Chimney Rock Winery Winemaker Elizabeth Vianna’s winemaking journey began in 1998 when she worked her first harvest as a harvest intern while pursuing her master’s in enology at U.C. Davis. Her talent led her to the role of Assistant Winemaker at Chimney Rock in January 2002, and she further advanced to the position of Head Winemaker in April 2005. After almost 23 years at Chimney Rock, she has held the dual role of head winemaker and general manager for nearly 13 years.
“This job has been one of the great loves of my life. I love the family that I work for; they’ve been very good to me. I have had the privilege of a fantastic team. And a lot of investment has been made here that takes Chimney Rock to the next level,” proclaimed Vianna.
Elizabeth Vianna, Chimney Rock crush, Napa, California
Had she followed her original instincts, Vianna would be a doctor today. A native of São Paulo, Brazil, she studied pre-med at Vassar before applying to the renowned winemaking program at UC Davis instead of medical school. In short, her love of wine, creativity, and artistry won out, as evidenced by her take on winemaking.
“I think metaphorically about wine when I blend [Chimney Rock’s] Elevage Red. I think about Mark Rothko and those soft, rounded edges of his beautiful paintings. But I also think about music and wine. They have texture, they have volume, they have tension. The brain goes back to music and what is seamless. It’s using the aesthetic points of reference I’ve found in other arts, whether music or visual arts, and translating them into wine.”
Although Chimney Rock is well known for Cabernet Sauvignon, Vianna also has a penchant for her white wines. “We make two whites—Sauvignon Gris, fermented in stainless steel, very crisp and beautiful. And then Elevage Blanc is a white wine for the red wine drinker because it has age-ability, complexity, and a lot of depth. Elevage Blanc is a blend of Sauvignon Gris and Sauvignon Blanc.
It’s barrel-fermented, with a little bit of new oak. It has a lot of richness, while the Gris is crisp, beautiful, and pure. We have 5 acres of clay soils in Rutherford where we grow Sauvignon Gris, and eight acres on the same site where we grow Sauvignon Blanc. That patch of Rutherford is particularly good for aromatic whites.”
Her long-standing service as a board member and two-time President of the Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association and her role as a Napa Valley Vintners board member underscores her commitment to Napa Valley and sustainability. Under her leadership, the Chimney Rock Winery and vineyards have achieved Napa Green Certification; the winery operates on 100% solar power, has used recycled water for vineyard irrigation for over three decades (predating Vianna), and practices integrated pest management that minimizes environmental and health risks.
As it is for many, harvest season is one of Vianna’s favorite times of the winemaking cycle. “Harvest Dinner is one of my favorite events because we can start to relax, take a deep breath, and be grateful.”
