Wente Vineyards is California's First Chardonnay Family

The Wente Family. Photo Wente Vineyards

Three sisters are cardinal players successful shaping the aboriginal of Wente Vineyards. Their family has been successful the winemaking concern for 140 years successful Livermore, California. These ladies oversee the marketing, direct-to-consumer income development, and caller merchandise strategy.

Meeting Wente Vineyard's Senior Ambassador Jordan Wente astatine OMNI Los Angeles' vibrant NOÉ Restaurant & Bar, I learned this fifth-generation winegrower and marque manager worked successful the vineyards with her sisters astatine an aboriginal age. "I learned however to thrust a tractor astatine the property of 13," said Jordan. She learned astir grape varietals, harvest play and winemaking aboriginal successful life.

After graduating from the University of Colorado Boulder, she returned backmost to the household winery successful the San Francisco Bay AVA region. The Wente household besides person acres of estate-grown vineyards successful Arroyo Seco successful the Monterey County AVA. Together they person 3,000 acres increasing 20 varieties of grapes to marque their award-winning wines.

Wente Wine. Photo Jill Weinlein

Looking implicit the NOÉ Restaurant & Bar menu, we ordered a 2023 Wente Chardonnay and Jordan pulled retired a 2021 Wente Cabernet Sauvignon that she brought from the winery to bask with a assortment of appealing dishes.

I learned that successful 1883, German migrant Carl H. Wente purchased 48 acres of vineyard onshore successful the Livermore Valley, California. He built a winery that continued to turn erstwhile 2nd procreation Ernest Wente persuaded his begetter to import Chardonnay cuttings from F. Richter Nursery successful Montpellier, France. 'The hand-picked vines showed the strength, wellness and flavor,' said Jordan. 'They grafted those beardown characteristics to what is present the ‘Wente Clone’, which contiguous makes up implicit 75% of each Chardonnay planted successful California.'

Today, Wente Vineyards is the longest, continuously family-owned and operated winery successful the United States. Winegrower Karl D. Wente continues the Wente Clone done the family’s bequest of Chardonnay with 4 antithetic styles: Morning Fog Chardonnay, Riva Ranch Chardonnay, Small Lot Eric’s Chardonnay and nth DEGREE Chardonnay. 

Chardonnay grapes turn connected sloping hillsides, on stony riverbeds and astatine the basal of sandstone cliffs. 'The greeting fog makes this a large portion to turn Chardonnay grapes,' said Jordan.

Taking a sip of this casual to portion Chardonnay, I discovered it pairs nicely with balsamic caramelized Brussel Sprouts and a Fall Pear Salad made with mixed greens, blackberries, goat food crumble, candied walnuts and a airy balsamic tarragon vinaigrette.

Wente Wine. Photo Jill Weinlein

Opening the 2021 Wente Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon from Livermore Valley, I recovered this vino paired good with the savory vegan skirt steak that arrived astatine our table. Made with slices of Lions Mane mushrooms, it's a flavorsome alternate to beef. 

The ruby reddish grapes turn connected the hillside and make afloat maturity successful the warmer temperatures of the Livermore Valley. This mean effect guardant vino offers aromatic notes of agleam cherry, reddish currants and cassis. The subtle, yet pleasing oak power adds a woody roasted cocoa nibs essence, accentuated by appealing ripe juicy plums and a interaction of earthiness for a satisfying finish.

Tastings astatine Wente. Photo Wente Vineyards

Kick disconnected 2025 with a wine tasting experience astatine Wente Vineyards. Seated tasting experiences commencement astatine $40. Guests person a prime to beryllium connected the bucolic tasting patio to bask 5 antithetic wines from Wente's astir existent vintages. Tastings are besides disposable wrong the beauteous tasting country to sensation a 'Wente Clone' Chardonnay, arsenic good arsenic a Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc and different varietals connected the rotating list.

Upgrade to a Cave Tour and Barrel Tasting Tour to observe the past of Wente Vineyards vino caves. Place your vino tasting solid adjacent to a tube to beryllium 1 of the archetypal to sensation Wente's good wines. Tours commencement astatine 11 a.m. Sunday done Friday. Private groups tin reserve this acquisition passim the day.