Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/138003
yards. The project received the full support of the fourth generation. "They said, 'Go make the best wine that you can, farm the best grapes, source the best barrels," Karl said. "'Don't think about margin on this, just think about delivering wine quality.'" With Phil's help, he identified vineyard blocks to serve as the backbone for the project. "We have three general farming levels: A, B and C," Karl explained. "The Nth Degree vineyards are A+, which means they get additional passes for shoot thinning and 'tunneling' for light and air flow, leaf removal and cluster thinning." The line includes chardonnay, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir, priced at $60-$80 per bottle. program totals approximately 3,500 cases. In describing his winemaking style, Karl points out that while he makes a diverse range of wines with varying degrees of richness, the fruit is always the main focus. "We're making four or five different chardonnays and ultimately each one has a different style, but we want to make sure the fruit is the lead horse," he said. "I always like to think of it as propping that fruit up on a pedestal, and then layering in other things behind it." Karl has also made his mark on the hospitality side of the business. An avid yoga practitioner, he leads classes on the lawn outside the estate tasting room. His love of bluegrass and Americana music has spawned a new music series at the winery that showcases local performers, and an annual festival that features national talent. Don't Get Caught in the Dark The Luminite Light Tower STAYING RELEVANT While older brands are often forgotten by wine drinkers in search of the next big thing, Wente's constant evolution has kept the winery from fading into the background. "Why we are still around today, I think, is because we made ourselves relevant to the consumer and what they want," Carolyn said. "They want to touch, they want to feel, they want to be a part of things. "More importantly, we have a fifth generation that is connecting with the largest buying group, Millennials," she added. "Karl is just the most wonderful winemaker poster child you'd ever want to have." Comments? Please e-mail us at feedback@vwmmedia.com. Night Compliance Protection Use for Karl D. Wente takes a no-holds-barred approach in making The Nth Degree wines. Photo: Sam Harnack Karl also introduced a series of limited-production wines for Wente's tasting room and wine club, made in the estate's scaled down winery-within-a-winery. The Small Lot program lets him experiment with varieties beyond Wente's core offerings, such as grenache and mourvèdre. Annual production across several varieties in this 44 V I N E YARD & WINERY MANAGEMENT | July - Aug 2013 · Night Harvest · Night Spray · Chemical Mixing Areas · Diesel fill stations · Parking Areas · Portable Restrooms · Many many More uses Easily set up and maneuvered by one person – Goes up in seconds - Standard 120 Volts Vineyard Industry Products T-Posts • Hwy Stakes www.vinbiz.com Call for more info. 800-544-2210 See the VIDEO at • Rebar • End Posts • Wire w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m