Wente Vineyards

The Wente family is closely associated with the Livermore Valley, but it has been growing Chardonnay at Riva Ranch in the Arroyo Seco AVA since the 1960s. The vineyard is planted with several clones, including Clone 4 (the so-called Wente clone) and three Dijon clones. Most of the grapes for this wine come from that Arroyo Seco vineyard, with a tiny percentage originating in the Livermore Valley.

Ninety percent of the wine was barrel-fermented; the remainder was in stainless steel. All the blend goes through malolactic fermentation, and it’s aged in barrel for 12 months. The result is a Chardonnay that’s quite opulent, ripe and fleshy, but it still has a firm core of acidity and manages to maintain its balance. The wine displays tropical fruit flavors of pineapple and mango, along with hints of coconut and butterscotch. A Chardonnay made in this hedonistic style is often pricey, but the Wente Riva Ranch Reserve retails for a reasonable $18. It’s a wine that needs rich cuisine to balance it: Think cream sauces, melted butter, that sort of thing.

Reviewed May 3, 2007 by Laurie Daniel.