Our Story

Larry Hyde

Larry Hyde founded Hyde Vineyards in 1979. Originally comprised of 100 acres of windy pasture and fruit orchards, Larry became a pioneer in a region that would soon become California’s second AVA, Los Carneros, Napa Valley, the only AVA to stretch between two counties, Napa and Sonoma.

Before Hyde Vineyards, Larry studied law at UC Berkeley and then chemistry at UC Davis before finding his passion in wine. Gaining work experience at great vineyards like Gallo, Ridge Vineyards, Cuvaison, Stag’s Leap, Robert Mondavi Winery and Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Larry went on to purchase Hyde Vineyards with the help of his father, Richard Sr. and brought along with him his extensive knowledge of wine making and viticulture to Hyde Vineyards at a time when the wine industry in California was transcending into the world-class wine region it is today.

In 1980, one year after Larry purchased Hyde Vineyards, Larry met his wife, Beta, in Burgundy, where they had both been working harvest in Aubert and Pamela DeVillaine’s estate vineyards. Beta, originally from Poland, came to California a few years later. Larry and Beta have two sons, Peter and Christopher who grew up in the vineyard, which was their playground and home, experimenting with homemade wine and working in the fields.

In 2000, Larry Hyde co-founded HdV Winery, a partnership with Aubert de Villaine. Aubert, who married Larry’s cousin, Pamela F. de Villaine, and on who’s vineyard Larry met Beta, is one of Burgundy’s most recognized individuals who was born and raised in the traditions of France’s greatest winemaking techniques.

In 2009, Larry founded Hyde Vineyard Estate winery, which currently produces several varieties from their unique terroir. The wine embodies the love and dedication to the land Larry so proudly farms.

Today, Hyde Vineyards has grown to nearly 200 acres and works with over 30 wineries in the valley. Larry still manages the vineyards with the help of his son Christopher, and serves as a director on the Napa Valley Grape growers, Issues Committee and GWISS committee.

Beta Hyde

Originally from Lublin, Poland, Beta moved to California after she fell in love with Larry in the 1980s while picking grapes in France.

Larry and Beta were married in 1983 and shortly after started raising their family.

Beta was vital in designing the tasting room after her vision of a Polish manor house.

Chris Hyde

Christopher Hyde has always had a passion for land. After studying Agricultural Business and Viticulture at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Farm Management, Chris worked an internship in sales at Wilson Daniels. From there, Christopher joined the Hyde Vineyards team as viticulturist and in 2006, helped his father plant a block of Pinot Noir for their estate wine label which produced its first vintage in 2009.

In 2010, Chris went back out from the family business to work at Merryvale Vineyards, but shortly after came back to the family business assuming the role of General Manager at Hyde Vineyards and Director of Viticulture at HdV Winery.

In 2015, as Chris received his EMBA from Sonoma State University’s Wine-Business Executive Master’s program, and the initiation of construction for the Hyde Vineyard Estate Winery in Carneros started, which opened its doors in August 2017.

Shannon Walker-Hyde

Growing up on the East Coast, Shannon began a career in television working for MTV Networks as a Line Producer for on-air promos.  In her spare time, she learned about wine while helping her father, a home winemaker, and the wine bug clicked.  It wasn’t too long before her interest in wine overtook her interest in television production and in 2014, Shannon left her job in New York to move to Napa, California where she completed her EMBA in Wine Business from Sonoma State University.

Shannon quickly found a job in sales at various wineries obtaining firsthand knowledge of the direct-to-consumer wine business model while earning her degree at Sonoma State.  Upon graduation, Shannon took a position at a wine packaging company increasing her skills in wholesale, advertising, media and graphic design.

In 2018, Shannon came on board to the Hyde Vineyard Estate Winery overseeing all sales, marketing and hospitality.

Jose Padilla

Jose was recruited by Larry in 1980 and over the years has become a viticulturist and crew manager as well as a loyal friend to the Hyde family. Before coming to Hyde Vineyards, Jose worked as a carpenter but it was short lived as Jose was hired after meeting Larry through a mutual friend, Bob Long of Long Vineyards. Jose has now managed vineyard operations for more than three decades and is an integral part to keeping the vineyard running efficiently, helping work with many highly regarded wineries and handling a great variety of fruit and expectations.

Alberto Rodriguez

Winemaker Alberto Rodriguez joined the Hyde Estate team in May 2017 and currently oversees all wine production at Hyde Vineyard Estate Winery.  With an extensive background in winemaking, Alberto has been working with Hyde Vineyard fruit since the early 1990s and has managed the Hyde family’s small lot production since 2012, when the Hyde’s custom crushed at Patz & Hall, where Alberto was the assistant winemaker.  Together with Larry and Chris Hyde, Alberto’s clear understanding of the unique terroir and palate for elegant, aromatic wines help craft Larry Hyde’s own interpretation of his acclaimed vineyard.

Jose “Chepe” Rodriguez

Jose began his career in the wine industry in 1994 at Honig Vineyard and Winery as a harvest intern. He then learned and mastered the full spectrum of cellar work of Bordeaux varietals before soon climbing the ranks as their Cellar Master. After 12 years at Honig Vineyard and Winery, Jose moved onto Patz & Hall as their Cellar Master. There he gained valuable experience working with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes from numerous vineyards including our own, Hyde Vineyards.  Jose also worked in other wineries such as Heitz Cellars, Chateau Boswell, and Acumen before he started working for Hyde Vineyard Estate Winery in June 2019.

Billy Smith

Billy Smith, a long time friend of Chris, started in 2010 as a tractor driver during harvest time. It became quickly realized how skilled Billy was in mechanical work and in 2011, Billy became Hyde Vineyard’s fabricator, mechanic and forklift-truck driver, working full time on vineyard operations. When needed, Billy jumps in to help at the winery and you may often see him working in production or helping pour wine at events. In his free time, Billy enjoys mountain-bike riding, carpentry, building rock-crawlers and metal-fabrication.

Jeff Warren

Jeff brings nearly two decades of stellar hospitality experience to the Hyde Vineyard Estate Winery team. After spending 14 years in fine dining at some of the hottest restaurants in Nashville, Miami and Sacramento, Jeff’s passion for wine brought him to Napa Valley in 2015.

It was in the Napa Valley that Jeff polished his wine knowledge and helped build hospitality dream teams. In addition to his role as Direct to Consumer Manager for Hyde Vineyard Estate you can find Jeff on the road a few weeks a year hosting wine dinners or in home curated tasting events.

When home he enjoys golfing, playing nearly any sport, cracking jokes at the estate, or entertaining friends with his wife Courtney and their two dogs, Amadeus and Magnus.

Kat Varela

Kat was born and raised in Miami, FL, and officially began her wine journey while completing her undergraduate studies at Florida International University where she earned a degree in Green Management and International Business with a minor in Hospitality. Upon graduating in 2013, Kat left her hometown to pursue a career in wine in the Golden State. Kat has lived in every major city in California, either working as a restaurant manager or in a tasting room, but feels most at home here in Napa.

Before landing in Napa’s wine country and becoming Hyde’s Wine Club & Marketing Manager, Kat wanted to expand her wine knowledge even further so in 2018, she took a big leap of faith and voyaged across the world to Bordeaux, France to achieve her master’s degree in Wine and Spirits Management. While in Bordeaux, in addition to studying, Kat earned her WSET Level 3 certification and navigated the ins and outs of the wine industry in France.

In her spare time, you can find Kat on oenological escapades with friends or exploring Northern California’s beaches, mountains, and towns with her pup, Fiona.

Sheni Regenstreif

Sheni was born and raised outside of Los Angeles, CA, and officially began her wine journey while completing her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Irvine. As soon as she started working in restaurants, she realized her passion for wine. Sheni worked her way up to higher management; opening new restaurants, running/building wine and bar programs, staffing and training, and managing events and marketing.

After spending over a decade managing fine dining restaurants in Los Angeles, Orange Country, and San Diego, Sheni’s love for wine brought her up to Napa Valley in September of 2022 to join the Hyde team as Tasting Room Manager.

In her spare time, you can find Sheni checking out Napa’s culinary scene, photographing nature, hiking with friends, or hopping around town with her dog, Ruby.

Shelly Eichner

Shelly grew up in Detroit, Michigan, and became interested in wine while studying Hotel & Restaurant Management at Henry Ford College.  While working as a wine buyer at a fine dining establishment near Ford World Headquarters, Shelly was recruited by an importer/distributor and in a few years became one of the top sales representatives in the company.  In 1986, Jordan Winery in Healdsburg, CA convinced her to move to California to join the National Sales Team.  After traveling extensively within the U.S. and in Asia for many years for Jordan, J Vineyards & Winery, and, finally, Swanson Vineyards for 15 years as Director of Sales in Napa, it was time to get off the road and enjoy life in Napa Valley.

Shelly joined the Hyde family in 2020 after spending three and a half years working Direct-to-Consumer at Patz & Hall (long time friends and clients of the Hydes).  She enjoys interacting with the guests at Hyde and sharing the fantastic wines from the estate.

Cooking, entertaining, reading, traveling for fun, playing a bit of golf, and spending time with family and friends is where you will find Shelly when she is not welcoming guests to the Estate.

Micha

Micha Hyde was born in April of 2011 and quickly became part of the Hyde Vineyard team. During the day you can find Micha roaming the vineyards or greeting visitors at the tasting room.

Sancho