How much is the Wente family worth?

The brothers are two of 22 newcomers to The Forbes 400 in 2017; they joined the ranks with net worths of $2.9 billion and $2.8 billion, respectively. In a recent interview with Forbes near Constellation’s headquarters in upstate New York, Robert Sands—who serves as CEO—reflected on his rising fortune.

Who owns Wente?

Wente Vineyards The winery is owned and managed by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family, who is recognized for their influence in making Chardonnay the best-selling varietal in the country, based on numerous accomplishments over the past 130 years.

How old is Wente winery?

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.

What is the oldest winery in Livermore?

Wente Vineyards
Family Owned Since 1883 Wente Vineyards is the oldest continuously-operated, family-owned winery in the country.

Who is Karl Wente?

Meet Karl Wente, a fifth generation winegrower and winemaker at Wente Vineyards in Livermore, CA. As an owner of the country’s oldest family-owned winery, Karl is proud of the legacy his family started and appreciates the opportunity to make a living doing what he loves.

What wine is Livermore known for?

Livermore Valley wineries were the first to bottle varietal labeled Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Petite Sirah. Nearly 80% of California’s Chardonnay vines trace their genetic roots to a Livermore Valley clone.

What does clone mean in wine?

A grape clone is a cutting taken from an existing grape vine that’s grafted onto rootstock. The vine is chosen due to specific traits a grower wants to reproduce like increased disease resistance or fruit quality.

What is grape clone?

How many clones does Pinot Noir have?

Over its many years, Pinot Noir has been known to mutate, which has led in part to the numerous clones of the grape. Today, there are around 1,000 different clones of Pinot Noir in the world, although not all are commercially relevant.

Are Livermore wines good?

The winery is best known for its cabernet sauvignon, which has won several awards. In 2019 alone, the 2015 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon won gold, the 2014 and 2015 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons won silver, and the 2016 Colton’s Cabernet Sauvignon won bronze in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

What is the oldest wine region in California?

The oldest vineyard in California is the San Jose vineyard situated under the mountains in Santa Barbara county, between Goléta and San Marcos Pass.

Is Pinot Noir a clone?

There is not a true certified Wente “clone” of Pinot Noir but rather it represents many selections including Wädenswil, Pommard and Martini clones. When Charles and Helen sourced Pinot Noir for their initial planting, they obtained Pinot Noir from Karl Wente’s vineyard in Livermore Valley.

What is Livermore known for?

Founded in 1869, Livermore is California’s oldest wine region, framed by award-winning wineries, farm lands, and ranches that mirror the valley’s western heritage.

What was the first vineyard in California?

Vineyards during Spanish colonization In 1779, Franciscan missionaries under the direction of the Spanish Father Junípero Serra planted California’s first vineyard at Mission San Juan Capistrano.