Wente Vineyards

Founded in 1883, Wente Vineyards is the oldest continuously operated, family-owned winery in America. Today the estate is comprised of vineyards in the Livermore Valley, San Francisco and Arroyo Seco appellations and is operated by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family.

C.H. Wente came to America in the late 1800s from Hamburg Germany, learned to make wine from a German by the name of Charles Krug in the Napa Valley, and in 1883 established his first 47-acre Estate and Winery. He chose the Livermore Valley as it was famed for its excellent soils and climate. In 1908, C.H. planted the first Chardonnay vines in the Livermore Valley.

In 1912, second generation and a UC Davis student, Ernest Wente, persuaded his father and founder, C.H. Wente, to import Chardonnay cuttings from a well-known vine nursery, F. Richter Nursery n Montpellier, France, to the Livermore Valley.

Ernest hand-picked vines that showed the best health and pronounced flavors, grafted the two together, and propagated those characteristics forward. Ultimately creating what is known as the ‘Wente Clone.’  Today, over 75% of all California Chardonnay stems from the Wente Clone and the Wente Family property.

Today, fifth generation winegrowers Karl, Christine, Jordan, Aly, and Niki Wente are actively working in various roles in the winery from operations, viticulture, and marketing. Their legacy is yet to be determined, but they are very passionate about continuing the family tradition of sustainable farming and producing the best-quality wines.