Hans Hartjens, Chief Financial Officer
LIVERMORE VALLEY, CA—July 13, 2021– Wente Family Estates is pleased to announce that Hans Hartjens has joined the organization assuming the role of Chief Financial Officer. Hans will oversee the overall financial success of the 138-year-old family business and support the organization’s drive for continued long-term growth of the Wente Family Estates portfolio. “I’m beyond excited to have Hans join our organization. His experience and leadership capabilities will contribute significantly to our Senior Leadership Team and he will be an essential partner as we continue to grow our portfolio of brands for the future,” says Chief Executive Officer, Tyson Overton.
With 18 years of wine industry experience at E&J Gallo Winery, Hans brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in winery financial oversight. Hans started his career at E&J Gallo leading Capital Planning and the Operation Finance teams. After years of growth, Hans progressed to the commercial side of the business in 2006, driving the Economy Wine and Spirits Business Units. Subsequently, Hans took a leadership role for the Corporate International Finance Team managing financial operations for over 80 countries and 100 different brands. In 2010, Hans moved to the manufacturing side of the business to lead the Finance, IT, and Supply Chain organizations for Gallo Glass. Most recently, Hans was on an international assignment leading the business and operation teams for the Asia region and was based in Hong Kong for the last five years.
“Hans’ breadth of experience across operations, capital planning, commercial, and international businesses puts the company in a position for success under his leadership and guidance. His perspective and understanding of these individual areas will help us make smart, financial decisions that will deliver profitable growth for future generations to come,” says Overton.
About Wente Family Estates
Wente Family Estates was established by Carl H. Wente who came to California as an immigrant 138 years ago. The company portfolio includes Wente Vineyards, Murrieta’s Well, Hayes Ranch, Ravel & Stitch, entwine, Angels Ink, 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 distributed in all 50 states and over 70 countries worldwide. In 2010, it joined the top 10% of California wineries that meet all three tiers within the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing codes & designation for being certified in both winery and vineyard operations. In 2011, Wente Family Estates was named American Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast. 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.
Wente Family Estates is among the top 30 wineries in the United States from the standpoint of production and distribution. The winery has a brisk domestic business and a significant share of the export wine market, where the wines have enjoyed international acclaim for decades. Wente Family Estates is also a leading export company, selling wines to 75 countries globally.
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. For more information, visit www.wentevineyards.com.
