Vinexpo Daily - Day 2

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Wonderful Wine – But So Much More…
When clever ideas are added to an excellent product, the results can
be spectacular
Carolyn Wente
Chief Executive Officer,
Wente Family Estates
Carolyn Wente is one of the driving forces behind the
expansion and growth of Wente Family Estates’ portfolio
of wines. She was also instrumental in the development
of the Wente family’s lifestyle business, which has
brought Wente Vineyards worldwide renown and
attracted visitors from all over the world. Today, Carolyn
works with fourth and fifth generation family members
and company executives to continue the growth of
Wente Family Estates and their portfolio of wines. So
far reaching are Carolyn’s accomplishments that she
was chosen as one of the honorees for the Leading
Women Entrepreneurs of the World in 2002 in an event
sponsored by J.P. Morgan Private Banking, Bacarrat,
Hermes, among other leading luxury brands, receiving
her award in Paris in April of that year.
Carolyn Wente, Chief Executive Officer and Fourth Generation
Winegrower from the famed Wente Family Estates in California,
explains the importance of staying top of mind and relevant
in today’s changing wine industry and in particular not being
afraid to take on new challenges…
In 2014, we opened the one-of-akind
Winemakers Studio to educate
consumers on all things relating to
winemaking. We also announced
earlier this year the launch of our
single vineyard 2012 Riva Ranch
Pinot Noir. It joins the Riva Ranch
Chardonnay in the single vineyard
wine series - only the second wine
to come from this single vineyard
among the family’s portfolio of
wines.
Located at the mouth of the Arroyo
Seco River Canyon, the Riva
Vineyard was Arroyo Seco’s first
vineyard planting in 1963, is a
special place to the Wente family.
And we just celebrated our third
annual National Chardonnay Day
at Wente Vineyards with a great
tasting of our Chardonnay portfolio
with media and consumers from the
Bay Area.
In past decade, you’ve opened a
number of high-profile peripheral
activities around the vineyard,
including the now famed golf
course and your restaurant and
visitors’ center. Please tell us more
about how these play in growing
brand awareness…
When I joined the family business
in the early 1980s, the family
was recognised for its leadership
in viticulture, oenology and the
world of wine business. But my
brothers and I knew there was
more to accomplish. We wanted
to provide quality experiences
that would exceed our guests’
expectations.
The opening of the Wente
Vineyards Restaurant and Visitors
Centre in 1986 was our first step in
the realisation of their dream for a
new appreciation of wine as a part
of culture in America. I have been
very passionate about opening a
restaurant and was thrilled when
my dream became a reality. The
Restaurant at Wente Vineyards
has become a culinary destination
continuously rated among the top
10 restaurants in the East Bay by a
number of leading publications. In
the summer of 1986, The Concerts
at Wente Vineyards followed,
featuring world-renowned artists
such as James Taylor, Elvis Costello,
Sheryl Crow and Diana Krall. Now
each summer, over 10,000 San
Francisco Bay Area concert goers
come to Wente Vineyards to enjoy
spectacular evenings of wine, food
and world-class entertainment.
In 1998, the Wente family created
an 18-hole championship golf
course designed by Australian
golfing great Greg Norman, which
is beautifully located in the midst of
the vineyards.
And in 2014, we opened The
Winemakers Studio as I mentioned
before. I like to think this proves
we are committed to become a
consumer destination and leader in
the Livermore Valley.
How do you make the most of
Vinexpo, and how does the event
fit into your overall marketing
plan? What will you primarily be
promoting at the show?
Vinexpo is an outstanding event
that allows us to meet with many
of our importers and business
partners from around the globe,
in an efficient and cost effective
way, to conduct business reviews
and discuss current market trends.
Most importantly we are able to
taste new vintages and highlight
new products from Wente Family
Estates. This year we are excited to
introduce our new Single Vineyard
wine to our importers: Wente
Vineyard Riva Ranch Pinot Noir
from our Estate Grown vineyards in
Arroyo, Seco, Monterey. We will
be featuring all our brands under
the Wente Family Estates portfolio:
Murrieta’s Well, The Nth Degree,
entwine, Double Decker and
Hayes Ranch.
The California Wine Institute,
which you now preside, is a faithful
participant in Vinexpo. Please
tell us a bit more about the institute’s
activities and how visitors to
Vinexpo can benefit...
Wente Family Estates has
participated in almost every
Vinexpo since the first exhibition
in 1981. For several years Wente
Family Estates participated as
an independent exhibitor. We
attribute some of the success for
WE ATTRIBUTE SOME
OF THE SUCCESS FOR OUR
INTERNATIONAL BRAND
RECOGNITION TO THOSE EARLY
YEARS AT VINEXPO
our International brand recognition
to those early years at Vinexpo.
More recently we have partnered
with the California Wine Institute
and exhibit our brands within the
California pavilion. The Wine
Institute provides consolidated
services and activities that draw
many International buyers to our
pavilion.
We are pleased to see a growing
awareness and demand for
California wines throughout the
world. Buyers are now looking to
expand their California selections
by looking at multiple regions and
appellations instead of having only
one California brand.
The Wine Institute’s pavilion
enables buyers to explore the
range of styles, prices and regions
that California has to offer.
vinexpodaily.com
VINEXPO DAILY / DAY 2 / MONDAY 15 TH JUNE 2015 11