Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/3815
october 2009 / the tasting panel / ment—what you put in and what you get out—and your interaction with the land. The second piece is about the community. With more than 3,000 acres, we are sur- rounded by our local community and neighbors; we need to make sure we are engaged with and are enhancing the Livermore Valley and Arroyo Seco as great places to work and live. The third tenet is about our own financial responsibility; you can't be around to protect the envi- ronment and enhance the community if you don't first make sound financial decisions for yourself." Through implementing their innovative "Farming for the Future" program across the estate and into the local community, the Wente family has established themselves as leaders in wine industry sustainability initiatives. Fifth-generation winemaker Karl Wente has never been the type to rest on his laurels. After gaining his undergraduate degree from Stanford in chemical engineering, Karl earned two master degrees in enology and viticulture from the University of California Davis. Karl's education has allowed him to carry on his family tradition of working as both a winegrower and winemaker. With ten vintages already under his belt, at the age of 32, Karl has achieved more than many people twice his age. Karl is proud to build on the success of his family and recognizes the importance of sur- rounding himself with a strong team. "Some of the employees at Wente have been here for more than 40 years, and many have been here for many more than 30. This has allowed me to pull from the knowledge of people who worked with my grandfather and past generations." As Karl Wente explains, "Winemaking has to be a collaborative effort, because you can't make great wines without a mutual understanding of your objectives. We all recognize that our first priority is growing grapes that have the potential to become excellent wines. We then tailor our techniques in the winery to preserve the delicate flavors of the fruit and to elevate the expression of the vineyard terroir." Up-Front with Karl Wente Music is an important aspect of Karl Wente's creativ- ity and an integral part of his winemaking process. Through Wente's "Discover the Wine, Discover the Music," Karl is able to blend his passion for wine and music and share it with consumers. For the pro- gram, Karl personally selects emerging artists to pair with his wines. "Music is such an important part of what we do at Wente Vineyards. With our summer music series, The Concerts at Wente Vineyards, we view music as an integral part of the wine-country experience. Through our 'Discover the Wine, Discover the Music' we are able to offer this experience to our consumers who may not be able to visit the winery," says 5th-g eneration winegrower Christine Wente. Neckers on Wente Vineyards wine bottles offer free downloads of up-and-coming musicians. Discover the Wine, Discover the Music