Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/138003
UTO CA-P HIEF INA -IN C YT trdedss eeeynaar Wiinn y n V V n B EDI TOR o ttiio o Mo iinnM w i n e ry re i v e rm o r w a rd L ear-old oving fo 130-y eps m ke w w w. v w m media.com f you've ever tried to assemble the principals of Livermore Valley's Wente Vineyards in one place, you understand the challenges involved in creating this issue's cover story. The exchanges with Wente's PR contact went something like this: "Carolyn and Karl can be there on the 3rd, but Phil can't make it." "OK, what about the 15th?" "Karl is traveling from the 15th through the 22nd." "What about the 25th?" "Karl, Phil and Christine are available, but Carolyn has a meeting." In the end, we managed to find an afternoon when Carolyn, Karl and Christine could be at the winery, but Phil's interview had to be done via telephone. When I arrived at Wente, the family members showed me around and graciously answered my questions – that is, until each had to politely beg off to attend to pressing business matters. The experience was something of a blur. But, of course, the Wentes didn't build and grow their successful family business by standing still. A FAMILY LEGACY Founded 130 years ago, Wente Vineyards is the country's oldest continuously operated, family owned winery. Its story began in 1883, when German immigrant Carl H. Wente bought 48 acres of land in the Livermore Valley and built a winery on the property. Those 48 acres have grown into 3,000, and each year, 400,000 cases of wine are sold under the Wente Vineyards label. The fact that the business is still going – and thriving – four generations later is no happy accident; it was all part of the plan. "My great-grandfather was determined to create a business that his family could enjoy and share, and not be excluded from – as he was in Germany, where the oldest son inherited everything and all the other children were expected to go off on their own," said Phil J u l y - A u g 2 0 13 | V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T 39