Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/744999
3 8 V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T | N o v - D e c 2 016 w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m Wente Vineyards L i v e r m o r e , C a l i f o r n i a Westport Winery Garden Resort A b e r d e e n , W a s h i n g t o n Founded in 1883, Wente Vineyards is the coun- try's oldest continuously operated family-owned winery. Today, it maintains its leadership role in California winegrowing under the ownership and management of the fourth and fifth generations. Blending traditional and innovative winemaking practices, the winery draws from approximately 3,000 acres of certified sustainable estate vine- yards in the Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay and Arroyo Seco, Monterey appellations. Its Wente Clone of Chardonnay is the most widely planted in California. It also has a grove of olive trees and produces organic extra virgin olive oil. Its Livermore Valley visitor center and tasting room was established in the 1960s. It now hosts music concerts, food and wine experiences, golf tournaments at its own course and charity events throughout the year. The nonprofit Wente Foun- dation for Arts Education is dedicated to rais- ing money to support arts education programs in Livermore Valley and beyond. The restaurant has won numerous awards for its presentation of food, wine and service. Visitors are welcome for various wine tast- ings by appointment. At the Estate Tasting Room, guests can experience private tastings, during which they'll discover the winery's history and taste through current releases. Tours are also avail- able. At the Vineyard Tasting Room, visitors tour the historic sandstone caves and enjoy a special- ized tasting either indoors or on the terrace (dur- ing spring and summer). They can also browse the gift shop for gourmet food items and wine acces- sories. Those who want an even more intimate experience can try out the hands-on, interactive and educational winemaking and grapegrowing fun at The WineMakers Studio. www.wentevineyards.com Founded by Blain and Kim Roberts, Westport Winery is Washington's westernmost vineyard and winery, with a 40-foot lighthouse standing over the 65-acre destination resort. It was the first winery in the state's largely under-discov- ered maritime region. From the beginning, Blain, formerly a nationally rated surfer, and Kim, a former Coast Guard cap- tain, navigated their way into the industry with a unique perspective. Their son, Dana, is winemak- er and daughter, Carrie, is general manager. Within two years of opening, the family opened Farm to Fork restaurant, which was voted one of the top 10 best new restaurants in the Northwest. They opened a bakery a year later. When guests asked for something to do on rainy days, a free lecture series, mystery dinner theater and numer- ous festivals were produced. Weddings and other special events are also held onsite. The estate's gardens cover more than 15 acres and include more than 50 original sculptures by local artists commemorating each of the winery's labels and different garden themes. Visitors can navigate the lavender labyrinth, toss horseshoes, play wizard chess, take on nine holes in the free orchard course, take their dogs to the dog park, enjoy the musical fence or the giant Scrabble board or simply sit and sip under the largest commercial solar power system in the county. Kim, a former architect, plans to use the land as her canvas for the rest of her life as she designs what she hopes will be the next great legacy botanical garden in the Northwest. In the winery, visitors can taste any of the 38 selections at the tasting bar or take part in Dana's hour-long Backstage Winemaker's Tour every Saturday and Sunday. www.westportwinery.com