LIVERMORE VALLEY, Calif. (May 27, 2026) – Wente Family Estates, the country’s longest continuously family-owned and operated winery, today announced a strategic evolution of its commercial leadership and a significant expansion of its agreement with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (Southern Glazer’s). Wente Family Estates will align its distribution footprint with Southern Glazer’s across four new states (New York, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota), a move designed to accelerate growth and streamline the portfolio’s route-to-market. The New York addition means Wente is now aligned with Southern Glazer’s in the top five wine markets in the United States.
Wente Family Estates’ relationship with Southern Glazer’s dates to 1985, when Wente chose Southern Wine & Spirits as its statewide California distributor. Since then, the relationship has been defined by deep loyalty through thick and thin, up markets and down over the years, with shared values that both companies attribute to being family-owned businesses.
Wente Family Estates and Southern Glazer’s have together shaped the evolution of the American wine industry through foundational production and distribution milestones. Wente’s legacy is rooted in viticulture as the first to varietally label Sauvignon Blanc in 1934 and then Chardonnay in 1936, as well as being the source of the Wente Clone, which now populates roughly 75% of California’s Chardonnay vineyards. Southern Glazer’s transformed the commerce side by establishing the first statewide distribution network in California and later becoming the first distributor of its scale to achieve a near-national footprint. While Wente pioneered the modern tasting room and regional planting, Southern Glazer’s modernized the concept of the “middle tier” through massive regional distribution centers and the industry’s first major B2B e-commerce platforms, effectively bridging the gap between historic craftsmanship and global logistics.
“This alignment is about more than just distribution, it is about ensuring we have the right leadership and the right partners to continue our steady growth and ultimately win in a competitive market,” said Aly Wente, Chief Revenue Officer. “By consolidating our efforts with Southern Glazer’s, we are creating a more agile and focused organization. I am energized by the opportunity to lead our wholesale team into this next chapter, where we will prioritize deep market penetration and a commitment to excellence for our retail and restaurant partners nationwide.”
The expanded agreement solidifies four decades of relationship between two of the wine industry’s most prominent families: the Wentes and the Chaplins. The history between Wente Family Estates and Southern Glazer’s is built on a shared foundation of family values and a long-term view of the wine industry.
“Our history with Southern Glazer’s dates back generations, and it is a relationship built on mutual respect and a shared passion for the wine business,” said Carolyn Wente, Fourth Generation Winegrower and Chairman of the Board. “I remember the early days of our partnership with the Chaplin family. Even then, it was clear that we shared a commitment to quality and integrity. To see this partnership evolve and expand today is a testament to the enduring strength of our family-to-family connection.”
Mark Chaplin, President, Commercial Sales of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, echoed this sentiment: “We are proud to expand our relationship with Wente Family Estates, building on a longstanding partnership spanning many markets across the country. The Wente family’s heritage in American winemaking, along with their focus on innovation and sustainability, makes them a strong partner for our organization. As we continue to broaden our distribution together, we look forward to leveraging our national scale and executional capabilities to unlock new opportunities for their portfolio.”
This increased alignment allows Wente Family Estates to leverage Southern Glazer’s industry-leading technology, data analytics, and extensive sales force. By expanding the distribution network, the winery aims to further enhance its presence nationally, ensuring that its portfolio – including its flagship Wente Family Vineyards label – is positioned for maximum impact.
Central to this strategic alignment is the appointment of Aly Wente to the role of Chief Revenue Officer. In this elevated capacity, Wente will oversee the winery’s entire wholesale operation, ensuring that the brand’s sales strategy is seamlessly integrated with its long-term vision for national expansion. As a fifth-generation winegrower, Wente’s transition to CRO marks a pivotal moment in the winery’s leadership, blending deep-rooted family heritage with a modern, data-driven approach to the multi-channel marketplace.
The historic Livermore Valley flagship was already in a strong position before the Southern Glazer’s agreement was announced. Concurrent with recent critical success, Wente Family Vineyards finds itself outpacing current category trends, with volumes increased by 5.8% and sales up 3.1% versus last year. Wente Family Vineyards entered 2026 as the 14 California Super Premium brand in the United States for its flagship Coastal Vineyard Series (which includes Morning Fog Chardonnay), up from number 15 at the beginning of 2025.
With Southern Glazer’s now firmly in Wente’s corner, the move underscores a collective commitment to win in the market by providing a consistent brand experience and superior service to wine lovers and trade partners across the country.
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 addition, Wente Family Estates is the US importer for Blanchard Perez, Blanchard & Lurton, and Bodega Cuarto Dominio.
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 Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits:
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is the world’s preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol, building brands for moments that matter. The multi-generational, family-owned Company has operations in 47 U.S. markets and Canada, as well as brokerage operations through its Southern Glazer’s Travel Retail Sales & Export Division in the Caribbean, Central and South America. In 2026, Southern Glazer’s was recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Culture, Belonging & Community. In 2025, Southern Glazer’s was recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity and America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women. Southern Glazer’s urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve, and enjoy its products responsibly. For more information visit www.southernglazers.com.
