Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/288975
april 2014 / the tasting panel / 93 W ith the release of the winery's 130th vintage this year, Carolyn Wente, Fourth Generation Winegrower and CEO of Wente Family Estates (WFE), and her family are once again celebrating their many new and established brand follow- ers. The family includes brother Eric Wente, Fourth Generation Winegrower and Chairman of the Board; brother Phil Wente, Fourth Generation Winegrower and co-founder of Murrieta's Well; nephew Karl Wente, Fifth Generation Winegrower and Senior VP of Winemaking; and niece Christine Wente, Fifth Generation Winegrower and President of the Wente Foundation Board. The visibility that the brand has developed both on wine lists and by the glass is, and will continue to be, the hard work of the inner core of Wente sales executives; but this night celebrates the sixth year of the winery's top honors for distributors around the world: Legacy VI. "One of the reasons we started the Legacy Awards," explains Carolyn Wente, "is to recognize the super- achievers within our distribution network by honoring them at an awards dinner with their peers." Held in Livermore, with a reception at the Wente Vineyards Estate Winery and a dinner at the historic Murrieta's Well, Carolyn, her family and her sales team welcomed a room filled with some of the country's most notable distributors. "We're honoring each and every one for their achievements. There are great minds together in this one room," she noted, "and we are so grateful to these hard-working men and women who have helped expand our brands for a new generation of wine buyers and consumers. It all comes down to team work: empowering a cohesive team of managers who allow us at Wente Family Estates to interact effectively, creating synergies and partnerships." PLATINUM TIER Southern Wine & Spirits of California "Southern Wine & Spirits of California broke the barrier when it came to case sales," exclaimed Carolyn Wente. "This tier starts at 75,000 cases and they delivered over 140K cases." (left to right): Jack Brennan/SWS; Phil Wente; Steve Harden/SWS; Amy Hoopes/Wente Family Estates; Jim Andrus/SWS; Brad Vassar/ SWS; Eric Wente; Carolyn Wente; James Bradney/SWS and Larry DiPietro/Wente Family Estates. TP0414_072-101.indd 93 3/21/14 2:53 PM