Wente in Meininger Families of Wine 2017

Although they didn’t know it when they were bumping around in the bed of a pickup truck, rolling through the vineyards of Livermore Valley, the 4th generation Wentes, Eric, Philip and Carolyn, were learning everything they needed to know about winegrowing. “My grandfather (Ernest) and Dad (Karl) were always picking my brothers and me up and driving around the vineyard,” says Carolyn Wente, now CEO of Wente Family Estates. “They would tell us about the vineyards, the vines, the pests, the soil, everything. While we were learning, it was always fun.” This is a large part of what defines the Wente family legacy – generation after generation, they taught each other and benefited from the experiences of their predecessors.

California lifestyle

Wente Family Estates is responsible for many milestones, not just in viticulture, but also in California tourism. They were one of the first to open a wine tasting room in 1966. The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards, which opened in 1986, has become a culinary destination for locals and tourists alike. The Wente family launched an annual series of summer concerts at the estate in 1986, which attracts top entertainers and thousands of guests each year. In 1998, Wente opened an 18-hole championship golf course designed by golfing legend Greg Norman, further demonstrating that the Livermore Valley is a unique wine country destination.