As a San Francisco native,  I have explored many amazing California wines over the years. Making a choice can often be fraught with issues related to the individual palate, food pairing, price-point, vintage and other important issues such as sustainability and organic farming. But the one winery we can always rely on to supply all of this and more, is non

Wente Vineyards

other than the 5th generation family-owned Wente Vineyards in the Livermore Valley. This San Francisco Bay organization has continued to grow and win acclaims not just in the American wine journals, but throughout the world. According to their reports: global exports make up roughly 20% of their annual sales, and we are honored to carry their award-winning wines here in The Hague at La Buena Vida. As a matter of fact, it is the only American wine we sell. Call me sentimental but we have a history with Wente and it goes straight through the palate to the heart.  Paul and I were fortunate enough to meet Eric and Arel Wente on a Wente Wine Club cruise seven years ago, and they are truly humble, sweet and caring people and we remain close despite the distance between us. When you hear the story of this family’s path to keep the vineyards in the family it makes you realize the moniker of “family-owned, and operated” is not just a label, it defines them as well as their wines.

Founded more than 125 years ago, Wente Vineyards is the America’s oldest, continuously operated family-owned winery. After learning about winemaking from Charles Krug, C. H. Wente, a first-generation immigrant from Germany, founded his own winery in 1883. Recognizing that the warm days, cool nights and gravelly soils of the Livermore Valley were ideal for growing grapes, he purchased 48 acres and planted vineyards. In 1918, C. H. Wente’s sons Ernest and Herman joined the business, with Ernest managing the vineyards and Herman acting as winemaker. The company was later passed on to Ernest’s only son Karl, and in 1977, Karl’s young son Eric took the helm.  Continuing the over 125 year legacy, the winery is managed today by the Fourth Generation of the Wente family, Eric, Philip, Carolyn, and the Fifth Generation, Christine and Karl. The winery has grown to include over 2,000 acres of vineyards in the Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay and 800 acres in Arroyo Seco, Monterey. Today, the winery maintains its leadership role in California winegrowing under ownership and management by the Fourth and Fifth Generations of the Wente family. Blending traditional and innovative winemaking practices, the winery draws from approximately 3,000 acres of sustainably farmed Estate vineyards to create an outstanding portfolio of fine wines. Located just east of San Francisco in the historic Livermore Valley, Wente Vineyards is recognized as one of California’s premier wine country destinations, featuring wine tasting, fine dining, headliner concerts and championship golf.

Historical challenges associated with holding and operating a family vineyard during that time illustrate some amazing

The Fourth & Fifth Generations of the Wente Family

fortitude and commitment on the part of family members.  When Karl Wente died at the young age of 49, the fourth generation siblings, Eric and Phil were working at the winery at the time, and Carolyn was in her final year at Stanford University, where she was studying history. These three young people, in their twenties, did not hire someone to take the helm at Wente, they all assumed leadership roles and learned as they worked. Since that time in 1977, the three of them, along with the  fifth generation siblings, Karl and Christine, have worked hard to ensure Wente Vineyards would become a destination for fabulous wines. However, I would be highly remiss if I did not include personal notes and public raves about their award-winning restaurant, the headliner Wente summer concerts in the vineyards and the PGA Championship golf course which have all been added under the young leadership of the fourth generation, Eric, Phil and Carolyn. (We have seen great entertainers perform among the vineyards such as: Kenny Loggins, The Gypsy Kings, The Doobie Brothers, Huey Lewis, and Chris Isaak and more).

In 2010,  Wente Family Estates received certification for its sustainability with respect to vineyard,

Commitment to Sustainability

winery and In 2010,  Wente Family Estates received certification for its sustainability with respect to vineyard, winery and company practices with the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing designation. The CCSW certification includes a third-party verification of a winery’s adherence to a process of continuous improvement in its adoption of sustainable winegrowing practices.  It is the first statewide program available to both wineries and vineyards.  Wente Family Estates was one of the first wineries to achieve Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing.

So all history aside…let’s talk wines because the winding path of Wente wines leads to a wonderful end result: a wine that calls you back time and time again. The loyal Wente wine following is alive and well here in The Netherlands (every week someone will see the bottles proudly displayed in our windows, and come in with enthusiastic raves about these wines and how they find them so special).

Since wine is a very personal thing I will talk about my 3 favorite Wente wines, with the note, that they also happen to be our best selling wines here in La Buena Vida because they provide a great value:

1) 2008 Riva Ranch Chardonnay: the perfect buttery, toasty Chardonnay offers some lovely soft fruit, slight spiciness to round out the oak flavor from barrel fermenting. It will accompany crisp summer salad, grilled fish, and a spicy chicken perfectly. This is my favorite Chardonnay! Here is Karl Wente talking about this winner: Karl Wente talks about the Riva Ranch Chardonnay

2) 2008 Beyer Ranch Zinfandel: this mouth watering Zinfandel offers a trilogy of berries and cherries which provide a lasting finish. This happens to be our favorite wine to accompany ( as it did last night) grilled lamb cutlets with rosemary. The cherry, berry and vanilla is a wonderful partner with lamb.

3) 2005 Charles Wetmore Cabernet Sauvignon: this is our crown jewel. It is part of the Heritage Block collection, and offers a beautiful rich, bold Cabernet with a lush combination of cherry, vanilla and clove aromas. This oak barreled winner is perfect with red meats and it holds up well with lamb, venison and other game meats. Karl Wente talks about the Charles Wetmore Cabernet Sauvignon

We want to thank the Wente family for the traditions and standards they have set forth for the wine-making industry often being bought up by big liquor businesses. More importantly we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for their commitment to excellence, which we enjoy regularly, and the winding path they have paved for the future generations of Wente wine-makers .