We like to encourage people to look at the descriptive elements of wine writers and offer caution against the rating system. While the rating system has its value, few wine writers are able to truly appreciate different styles of a single wine. The analogy I often use is that of a writer for Architectural Digest who specializes in log homes trying to apply a number rating to a Victorian... while they may be able to describe it, they certainly wouldn't fully appreciate its craftsmanship and details.
HdV Articles
Media Information and Links
Wine & Spirits Magazine: Best in the World of Wine
Wine and Spirits Magazine has selected HdV as one of the "Best New American Wineries."
Bill Ward of the (Minneapolis) StarTribune: The Promise of Youth
Bill Ward sat down and chatted with our young (yet wise) Assistant Winemaker, Tyler Thomas.
Food & Wine: Healthy Dishes That Won't Weigh You Down
Emily Kaiser gets the inside cooking scoop from Stéphane, our winemaking, trapeze flying, chef extraordinaire.
Rocky Mountain News: Selfish winemakers vs. the committee
Jennifer Rosen sits down and discusses HdV wines with our winemaker Stéphane Vivier.
San Francisco Chronicle: King of Carneros
A walk through the vineyard with Larry Hyde as explained by San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Amanda Gold.
San Francisco Chronicle: The 2004 HdV Chardonnay selected as a Top 100 wine of the year
The Bay Areas leading local newspaper selects another HdV wine as one of their Top 100 wines for 2007.
Vinography.com: Mr. Adler Yarrow reviews our 2006 de la Guerra Chardonnay
World renown wine critic, blogging cyber mega-giant and highly regarded wine expert, Mr. Adler Yarrow understands the purpose and philosophy behind our wines. In summation: He gets it.
Wine and Spirits: The Year's Best
It would be boring if only our Chardonnay won awards.... without further ado, our 2003 Red Blend selected by the Wine and Spirits esteemed critics as a wine of the year.
Wine Spectator: The Wise Man of Carneros
Wine Spectator journalist, Daniel Soog, set some time aside to get to know the "H" of HdV.
Food & Wine American Wine Awards: 2004 HdV Chardonnay is selected as the best Chardonnay over $20
The votes were tallied and our 2004 HdV Chardonnay was honored as the best Chardonnay over $20 for 2007.
Sunset Magazine's 2007 Wine Awards: 2004 HdV Chardonnay is the best white wine over $50
Despite countless, equally worthy wineries, the esteemed panel at Sunset Magazine awarded our 2004 Chardonnay as the best white wine over $50 for 2007.
Hyde de Villaine Takes a French Approach to California Wine
John Mariani, Bloomberg.com writer, puts our winemaker, Stéphane Vivier, on the spot. Fortunately, no question is too tough for our fearless french winemaker.
Napa Valley Vintners Wine Auction
HdV Ranks Ninth at the 2007 Napa Valley Vintners Barrel Auction
HdV 2006 "Old Wente Selection" Chardonnay
Many considered us crazy when we announced that we would be the only winery presenting a white wine varietal at the 2007 Barrel Auction. However, we believe event participants deserve variety. It may be a "one man march," but with another top ten finish (for the second year in a row), we think the participants have spoken.
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Section: The Flying Winemaker
HdV winemaker, Stéphane Vivier, shows off his dexterity and bravery while participating in one of his favorite hobbies: Trapeze.
"Winemaking is a high-wire act. The winemaker needs perfect balance between patience and quick, aggressive action. So maybe more winemakers should join Stephane Vivier of HdV Wines in Napa for his weekend hobby -- practicing the flying trapeze with instructor Marek Kaszuba in Sonoma. This activity is recommended before the barrel tasting, not afterward."
-W. Blake Gray
Beverage: Luxury Wines from California
Sandy Block highlights various wines from his Northern California wine tour last summer including HdV's Syrah and Chardonnay.
Eric Asimov December 5th, 2006 Blog Excerpt
"....Since I've been home from France I've had three exceptional bottles that I wanted to mention to you, all selling for $50 to $60. The first is the 2004 Los Carneros chardonnay from HdV, and it even has a Burgundy connection. HdV is a joint venture between Hyde Vineyards in Carneros and Aubert and Pamela de Villaine. Aubert de Villaine is the co-director of DRC, while Pamela, his wife, is a cousin of the Hydes. The DRC link, naturally, is enough to excite any wine lover. I've been following HdV since their first vintage in 2000, but this is the first of their wines that I've really liked. It's got the richness and fruit of a California chardonnay with the balance and good acidity of a white Burgundy, and it was lithe enough to be a fine match for rigatoni with broccoli, garlic and olive oil. It's delicious now, and I'd like to try it again in a couple of years."
Robb Report Holiday Host Guide Vintage Gifts: "A wine connoisseur's cornucopia for the coming season"
"This Syrah is a dark,
smoky red with delicious aromas of blackberry, currant,
and cedar seasoned with cinnamon, with a lingering
lavender perfume."
-Brett Anderson and Bruce Wallin, November 2006
San Francisco Chronicle: Top 100 Wines of 2006
Compiled by Linda Murphy and Lynne Char Bennett, HdV's 2004 Syrah is considered one of the years best wines: "....Elegant and complex, it has a subtle gaminess with underpinnings of blackberry, black cherry, dusky herb and a hint of earth. The lengthy palate is awash with concentrated fruit, spice and leather, and enveloped by velvety tannins."
Wine Review Online: HdV Brings French Accent to Carneros
Michael Apstein explains the HdV story and philosophy; wine reviews included.
The Press Democrat: Cool Syrahs
Virginie Boone article discussing cool climate Syrahs in California; HdV recommended.
Appellation America 2003 HdV Chardonnay Review
Thom Elkjer reviews the 2003 HdV Chardonnay.
Appellation America 2005 de la Guerra Chardonnay Review
Thom Elkjer reviews the 2005 de la Guerra Chardonnay.
Napa Valley Vintners Wine Auction
HdV Ranks Sixth at This Year's Auction Napa Valley
HdV 2005 Chardonnay
HdV's inaugural offering at Auction Napa Valley, a barrel of 25 year old vine 2005 (Wente Clone) Chardonnay, ranked no. 6 of out 106 barrel lots in highest bids garnered. It was the only Chardonnay barrel in the barrel auction, commanding more per case than 100 other red barrels, primarily Cabernet Sauvignon.
Departures Magazine March 2006 Article Excerpt
"....wine director Tim Kopec says: "There are lots of bad Chardonnays from France as well as the States. The trick is to find the good ones. I think HdV is the best Chardonnay being made in California, especially at its price. You can taste that it comes from California because of all the fruit, but it also shows a fine Burgundian hand in the way it's made...."
TravelLady March 2006
HdV Wine article in TravelLady Magazine.
Vintrust December 2005 write up on HdV wines
Writer explains the HdV background as well as HdV food pairings.