Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/118688
The Voice of Five Generations A Tradition of Conservation and Stewardship T his year marks Wente Vineyards' 130th anniversary, a proud heritage that would not be possible without a strong philosophy of stewardship running throughout our family's generations. As the country's oldest, continuously operated family-owned winery, our focus has always been on building a strong legacy for the future, and sustainability has been the key since our family first settled in the Livermore Valley in 1883. Second Generation Winegrower Ernest Wente played a pivotal role in pioneering our sustainable practices. He was involved in the USDA Soil Conservation Service, as well as the Farm Bureau, which encouraged farming practices to protect soil integrity and prevent dustbowls. Ernest believed in rational land planning to preserve agriculture for the farmers and winegrowers of the Livermore Valley. As our family continued to build upon Ernest's innovative sustainable mandate, Fourth Generation Second Generation Winegrower Philip Wente Winegrower Ernest Wente. developed the company's Farming for the Future program in 1990. In turn, he inspired Fifth Generation Winemaker Karl D. Wente and Executive Vice President of Winegrowing Operations Kevin Zollinger to contribute to the development of California's Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices. In 2010, we were proud to be one of 18 pilot wineries to achieve the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing recognition, passing rigorous standards of sustainable excellence in vineyard, winery and company operations. We are proud of our heritage and commitment to sustainability and are honored to continue to leave a legacy for generations to come. —The Wente Family april 2013 / the tasting panel / 57