Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/580744
and grapes on our property for the last 100 years." Wente Vineyards is a member of an elite club: Only two percent of California wineries have received certification for winemaking and winegrowing, and the family winery approaches the rest of their operations with the same commitment and mentality. "We use drought-tolerant plants at the golf course," Wente said. "The restaurant serves food that's locally sourced and farmed. We manage our water and recycle all of it through a two-stage process pond. We also manage our electricity very carefully with motion sensor lighting and skylights." Besides employing systemic sustainabil- ity practices, the Wentes pioneered the use of this technology in the vineyards and the winery with TerrAvion, which other vineyards are now using. "Peering down from above can be illuminating," Wente said. "We employ aerial images once a week to spot things. It can show growth patterns and uniformity in the vineyard. Maybe there's an area where coyotes have damaged a drip line. That will show up in the imagery." Wente partners with Fruition Sciences to monitor vineyard health and make quick Cattle roam the property at Wente Family Estates. A view of The Course at Wente Vineyards. Water is recycled on the property through a two-stage process pond. { SOMMjournal.com } 91 Wente Vineyards Morning Fog Chardonnay pays homage to the fog bank that comes into the Livermore Valley from the Pacific wind streams, resting in the region's unique east-west orientation.