Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/26650
COLLABORATIONS Whip-Smart and Spurred Success NEW LABELS THE WHIP AND THE SPUR, FROM WINE LUMINARIES PHIL WENTE AND SERGIO TRAVERSO, ARE AIMED AT DRIVING SALES AND INCITING A NEW ERA AT MURRIETA’S WELL by Adele Nieto T eamwork, creative collaboration and a shared vision are the cornerstones of success in the business world; Murrieta’s Well, the result of the combined talent of winemaker Sergio Traverso and consummate viticulturalist/fourth-generation winegrower Philip Wente, is no different. Their successful 20-year partnership draws on the common vision these two luminaries share for this Livermore Valley winery, an important part of the Wente Family Estates portfolio. “It was a long-term passion to establish Murrieta’s Well as a complete stand-alone winery,” says Wente. The result is two newly-released proprietary estate blends, The Whip, a sophisticated blend of six white grapes, and The Spur, an enticing red blend. For Traverso, a lifelong architecture buff, crafting the perfect blend is akin to designing the perfect building: Both are about precise balance and beautiful structure— which The Whip and The Spur have in spades. “When I’m thinking about creating a new blend,” the winemaker explains, “I fi rst think in terms of structure—the structure on the palate, the textural approach to the mouthfeel and, ultimately, how it will taste.” But there’s more to this label than what’s in the bottle and in the vineyards; Wente, whose family name has been synonymous with wines from the Livermore Valley for fi ve consecutive generations, says, “For us, it’s about viticul- ture, not just agriculture.” With this in mind, sustainable farming takes the spotlight at Murrieta’s Well. “This is one of California’s classic wine-growing regions, and we need to preserve the resources of this valley,” he says. 60 / the tasting panel / march 201 1 The Spur 2008, Livermore Valley (SRP $25) combines 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Petit Verdot, 10% Petite Sirah, 9% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec. The Whip 2009, Livermore Valley (SRP $19) is a blend of 43% Semillon, 21% Sauvignon Blanc, 21% Viognier, 7% Muscat Canelli, 5% Gewürztraminer and 3% Orange Muscat.