90 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016/2017
{
winegrowing
}
Ask fifth-generation winemaker Karl Wente about his family's Single
Vineyard wines and you'll get a very thoughtful, articulate response,
hinting that these wines, and the estates from which they come, are
something of a passion project for Karl and the Wente family. "These
wines are all made with love and a smile," he admits, "because there's
something powerful about single vineyard wines. A sense of place is
paramount with these wines."
One of Wente's special places is the Riva Ranch, situated in the Arroyo
Seco AVA, from which Wente Vineyards produces its Single Vineyard
Riva Ranch Chardonnay and Single Vineyard Riva Ranch Pinot Noir.
"It's just a great piece of land for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, south of
the Santa Lucia Highlands," explains Wente. "The fog comes in through
the Monterey Bay, giving us a pretty darn cool season. We're picking
Chardonnay up until October 29; that's pretty normal there."
Wente's Riva Ranch Vineyard in
Arroyo Seco, Monterey County.
PHOTO:
RANDY
CAPAROSO
All Wente Vineyards wines are made
with a small-lot approach.
Single Vineyard,
Single Essence
IN WENTE VINEYARDS' SINGLE
VINEYARD WINES, A SENSE OF PLACE
SHINES THROUGH
by Rachel Burkons
