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!