Livermore Valley, CA (Sept. 19, 2023) – Wente Family Estates, America’s longest, continuously family-owned and operated winery, is thrilled to announce the exciting expansion of its in-house culinary programming in partnership with Levy, the industry leader in creating incredible dining and hospitality experiences at world-class entertainment and cultural institutions. As a long-term commitment to providing outstanding hospitality experiences for its community and guests, this partnership enables Wente Family Estates to offer luxury culinary experiences while upholding the standards and brand continuity associated with the Wente name.
2023 marks Wente Vineyards’ 140th harvest and uninterrupted year in business, and this partnership represents an innovative vision that will ensure the longevity of the estate’s culinary experiences while taking its luxury hospitality programming to the next level.
“We are excited to maximize our property to its full potential by bringing food and hospitality back home under the Wente Family Estates umbrella,” said Aly Wente, 5th Generation Winegrower and VP of Marketing and Customer Experiences. “It was critical to find the right partner, and we are aligned with Levy on the same values of community, experiences, and working with local suppliers. This partnership elevates the level of hospitality at the property, so we can focus on doing what we do best – making incredible wine and hosting wine country experiences!”
“With our restaurateur DNA and a shared passion for creating extraordinary moments, our partnership with Wente Vineyards is an exciting opportunity to bring together the best food, a family wine legacy and one-of-kind experiences that celebrate the community and sustainability,” said Andy Lansing, CEO of Levy. “We truly share the same values and vision as the Wente family and look forward to bringing it all together.”
In partnering with Levy, the Wente family looks forward to the return of full suite catering in-house, including weddings, social and charitable events, and the much-anticipated return of the estate’s beloved holiday and music events. Levy will also operate culinary experiences at The Grill at Wente Vineyards, the Wente Vineyards Tasting Lounge and Murrieta’s Well. All winemaking and wine programming will remain fully under the management of the Wente Family Estates teams.
Wente Family Estates is now managed by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family, with the fifth generation of women now leading the charge from grape to glass. With an ever-increasing focus on sustainability, the winery was one of the first to become a certified sustainable vineyard and winery from the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA). In 2022, Wente Vineyards was the recipient of the Wine Institute’s California Green Medal Leader Award, given to one winery each year and recognizing leadership in ethical practices that span both vineyards and winery as well as socially responsible initiatives that benefit its employees and greater community.
Partnering with Levy speaks to that commitment to the community. All current Wente Family Estates employees will be retained, while the estate plans to create jobs within the Livermore Valley with additional culinary hires. The partnership will officially commence on November 1, 2023, though any events currently committed will not be affected and current culinary contracts will be honored.
This represents the first winery partnership for Levy, the leader for innovative food and beverage experiences in places where guests come together for unforgettable experiences. Levy’s culinary teams deliver world-class hospitality at iconic events like the US Open Tennis Championships, Kentucky Derby, and the Grammy Awards, attractions like the Art Institute of Chicago and The Music Center of Los Angeles, as well as its restaurants spanning elevated seafood and hand-crafted Italian in Orlando’s Disney Springs to contemporary American tavern fare on Chicago’s riverfront.
About Wente Family Estates
Founded in 1883, Wente Family Estates has been celebrated for its industry-wide contributions to innovation as the longest continuously family-owned and operated winery in the country, now owned and managed by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family, with women leading the charge from grape to glass. 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. The Wente Family Estates portfolio includes an array of consumer brands, such as Wente Vineyards, Murrieta’s Well, Angels Ink, Ravel & Stitch, Hayes Ranch and more.
In 2010, Wente Family Estates joined the top 10% of California wineries that meet all three tiers within the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing codes and designation for both their estate vineyards and winery. In April 2022, the company won the Wine Institute’s California Green Medal Leader Award. This award is given to one winery each year and recognizing leadership in sustainable practices that span both its vineyards and winery as well as the estate’s socially responsible initiatives that benefit its employees and greater community.
Located just east of San Francisco in the historic Livermore Valley, Wente Vineyards – Wente Family Estates’ flagship estate label – is recognized as one of California’s premier wine country destinations, featuring wine tasting, food and wine experiences, outdoor wine & music events, unparalleled wedding venues and The Course at Wente Vineyards, an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Greg Norman.
For more information, visit wentevineyards.com.
About Levy
Levy was founded in 1978 with a single delicatessen in Chicago, and now has restaurants spanning across more than a dozen cities in the U.S. and Canada. Those roots made Levy the original disruptor bringing restaurant-quality food to cultural attractions, and sports and entertainment venues. Today, Levy serves guests at more than 300 venues, including cultural destinations like the Field Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, and The Music Center of Los Angeles, as well as world-class arenas and stadiums such as United Center, Wrigley Field, Crypto.com Arena, and Levi’s Stadium, and its restaurants Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap and River Roast in Chicago, and Paddlefish and Terralina Crafted Italian in Orlando’s Disney Springs. Levy’s roster of partners also features iconic events such as the Kentucky Derby, Grammy Awards, Coachella and Stagecoach Music Festivals, and the US Open Tennis Championships.
