Wente Family Estates Taps SGWS for 4 States

Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits will distribute Wente Family Estates products in four new states – New York, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Wente noted the addition of New York means Wente is now aligned with SGWS in the top five wine markets in the U.S. SGWS's relationship with Wente dates to 1985 when Wente tapped SGWS as its statewide distributor in California.

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.

Winery Names Aly Wente Chief Revenue Officer

In a related development, Aly Wente was named the winery's Chief Revenue Officer, responsible for overseeing 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, Ally’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.

Wente Outpacing Category Trends

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.