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!