#ChardonnayDay with Wines from America’s First Family of Chardonnay: Wente Vineyards
Hello friends,
What better way to spend #ChardonnayDay than with wines from the family often dubbed “America’s First Family of Chardonnay”? The story of Wente Vineyards began in 1883, when founder Carl H. Wente, a first-generation immigrant from Germany, bought 47 acres in Livermore Valley (just east of San Francisco). By 1912, his son Earnest had convinced him to import Chardonnay cuttings from the vine nursery at University of Montpellier in France. In 1936, Earnest and his brother Herman released the nation’s first varietally labeled Chardonnay. The original plantings would eventually become certified as the Wente Clone, and spread throughout myriad California vineyards. It is estimated that more than 80 percent of all California Chardonnay stems from the Wente clone. Today, Wente remains the oldest continuously running family-owned and-operated winery in the United States.
Although Wente grows a number of grape varieties, make no mistake: Chardonnay is king. They make several styles of Chardonnay, ranging from crisp and unoaked, to rich, robust, and oak-aged. I can tell you from experience that all are well-crafted, and all of their wines are estate-grown. I’ve tasted through Wente’s current releases, including a special 135th Anniversary wine, and they’re what I’ve come to expect: pleasant, expressive, well-balanced wines that demonstrate the diversity of the Chardonnay grape. For further information and where you can find these wines, please see my tasting notes below.
Wente 2017 Eric’s Small Lot Chardonnay (SRP $30): As barrel aging became the template for many California Chardonnays, fourth generation wine-grower, Eric Wente, wanted to keep his preferred style in the family portfolio. When his son Karl Wente became the winemaker, Eric got his wish and very own label. In the mouth, this Chardonnay is light, sleek and racy, with notable purity and freshness. There’s profound apple fruitiness and crisp acidity, closing with a nice, refreshing citrus-tinged finish. This is an uplifting and wonderfully food-friendly example of Chardonnay. Region: Livermore Valley, California. Other info: ABV 13.5%, hand-harvested, certified sustainable, made in 100% stainless steel, cork enclosure. Click here to find this wine.
Wente 2016 Morning Fog Estate-Grown Chardonnay (SRP $18): Year in and year out, this is one of the top values in California Chardonnay. It delivers bright flavors of orchard fruit, melon, and a whisper of toasted vanilla on the back end. A beam of food-friendly acidity keeps it fresh throughout. This Chardonnay bridges the gap between clean and fresh, and rounder, oak-aged styles. I can regularly find it for $12 at shops in my area, which really sweetens the deal. Region: Livermore Valley, California. Other info: ABV 13.5%, fermented in 50% neutral American oak barrels and 50% stainless steel tanks, barrel portion aged sur lie for 5 months, cork enclosure. Click here to find this wine.
Wente 2016 Riva Ranch Chardonnay (SRP $22): Arroyo Seco is a sub-appellation of the Monterey AVA that enjoys a cool climate and long growing season. The Wente family has grown grapes in this region since the 1960s, and source fruit exclusively from their Riva Ranch vineyard for this wine. Made in a rich, layered style, this wine features tiers of flavors suggestive of grilled pineapple, apple tart, spiced pear, and toasted vanilla notes, framed with ample acidity. It is full-bodied, with a spicy, textured finish. A splash of Gewürztraminer, which is also planted at Riva Ranch, is added for good measure. This is a rock solid, well-made Chardonnay for the money. Region: Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, California. Other info: ABV 14.5%, barrel fermented 90% in combo of 60% new and 40% second-use French and American oak barrels, 10% in stainless steel, 100% ML, barrel aged sur lie for 8 months, cork enclosure. Click here to find this wine.
Wente 2016 135th Anniversary Celebratory Chardonnay (SRP $40): Released in 2018, the year is a milestone for the Wente family, marking their 135th anniversary in the wine business. This limited edition bottling is sourced from estate vineyards in Livermore Valley and Arroyo Seco. It features fresh flavors of zesty tree fruit and tangerine notes, complicated by a dollop of vanilla and leesy notes. It is medium-bodied and nicely textured, with a lively, tangy acidity that gives it a refreshing character. With fine depth of flavor and a satisfying, lingering finish, this is a delightful sipper. Approximately 1,000 cases of this wine were produced. Region: Central Coast, California. Other info: ABV 13.8%, matured for 16 months in combo new/neutral American and French oak, with 20% fermented in stainless steel, cork enclosure. Click here to find this wine.
Wente 2016 Nth Degree Chardonnay (SRP $70): This Nth Degree wines are part of Wente’s small-lot program. These wines are handcrafted and of limited production, made to reflect the unique character of the site at which they are grown. A product of an excellent vintage year, this Chardonnay exhibits intensity, good depth of flavor, and concentration, without being overly weighty. Its round, creamy texture is led by full flavors of lemon curd, crème brûlée, and baked pie crust, along with hints of almond butter. Well-placed acidity lifts the richness and provides balance. This is an appealing Chardonnay that is a pleasure to sip. Region: Livermore Valley, California. Other info: ABV 14.1%, barrel fermented 3 weeks, 100% ML in new French and neutral French oak barrels, aged sur lie 14 months in same barrels, cork enclosure. Click here to find this wine.
What better way to spend #ChardonnayDay than with wines from the family often dubbed “America’s First Family of Chardonnay”? The story of Wente Vineyards began in 1883, when founder Carl H. Wente, a first-generation immigrant from Germany, bought 47 acres in Livermore Valley (just east of San Francisco). By 1912, his son Earnest had convinced him to import Chardonnay cuttings from the vine nursery at University of Montpellier in France. In 1936, Earnest and his brother Herman released the nation’s first varietally labeled Chardonnay. The original plantings would eventually become certified as the Wente Clone, and spread throughout myriad California vineyards. It is estimated that more than 80 percent of all California Chardonnay stems from the Wente clone. Today, Wente remains the oldest continuously running family-owned and-operated winery in the United States.
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| The #ChardonnayDay lineup! |
Although Wente grows a number of grape varieties, make no mistake: Chardonnay is king. They make several styles of Chardonnay, ranging from crisp and unoaked, to rich, robust, and oak-aged. I can tell you from experience that all are well-crafted, and all of their wines are estate-grown. I’ve tasted through Wente’s current releases, including a special 135th Anniversary wine, and they’re what I’ve come to expect: pleasant, expressive, well-balanced wines that demonstrate the diversity of the Chardonnay grape. For further information and where you can find these wines, please see my tasting notes below.
 |
| Wente 2017 Eric’s Small Lot Chardonnay |
Wente 2017 Eric’s Small Lot Chardonnay (SRP $30): As barrel aging became the template for many California Chardonnays, fourth generation wine-grower, Eric Wente, wanted to keep his preferred style in the family portfolio. When his son Karl Wente became the winemaker, Eric got his wish and very own label. In the mouth, this Chardonnay is light, sleek and racy, with notable purity and freshness. There’s profound apple fruitiness and crisp acidity, closing with a nice, refreshing citrus-tinged finish. This is an uplifting and wonderfully food-friendly example of Chardonnay. Region: Livermore Valley, California. Other info: ABV 13.5%, hand-harvested, certified sustainable, made in 100% stainless steel, cork enclosure. Click here to find this wine.
 |
| Wente 2016 Morning Fog Estate-Grown Chardonnay |
Wente 2016 Morning Fog Estate-Grown Chardonnay (SRP $18): Year in and year out, this is one of the top values in California Chardonnay. It delivers bright flavors of orchard fruit, melon, and a whisper of toasted vanilla on the back end. A beam of food-friendly acidity keeps it fresh throughout. This Chardonnay bridges the gap between clean and fresh, and rounder, oak-aged styles. I can regularly find it for $12 at shops in my area, which really sweetens the deal. Region: Livermore Valley, California. Other info: ABV 13.5%, fermented in 50% neutral American oak barrels and 50% stainless steel tanks, barrel portion aged sur lie for 5 months, cork enclosure. Click here to find this wine.
 |
| Wente 2016 Riva Ranch Chardonnay |
Wente 2016 Riva Ranch Chardonnay (SRP $22): Arroyo Seco is a sub-appellation of the Monterey AVA that enjoys a cool climate and long growing season. The Wente family has grown grapes in this region since the 1960s, and source fruit exclusively from their Riva Ranch vineyard for this wine. Made in a rich, layered style, this wine features tiers of flavors suggestive of grilled pineapple, apple tart, spiced pear, and toasted vanilla notes, framed with ample acidity. It is full-bodied, with a spicy, textured finish. A splash of Gewürztraminer, which is also planted at Riva Ranch, is added for good measure. This is a rock solid, well-made Chardonnay for the money. Region: Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, California. Other info: ABV 14.5%, barrel fermented 90% in combo of 60% new and 40% second-use French and American oak barrels, 10% in stainless steel, 100% ML, barrel aged sur lie for 8 months, cork enclosure. Click here to find this wine.
 |
| Wente 2016 135th Anniversary Celebratory Chardonnay |
Wente 2016 135th Anniversary Celebratory Chardonnay (SRP $40): Released in 2018, the year is a milestone for the Wente family, marking their 135th anniversary in the wine business. This limited edition bottling is sourced from estate vineyards in Livermore Valley and Arroyo Seco. It features fresh flavors of zesty tree fruit and tangerine notes, complicated by a dollop of vanilla and leesy notes. It is medium-bodied and nicely textured, with a lively, tangy acidity that gives it a refreshing character. With fine depth of flavor and a satisfying, lingering finish, this is a delightful sipper. Approximately 1,000 cases of this wine were produced. Region: Central Coast, California. Other info: ABV 13.8%, matured for 16 months in combo new/neutral American and French oak, with 20% fermented in stainless steel, cork enclosure. Click here to find this wine.
 |
| Wente 2016 Nth Degree Chardonnay |
Wente 2016 Nth Degree Chardonnay (SRP $70): This Nth Degree wines are part of Wente’s small-lot program. These wines are handcrafted and of limited production, made to reflect the unique character of the site at which they are grown. A product of an excellent vintage year, this Chardonnay exhibits intensity, good depth of flavor, and concentration, without being overly weighty. Its round, creamy texture is led by full flavors of lemon curd, crème brûlée, and baked pie crust, along with hints of almond butter. Well-placed acidity lifts the richness and provides balance. This is an appealing Chardonnay that is a pleasure to sip. Region: Livermore Valley, California. Other info: ABV 14.1%, barrel fermented 3 weeks, 100% ML in new French and neutral French oak barrels, aged sur lie 14 months in same barrels, cork enclosure. Click here to find this wine.
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| Named for the morning fog that rolls into the vineyard from the San Francisco Bay, year in and year out Wente Vineyards Morning Fog Chardonnay is one of the top values in California Chardonnay. I enjoyed it with crab cakes and black bean & corn salad. |
