Livermore’s own Wente Vineyards has won the 2011 American Winery of the Year. This award is from Wine Enthusiast magazine. The Wente family is comprised of Wente Vineyards, Murrieta’s Well, Tamas Estates. Wente is also considered one of the top 30 wine companies in America, and the unique aspect is that it is family owned and they grow all their own fruit.
Ernest Wente is the son of the founder Carl Wente, and he brought Chardonnay cuttings from Montpelier France in 1912. This Chardonnay cutting was the start of a wonderful business. The Wente Family now has nearly 100,000 acres planted in Chardonnay.
The ironic aspect of winning this award is that it is almost 100 years from when this Chardonnay cutting first came to America. This is such a great achievement but just one of many. The Wente family has won many other great awards. Isn’t great to have such a great family owned winery right here in our back yard!
