Wente Vineyards

Meet Our Family

• Eric Wente

  4th Generation Winegrower & Chairman of the Board

  Eric Wente

  4th Generation Winegrower & Chairman of the Board

  During his tenure as CEO, Eric, with the support of the winery’s staff, updated Wente Vineyards winemaking practices by implementing innovative techniques and constructing state-of-the-art facilities. Under Eric’s leadership, night harvesting, wine presses situated in the vineyards, sophisticated, gentle dejuicing methods, and increased use of oak barrels for aging were all improvements incorporated into a winemaking system that combines the best of the traditional and the modern.  Today, Eric remains the Chairman of the Board of Wente Family Estates. He and his wife, Arel, have two children, 5th Generation Christine and Karl whom remain active in the business.

• Phil Wente

  4th Generation Winegrower & Co-Founder of Murrieta’s Well

  Phil Wente

  4th Generation Winegrower & Co-Founder of Murrieta’s Well

  Philip is a leading advocate for the Livermore Valley and Arroyo Seco as winegrowing regions and is actively involved in land and planning issues in the Livermore Valley. Phil formed the Tri-Valley Conservancy, an innovative agricultural land trust that harmonizes real estate development and agricultural land preservation in Alameda County, California. The initiative was so successful that it is being used as a model in many other areas of the country. Today, Phil resides with his wife, Julie, in the Livermore Valley. His daughters, Jordan, Aly, and Niki, are all active in the Wente Family Estates business.

• Carolyn Wente

  4th Generation Winegrower & Chief Executive Officer

  Carolyn Wente

  4th Generation Winegrower & Chief Executive Officer

  Carolyn Wente is one of the driving forces behind the expansion and growth of Wente Family Estates’ portfolio of wines. Joining in the early 1980’s, Carolyn introduced the Wine Country experiences to Wente Vineyards: The Restaurant and award-winning Greg Norman golf course. Carolyn was born in the Livermore Valley and earned a degree at Stanford University. Carolyn still resides in the Livermore Valley with her husband, Buck Layton. Their son, Buck IV, is a recent college graduate and has accepted a full-time position in Texas, starting in the Fall of 2017.

• Christine Wente

  5th Generation Winegrower & President of the Wente Foundation Board

  Christine Wente

  5th Generation Winegrower & President of the Wente Foundation Board

  In 2000, Christine Wente, daughter of Eric Wente, became the first member of the fifth generation to join the family business. She has held various management roles in sales, marketing and hospitality at Wente Family Estates. She’s now on the company’s Board of Directors and she runs the Wente Foundation for Arts Education, raising money for local arts education programs. Christine also serves on the Board of the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Foundation, planning the annual Livermore Valley Wine Auction. Christine has a bachelor’s degree in politics from Princeton University and an MBA from Stanford University, as well as a Level 3 Certificate in Wines and Spirits from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. Christine lives in the East Bay with her husband Roland and their son and daughter.

• Karl Wente

  Fifth Generation Winegrower & Chief Winemaker, COO

  Karl Wente

  Fifth Generation Winegrower & Chief Winemaker, COO

  Karl oversees all Winemaking at Wente Family Estates. Karl joined the family business in 2001 and has lead wine innovation, started Nth Degree and helped expand the Wente Family Estates portfolios. His education includes a degree in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University and two Master’s degrees: one in Horticulture (Viticulture) and one in Food Science (Enology), from the University of California at Davis. Karl balances his strong academic background with the traditional hands-on approach of previous generations of Wente family winemakers. Karl grew up working at the winery, and expanded his experience with work at the Peter Michael Winery in Sonoma, and Brown Brothers winery in northern Victoria, Australia.

  When Karl is not making wine or out in the vineyard, you can catch him playing music with his local band, practicing yoga, or reading and listening to audio books.

• Jordan Wente

  5th Generation Winegrower & Project Manager, Procurement

  Jordan Wente

  5th Generation Winegrower & Project Manager, Procurement

  Joining the business in 2015, eldest daughter of Phil Wente, Jordan, has played some critical roles in Project Management and Supply Chain. Jordan was instrumental in the recent renovation of Murrieta’s Well and in her current role she supports ongoing custom and private label projects. Additionally, Jordan serves as one of the Board Members for the Wente Foundation for Arts and Education (WFAE).  Jordan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations from University of Colorado, Boulder. Jordan also holds a Masters in Business Administration from California Polytechnic State University.  Jordan resides in the Livermore Valley with her husband and three children, is an avid painter, loves to play tennis and golf, and aspires to travel to all the winegrowing regions in the world.

• Niki Wente

  5th Generation Winegrower & Viticulture Manager

  Niki Wente

  5th Generation Winegrower & Viticulture Manager

  Most recently joining the family business in March 2017, daughter of Phil Wente, Niki, joined our Viticulture team as a Viticulture Manager managing the teams in Livermore and Arroyo Seco, while continuing our winegrower relations programs. Niki graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in June 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Wine & Viticulture, a passion she has had since she was young. Throughout her college education, Niki interned three summers at Wente Vineyards (2 summers in Viticulture and 1 summer in Marketing) and one summer at Edna Valley Vineyards as a cellar hand.
  Following her graduation, Niki immediately joined the Viticulture team at Wente Vineyards through the 2014 harvest season, lending an extra hand. She then took a job opportunity in San Francisco and later a role in Grower Relations and Viticulture at Huneeus Vintners, buying and selling grapes for multiple brands. In addition to Niki’s role as Viticulturist, you will also find her rescuing animals from the vineyards. Today, Niki resides in the Livermore Valley with her husband, Nick, and their dog, Riley.
  

Winemaking and Viticulture

Meet the winemaking team

• Karl Wente

  Fifth Generation Winegrower & Chief Winemaker, COO

  Karl Wente

  Fifth Generation Winegrower & Chief Winemaker, COO

  Karl oversees all Winemaking at Wente Family Estates. Karl joined the family business in 2001 and has lead wine innovation, started Nth Degree and helped expand the Wente Family Estates portfolios. His education includes a degree in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University and two Master’s degrees: one in Horticulture (Viticulture) and one in Food Science (Enology), from the University of California at Davis. Karl balances his strong academic background with the traditional hands-on approach of previous generations of Wente family winemakers. Karl grew up working at the winery, and expanded his experience with work at the Peter Michael Winery in Sonoma, and Brown Brothers winery in northern Victoria, Australia.

  When Karl is not making wine or out in the vineyard, you can catch him playing music with his local band, practicing yoga, or reading and listening to audio books.

• Andrew Lynch

  Winemaker

  Andrew Lynch

  Winemaker

  Andrew Lynch joined Wente Vineyards in 2005, and in collaboration with Karl D. Wente, is the Winemaker for the Small Lot Winery. Raised on a family farm and orchard just north of Salinas, Andrew received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with a minor in History and Education at the University of California, Davis. In his role at Wente Vineyards, he oversees experimental winemaking as well as maintaining the highest quality standards for the winemaking program. He collaborates with Karl Wente and team to ascertain the ideal strategies for the fermentation, aging and blending of the Wente Vineyards wines. He loves the ever dynamic energy of winemaking as well as the family spirit his colleagues bring to their work daily. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys relaxing with his family and camping. 

• Elizabeth Kester

  Winemaker

  Elizabeth Kester

  Winemaker

  Elizabeth Kester has been making wine with Wente Vineyards since 2007. While attending California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo she tended to vines and made her first wine on the Cal Poly campus. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Wine and Viticulture she worked at Edna Valley Vineyards for the 2009 harvest. She then developed her palate as a Wine Specialist for BevMo by tasting wines from all over the world, but knew she wanted to have purple hands so she came to Livermore Valley to join the Wente Vineyards team in 2010. As a winemaker, Elizabeth manages the data analysis to support the winemaking team with quality information and science to help craft world class wines. Outside of the winery, she loves riding horses and even played on the Cal Poly Polo team.

Meet the viticulture team

• Julio Covarrubias

  Sr. Vineyard Manager

  Julio Covarrubias

  Sr. Vineyard Manager

  Starting his career with the Wente Family, Julio joined in January of 1974, working any needs in the vineyards and during harvest. During that time, Julio developed a passion for wine and the wine industry. Since then, Julio moved up to Vineyard Supervisor and now to Sr. Vineyard Manager partnering with his team overseeing both the Livermore Valley and Arroyo Seco, Monterey vineyards. Julio recently completed his 44^th vintage with Wente Family Estates and he continues to share his passion with his team and those around him.

• Keith Roberts

  Sr. Viticulture Manager, Arroyo Seco Monterey

  Keith Roberts

  Sr. Viticulture Manager, Arroyo Seco Monterey

  Keith has worked for the Wente family since 1974. He was 17 when he started running the harvester and had a chance to learn all aspects of the vineyards. Keith went on to manage the equipment shop for 16 years and in that timeframe he planted his first vineyard from the bottom up in Arroyo Seco, where he is now the Sr. Vineyard Manager. Keith oversees the Viticulture Department,  Support Team, special projects and all operations in the Arroyo Seco area. Keith is Chairman of the Salinas Valley Water Coalition, a group that monitors water issues and concerns in agriculture. Keith has been married to his wife, Laurinda, since 1978 and has three children and four grandchildren.

• Niki Wente

  5th Generation Winegrower & Viticulture Manager

  Niki Wente

  5th Generation Winegrower & Viticulture Manager

  Most recently joining the family business in March 2017, daughter of Phil Wente, Niki, joined our Viticulture team as a Viticulture Manager managing the teams in Livermore and Arroyo Seco, while continuing our winegrower relations programs. Niki graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in June 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Wine & Viticulture, a passion she has had since she was young. Throughout her college education, Niki interned three summers at Wente Vineyards (2 summers in Viticulture and 1 summer in Marketing) and one summer at Edna Valley Vineyards as a cellar hand.
  Following her graduation, Niki immediately joined the Viticulture team at Wente Vineyards through the 2014 harvest season, lending an extra hand. She then took a job opportunity in San Francisco and later a role in Grower Relations and Viticulture at Huneeus Vintners, buying and selling grapes for multiple brands. In addition to Niki’s role as Viticulturist, you will also find her rescuing animals from the vineyards. Today, Niki resides in the Livermore Valley with her husband, Nick, and their dog, Riley.