Viano Vineyards
The Conrad Viano Estate, now managed by the family’s fourth and fifth generations, was founded by the Viano family in 1920. They purchased the already planted vineyard, which had been established in 1888. It reminded them of their vineyards in Piedmont, Italy. The area was named Vine Hill and was originally home to more than 15 wineries.
The century-old Viano vineyard is nestled on hillsides surrounding a fertile little valley in the San Francisco Bay area county of Contra Costa. It is here that warm days and nights cooled by breezes from the Carquinez Strait provide the necessary temperature balance.
The valley, located midway between the Napa and Livermore valleys boasts a combination of ideal soil and climatic conditions favorable for growing premium wine grapes, including Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, French Columbard, Muscat Canelli, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, Petite Sirah, Sangiovese, and Zinfandel. Vines are grown using traditional methods and are all head-pruned and dry farmed. The sloping hillsides provide excellent drainage.
Some of the original vines still remain while the balance of the vineyard has been expanded and replanted to keep up with contemporary tastes and desires. Conrad Viano wines are produced using the most natural, viticultural practices possible, along with traditional winemaking techniques. All these fine handcrafted wines are made using natural yeast and aged in small oak cooperage.