CEO of Wente Family Estates Carolyn Wente named CEO of the Year at Seventh Annual North Bay Business Journal Wine, Beer & Spirits Industry Awards Ceremony

Livermore, CA – On Tuesday December 3, 2019 Carolyn Wente was awarded CEO of the Year at the 7^th annual North Bay Business Journal Wine & Spirits Awards ceremony held at the Doubletree Hotel in Santa Rosa. Recognized for her innovation, visionary leadership, and stewardship of a five-generation family enterprise that is the longest continuously owned and operated family winery in America, Wente stated at the event, “My leadership strategy is to listen and lead with acuity and compassion.  I have an immensely talented team of family and staff running our company and after four decades of being immersed in the business, it is so gratifying to see generation five up and coming, all with strong and diverse areas of focus.” 

Recognizing individuals and suppliers who are leaders and innovators in their field, the North Bay Business Journal, is a premium business magazine founded in 1987 that provides the latest coverage on business in Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Mendocino and Lake Counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.  A full length interview with Wente on the state of the wine industry can be found here. The awards roster included winners for 9 categories including Distiller, Sonoma Winemaker, Napa Winemaker, Winery COO, Winery CEO (Wente), Startup, Philanthropy, American Dream and Special Award.   Details on all winners can be found here. 

This award caps a year of achievement for the winery including a renewed and amplified commitment to sustainability, the successful launch of Niki’s Rosé named for Viticulture Manager and 5^th generation family member Niki Wente, an upgraded package change for the core wine portfolio, the addition of the fifth member of the fifth generation to the team with Aly Wente joining as Senior Brand Manager, the re-opening and re-imagining of the Tasting Lounge guest experience on property, and the launch of the Make Time pledge, a movement that shares tips on how to be present and make meaningful connections.

About Wente Family Estates 

Founded in 1883, Wente Vineyards is coming off its 135th anniversary, when it was resoundingly celebrated for its industry-wide contributions to innovation as the oldest continuously-operated, family-owned winery in the country, now owned and managed by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family.  The company portfolio is comprised of Wente Vineyards, Murrieta’s Well, Hayes Ranch, Ravel & Stitch, entwine and Double Decker brands.  The winery draws from certified sustainable Estate vineyards in the Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay and Arroyo Seco, Monterey appellations to create an outstanding array of fine wines that are distributed in all 50 states and in over 70 countries worldwide.  In 2010, it joined the top 4% of  California wineries who meet all three tiers within the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing codes & designation. In 2011, Wente Family Estates was named American Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast and a top 30 wine company by Wine Business Monthly. 2012 marked the 100th anniversary of the Wente family bringing Chardonnay cuttings to California from France. Today, the Wente clones of Chardonnay are the most widely planted in California.
 
Located just east of San Francisco in the historic Livermore Valley, Wente Vineyards is recognized as one of California's premier wine country destinations. In 2018, the winery took a leadership role in its longstanding mission to inspire employees and guests to make time for what really matters, as realized through Wente Vineyards’ best practices, outstanding wines and wine country experiences. The property features wine tasting, world-class concerts, award-winning fine dining and championship golf.  For more information, visit www.wentevineyards.com.
 
For media inquiries, interviews, images, please contact Kimberly Noelle Charles of Charles Communications Associates at 415|701-9463 or press@charlescomm.com.