Sacramento, CA – The California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) today announced Wente Family Estates, America’s longest continuously family-owned and operated winery, as the association’s newest member. Located just 35 miles east of San Francisco in the historic Livermore Valley, Wente Family Estates is best known for its flagship winery, Wente Vineyards. The family estate will celebrate its 140th anniversary harvest in 2023.

“CMTA is proud to be home to countless member companies that have a long history of being family-owned and operated,” said Lance Hastings, CMTA President & CEO. “In fact, that’s truly the beauty of this industry: manufacturing is a legacy industry with generations of Californians growing up on the factory floor and going on to take over the family business or even create their own manufacturing company – big and small. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Wente Family Estates, a historic family wine company, as the newest member of the CMTA family.”

Founded in 1883, Wente Family Estates maintains its leadership role in California wine growing under the ownership and management of the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family, with the fifth generation of women leading the charge from grape to glass. Blending traditional and innovative winemaking practices, Wente Vineyards, and the myriad labels under the Wente Family Estates umbrella, draws from sustainably farmed estate vineyards to create an outstanding portfolio of wines. Wente Family Estates is a certified sustainable vineyard and winery from the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CCSW). In April 2022, the company won the Wine Institute’s California Green Medal Leader Award. This award is given to one winery each year 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.

“We’re proud to be a longstanding multigenerational winery and Livermore Valley-based producer,” said Niki Wente, Fifth Generation Winegrower and Director of Vineyard Operations at Wente Vineyards. “To be a part of CMTA is a great honor as they continue to advocate for, protect, and invest in California’s great producers, makers, and artisans.” 

CMTA represents more than 400 businesses from California’s entire manufacturing community – an economic sector that generates more than $300 billion every year and employs more than 1.3 million Californians. If you would like to join CMTA, please email our Director of Member Engagement & Business Development, Sarah Johnson.

CMTA Media Contact:
Ananda Rochita
CMTA VP Communications
arochita@cmta.net
916-498-3347

Wente Media Contact:
Glodow Nead Communications
WenteVineyardsPR@glodownead.co