine and then taste the wine WITH the wine makers! As it turns out it is a hit for anyone wanting to see the very real, very raw side of Vivác Winery! Log on to LiveStream.com/VivacWinery to view the recorded version and sign up for our email list to get notifications for our next Live tasting. Become a FAN of our business Facebook page to hear more and receive special discounts on too! -Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

1725 Vineyard details

The winner of our half case of wine and vineyard naming contest, is Estevan Arellano, Dixon native and historian. The land that the tasting room and new vineyard are seated, once belonged to Mr. Arellano's great-grandmother's companion, Francisco Martin, a great-great-grandson of the original Francisco Martin who settled the Embudo Valley in 1725. The couple never married, but had three children. The land passed down through generations and finally to Vivác. We will keep the land agricultural, planting grapes and farming them organically. We were struck by the history of the land, which originally stretched from the "Barrancos Blancos" (white sand stone mountain that is on our label and serves as a landmark to our tasting room) down to the "Angostura" (which is the present day 'Arroyo de la Mina'), the long lost years of the past, what this soil has seen is awe inspiring. To quickly articulate all of this, you need say no more then "1725", and thus we found our new name. "1725 Vineyard", part 1, is planted in white Chenin Blanc grapes. We look forward to planting part 2, located across the tasting room driveway and up Hwy 68, in the next year. Part 2 will be planted in Pinot Noir. Again, we would like to thank everyone that entered our contest & suggested names, it was a difficult decision! We hope everyone watches this vineyard grow as we have watched this community grow & remember, Vivác is your community winery, place to gather, celebrate & put down your roots! -Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

You are invited to our Party May 15th!

The "Planting Party" is right around the corner on May 15th! We chose the winner of the Vineyard Naming contest today, which means we have a name for the new vineyard! If you want to know who will walk away with the half case of wine and a life time of fame, you will have to join us May 15th from 3-7pm! 3:00 is public planting (many people have already reserved a vine by emailing Michele@VivacWinery.com), then at 4:00 we kick off our Happy Hour Season with "The Arroyo Kings", this band is a favorite among locals and visitors alike! The new vineyard, part 1, will be planted in Chenin Blanc (a white grape), part 2, the newly acquired land across our driveway and up Hwy 68 will be planted at a later date (don't worry, we will let you know when) in Pinot Noir! Drink Specials, new chocolates, jewelry, art and all your friends await you at Vivác Winery Tasting Room! -Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

FREE SHIPPING: A NEW WINE CLUB OPTION!

FREE SHIPPING WINE CLUB!! Now you can partake in your favorite winery's Wine Club, enjoying discounts, Wine Club member only perks and of course the delectable wines, without the added shipping! 12 btls (4 different wines, 3btls of each) shipped to you FREE 3 times a year! The Wine Makers select the wines to be released for each of our wine club shipments, including the member only small lot wines, first release wines and alerts on favorite wines we are almost sold out of. This means that you, as a club member get the best, first and collectables of Vivác Winery! Don't skimp on wine, skip the shipping! -Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

New Release Details!

2007 Merlot and 2006 V. Merlot: 2007 Signature Label Merlot, is a lighter bodied red wine with nice acidity, making it the perfect pairing for Ham, pork tenderloin or cheeses. The 2006 Reserve V. Merlot is a fuller bodied red wine and drier then the signature label Merlot which makes this wine a complement to lamb, beef or game meat and is fantastic with fig reduction and other berry sauces. Merlot is also a delight when coupled with chocolate! The most planted grape in France, Merlot has battled a bad reputation in the USA. Over produced in the 80's and 90's in the lack luster over oaked approach, Merlot lost its finer qualities. Considered Cabernet Sauvignon without the pain, Merlot varies from lighter and less complex (often in the $13 and under category) to full bodied and robust. The step brother to Cabernet Sauvignon (sharing Cabernet Franc as father), Merlot is an often over looked wine. Here in New Mexico the grape does very well and at Vivác we feel it is so versatile when made with the necessary acidity that we make 2 every year; the lighter food friendly Signature label and the Cabernet Sauvignon style heavy reserve. Mix and Match on case orders and receive a 10% discount and FREE SHIPPING! -Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

Hold it by the what?

Many people think there is so much about wine that is snooty, about being an elitist and while that CAN be true, MOST of it does have practical application! Holding the glass by the bowl warms the wine. While you might think this only applies to white wines, it in fact does not. You don't want to warm your reds above ideal serving temperature either, the warmer is not the better, in fact reds should be served slightly cool. The wine tastes different (this applies to whites and reds) when served , chilled, cool or warm! So pour yourself a nice glass of wine and raise a cheers by the stem of the glass... just don't talk about the legs! -Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

Tannin in wine

If you are one of the unfortunate people out there battling headaches when you drink red wine, we may have the answer for you! Tannin is a histamine found in wine that can cause headaches. Red wine gets its color and some of its tannin from the skins and seeds it is fermented with. Red wine gains more tannin as it is aged in oak barrels. Try drinking lighter red wines such as Pinot Noir or Barbera which generally receive a lighter oaking or young wines that haven't spent much time in oak either. You can also find many red wines that are not oaked at all (read the back label on the bottle for this information), ask your local winery or retailer for suggestions. Play with types of oak, different wineries and different countries use different types of oak, we at Vivác Winery use 100% oak barrels. French Oak/ Hungarian Oak/ American Oak, each gives different flavors to a wine and may play a role in what you are sensitive to. The final word of advice is to be wary of type of oak addition, you may be able to drink wines actually aged in real oak barrels but not those that are aged with oak chips or oak dust (your cheapest wines will find these additives). White wines are separated from the skins and seeds immediately and are often not aged in oak at all (example is our limited edition Sauvignon Blanc aged in Stainless steel), these wines will be your safest bet. -Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

Vivác Has a White Wine?

As Spring promises to come and the snow continues to fall, the Vivác Family readies the cellar with Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay! It is known that we specialize in Dry Red Wines, but little know fact is that we have added Sauvignon Blanc to our list a number of years ago. This cult favorite is not aged in oak, but gently aged in stainless steel which gives it a clean, clear fruit that is elegant and refreshing! New to our line up is a Chardonnay! With our Sauvignon Blanc receiving such rave reviews and selling out instantly, we decided to add another white to the list. The Chardonnay will receive a light oaking in French oak giving it warm vanilla notes and a round mouth feel. This is not to be compared to a California Chardonnay but rather one from Burgundy, France. This food friendly wine is a stunner! Both of of these unique Vivác wines along with our beautiful Dry Rosé of Dolcetto will be released later this Spring! -Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

Give up Wine???

With Mardi Gras behind us and the looming question of what to give up for lent, let us remind those of you inclined to give up alcohol, that "2 glasses of wine a day, keeps the doctor away", or so the saying goes! We suggest not cutting wine out, but simply cutting back on your consumption for the lent season. We would like to remind you of the heart healthy benefits of wine. When consumed with food, wine actually aids in digestion. Furthermore, when cooking with wine, you can make meat more supple , taking in the antioxidants without the alcohol. Cooking with white wine can kill salmonella and is great in sauces! As a reminder, when cooking with wine, never use a wine you yourself would not drink! -Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Vivác Wines are the perfect choice to seduce your new lover, show your spouse there is still a spark after all these years, or commiserate with a friend over a lost love. Let these breath-taking wines, wash you in feelings of euphoria! No Valentines Day is complete without Chocolate! Vivác's in-house Chocolatier produces the most sumptuous, delectable chocolates in the State. Now through Valentine's Day fill up on these treats with a special discount! Top it all off with beautiful contemporary jewelry, copper and precious stones, dramatic and playful! Jewelry is also on sale now through Valentines Day! Vivác Winery is your one stop shopping! Make every day special with Vivác Winery! -Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!

Contest to Name the New Vineyard!

Have a little piece of immortality with the naming of the new Vivác Winery Vineyard! The new vineyard, located at our Tasting Room, will have its own wine named for the vineyard and if you are the winner, your name will be displayed at the Tasting Room as the genius behind the naming! The winner will be announced at our Planting Party this spring when we plant the vineyard! How do you come up with a name for a vineyard? Take the following information about Vivác (meaning "High Altitude Refuge") and see how you can mix that up in your own clever, brilliant way! Vivác Winery was started by brothers Jesse and Chris Padberg before Chris was 21, 12 years ago! The Vineyard will sit at 6,000ft, one of the highest altitude vineyards in the world! Organically farmed, this vineyard will most probably be planted in Pinot Noir or Riesling. Fresh and young, edgy and sophisticated, the professionals at Vivác have a commitment to excellence and lovingly craft each wine using only french oak barriques and state of the art stainless steel tanks. Jesse and Chris have spent many years adding to their education and knowledge in order to create wines that Wine Enthusiast Magazine has called "Impressive...Savory...Enticing...Unique and Intriguing" and Sunset Magazine has listed as "Notable Wine Makers to look for" and "Winery to Discover Now"! Email your suggestions to info@VivacWinery.com Subject line: Vineyard Name or stop by our Tasting Room and get inspired dropping your idea in our suggestion box! For more information about Vivác, see our web-site www.VivacWinery.com. Exact date for the Planting Party and Winner's Announcement will be scheduled when we are clear of a final freeze, projected for May. -Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!