The Tasting Panel magazine

JULY 2011

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DESTINATION WINERIES lthough the Wente family has been making wonderful wines out of California’s Livermore Valley for the past 128 years, the past quarter century at this family-owned and -operated facil- ity has been of particular note, thanks in part to on-property consumer entertainment opportunities such as golf (the property boasts the Greg Norman– designed Course at Wente Vineyards, which doubles as a Certified Cooperative Audubon Sanctuary), the the summer Concerts at Wente Vineyards (with big names like America and Diana Ross slated to headline this year) and cooking classes taught by the winery’s Executive Chef Eric Berg, a talented culinary artist who heads the property’s acclaimed Restaurant at Wente Vineyards. Wente Vineyards: A Becoming a visitor destination known for more than just their wines was a primary goal 25 years ago for Carolyn Wente, now CEO, and tday the winery leads the charge for producers looking to turn their already-existing tasting rooms into so much more. “Much like the Wente family’s heritage of bring- ing Chardonnay to California, Carolyn was at the forefront of making lifestyle offerings a standard practice in the wine industry,” explains Amy Hoopes, CMO and EVP Global Sales. If the past 128 years are any indication, the Wente family will continue to multitask and find new avenues with which to reach their clientele. At right, you’ll find an excerpt from Fifth-Generation Winemaker Karl Wente’s blog (www.wentevineyards. com/blog) in which he shares his love of wine and yoga with the brand’s loyal customers. Talk about staying current, Wente! 0 / the tasting panel / july 201 1 Giving Consumers Something to Celebrate KARL’S CORNER Deep Breathing for Clarity and Revitalization One of Mother Nature’s greatest gifts to us is the gift of oxygen. It may seem so simple, yet it’s something we often take for granted in the busy day to day of life. Like many of you, I was only taught to breathe deeply in stressful situations. Later in life, my yoga practice taught me the power of breathing: When we take a step back and focus on our breath, it makes us fully present. In Sanskrit, these exercises are part of a larger practice called Pranayama; “prana” means not just breath but also the life energy that fills the universe, and “yama” means restraint or control. The focus of these breath- ing practices are not simply inhalation and exhalation—I like to think of it as drawing in good energy and letting go of tension or stress that our body holds, helping our minds become more attuned to the present. Karl Wente, Fifth Generation These simple breathing exercises help me center myself before large tastings and business meetings, and help me sleep better while I’m on the road. I hope the following practice will help you as much as it’s helped me. Remember, a practice has no destination . . . only goals and intentions.

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