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.

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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 s0on 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 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 almost ever major city in California, either working as a restaurant manager or in a tasting room, but feels most at home here in Napa Valley.

Before landing in Napa’s wine country, 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 certification in WSET Level 3 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 the northern California beaches, mountains and towns with her pup, Fiona.

Shelly Eichner

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