Wente Vineyards

Wente Vineyards is a winery in Livermore, California, that is "the oldest continuously operating, family-owned winery in the United States." The Wente Estate is registered as a California Historical Landmark #957.[1]

Wente Vineyards
LocationLivermore, California, USA
AppellationLivermore Valley AVA
FormerlyWente Brothers
Other labelsThe Nth Degree
Small Lot
Founded1883
Key peopleKarl D. Wente, Winemaker
Known forCharles Wetmore Cabernet Sauvignon
VarietalsCabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling
Websitewww.wentevineyards.com
Reference no.957

History

The winery was established by Carl Wente in 1883 on 47 acres of land.[2] Having received training in wines while working for Charles Krug of Napa Valley, Wente purchased a few vineyards and land of excellent soil.[2] In 1934 his sons, Ernest and Herman, introduced California's first varietal wine label, Sauvignon Blanc. In 1936, they introduced the first varietally labeled Chardonnay. The efforts of the Wente family, including pioneering night-time mechanical harvesting and being a leader in sustainable winegrowing practices, have helped establish the Livermore Valley as one of the premier wine-growing areas of California. Since then, it has expanded to over 2,000 acres (8 km²), plus an additional 700 acres (3 km²) in Arroyo Seco.

Wente Clone

The Wente clone is budwood that is used to plant Chardonnay at many California vineyards. In 1912, 2nd Generation Winegrower Ernest Wente took cuttings from the University of Montpellier viticultural nursery in France. Cuttings from the Wente vineyard then spread to a number of other wineries before eventually being certified by the Foundation Plant Materials Service of the University of California, Davis. Clones taken from the certified vines are known as "Wente" or "heat-treated Wente," and clones taken from vines before certification are known as "Old Wente."

Estate

Wente Vineyards also offers a golf course, tasting rooms, a catering service, and a gourmet restaurant all nestled in the heart of the vineyards. During the summer, they host Concerts in the Vineyard, featuring performing artists from classics like The Doobie Brothers and Frankie Valli, to comedians like George Carlin and jazz artists such as Diana Krall, as well as current pop artists like The Band Perry. The catering service also provides food for these concerts for people to eat as they watch the performance.

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References
  • "Old Wente: A Brief Convoluted History". Adastra Wines. Archived from the original on 2006-01-09. Retrieved 2006-01-24.
Footnotes
  1. "Wente Bros. Winery". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
  2. Lichine, Alexis (1967). Alexis Lichine's Encyclopedia of Wines and Spirits. London: Cassell & Company Ltd. p. 551.
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