Ultimate California Wine Blog

Gundlach Bundschu has always prided itself on being the oldest family-owned winery in North America. However, the Bundschu family had to shut down their winery during Prohibition so the next in line for claim to fame goes to Wente, who is the oldest family-owned continually operating winery, dating back to 1883. Right in the middle of Livermore!

There are actually two separate places to visit and taste Wente wines in Livermore. I stumbled on to the one on Tesla, but only later learned there was a "visitor center" on Arroyo Road. From the looks of their website, the Arroyo Road location also provides wine tastings but might be the prettier of the two, as it is available for wedding rentals. There are also signs around for a concert series so I imagine the other location has significantly bigger facilities. This was not an eyesore by any means, however.

The Tesla Road set of buildings includes a tasting room that is actually two small octagonal buildings; one being a bar-in-the-round and the other the gift shop. The tasting area is surrounded by stone walls on which artworks are displayed, with exhibits changing in rotation. The folks pouring are pleasant and informative, but choose wisely. This is one of those companies that almost produce too much to taste in one sitting. I cherry-picked my tastings, thus:

NV Reserve Brut, Arroyo Seco and Monterey – 48% Pinot Noir and 52% Pinot Blanc. Hint of yeast and citrus that produced both a clean, dry entry. Easy, but unexceptional. $14.95

2003 Riesling, Vineyard Selection, 78% Arroyo Seco, 22% Monterey – At 2.20% residual sugar, this wine has been tempered with 24% Gewurztraminer. Initial overt aroma of orange blossom which anticipated a sweetness that did not reveal itself in the mouth entry, to my delight. With as much residual sugar as this wine had, this wine had the potential to be a sugar bomb. Instead, while it was definitely sweet, the hint of spiciness and integrated melon, peach, and honeysuckle flavors were quite pleasant. $8.95

2003 The Nth Degree Chardonnay – Clear, bright lemony yellow color. Butter and lemon predominate with a layer of lemon peel and kiwi. Surprisingly sweet entry in the mouth that touches on sweet apple, dairy butter, and a hint of toast. $35.00

2002 Pinot Noir, Reliz Creek Reserve, Arroyo Seco, Monterey – Great fruity nose of raspberry, dark cherry, and a hint of smoky earth. Unfortunately, the bright engaging nose was lost on the mouth entry which was harsh and metallic with a strident finish. $17.95

2002 Merlot, Crane Ridge Reserve – 79% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Barbera. Liqueur-like  aromas of dark, elegant plum, exotic wood, and heady spice. Clean, smooth mouth entry with a balanced finish. $17.95

2002 Syrah, Vineyard Selection – 75% Syrah, 19% Barbera, and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. Stunning pomegranate aromas just barely concealing dark cherry and hints of earth. Port-like entry that was a bit sweet but blossomed to show integration of roasted coffee and black strawberries. $12.95

2002 Small-Lot Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah – 54% Cabernet Sauvignon and 46% Syrah. Dark, clear purple color with bouquet of dark brambleberry and subtle tones of spice. Very smooth entry that was a tad hot in the mid-palate. I’m confident the heat will subside with aging. Vanilla finish is rich and clean. $45.00

Wente Vineyards Tasting Room ~ 5565 Tesla Road ~ Livermore ~ CA ~ 94550 ~ 925-456-2305
Wente Vineyards Visitor’s Center ~ 5050 Arroyo Road ~ Livermore ~ CA ~ 94550 ~ 925-456-2405

Rios-Lovell Estate Winery marks the beginning of my investigation of the Livermore Appellation. This was one of those enigma appellations which I knew very little. I know there are these pockets of profuse wine-making throughout California, but I had no idea that the Livermore valley dated back to the 1880s. While I barely scratched the surface of the neighborhood, I am anxious to go back when the thermometer is somewhere south of three digits…

Max Rios and Katie Lovell were married when they established the winery. Divorced in 2004, it is Katie who is the winemaker and driving force behind the winery. Apparently Max still lives on the property and works as a cabinet maker while Katie commutes from the Saratoga area a few days a week.

There is an interesting ante-chamber before the tasting room that is amazingly painted with a number of murals, giving a bistro-like, old-world feel. The facilities are known in the area for hosting weddings and the grounds include a separate building for receptions as well as a garden arbor.

2002 Reserve Estate Chardonnay – Somewhat standard offering, classic Asian pear and tropical fruit aromas. Creamy, butterscotch entry that has an easy mouthfeel. $16.00

2003 Reserve Estate Chardonnay – Warm, fruity nose showing similar tropical tones as the first, but with a tad more depth. Cream and butter. $16.00

2001 Estate Petite Sirah – A dark wine with a core of purple, blueberry is predominant in the nose, giving way to show some black cherry. Effusively dark berry aromas with hints of vanilla. Terrific mouthfeel that is elegant and opulent. Dry in the mid-palate with a lingering, cherry finish. $22.00

2003 Estate Sangiovese – A medium-bodied offering showing bright strawberry bouquet with hints of tin. Red cherry predominates the mouth with moderate acidity that sadly turns a bit harsh on the end. $19.00

2000 Ramiro’s Red – A blend of 50% Barbera, 35% Sangiovese, 10% Petite Sirah, and 5% Zinfandel. Great jammy nose of dark berry and bright black cherry. Heightened acidity shows on the entry with more cherry tones. Mint shows in the middle and end for a fun, easy wine. $19.00

2002 Reserve Port – An odd port offering blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese fortified with brandy. Sadly painful aromas of petrol and pine tar. A sickly sweet entry shows strawberry with a sugary finish. $38.00

Rios-Lovell Estate Winery ~ 6500 Tesla Road ~ Livermore~ CA ~ 94550 ~ 925-443-0434