Meiningers Weinwelt: Tasting "New California"

 Sustainability has always been a theme here. Wente? That rings a bell for some Chardonnay enthusiasts – and yes, the famous Wente clone originated here. In 1912, Ernest Wente convinced his father and company founder, Carl H. Wente, to bring Chardonnay cuttings from Montpellier to Livermore Valley. There, they experimented and propagated, and the result is history: Today, 75 percent of California's Chardonnay vineyards consist of Wente clone material. The latest generation of the Wentes, in 2023, is building their sustainability on various pillars, which are labeled with concise keywords: Water, Soil, Energy, Packaging, People. For example, the team, led by External Operations Manager Niki Wente, works with state-of-the-art, fully electric Monarch tractors and has installed precise irrigation systems tailored to the different vineyards. In the cellar, Chief Winemaker Karl Wente drastically reduces water consumption with steam cleaners for barrels and tanks, and currently, the bottling process is being switched to lightweight glass bottles. What resonates with both domestic and international customers is a clear, fruit-forward, expressive, and accessible style, from the entry-level Chardonnay to sparkling wines and the top wines of the 'nth Degree' line.