Sourced from certified sustainable vineyards on California’s Central Coast, Wente Family Estate’s newest portfolio addition meets growing consumer demand for Pinot Grigio
LIVERMORE VALLEY, Calif. (May 15, 2025) – Wente Family Vineyards, renowned as America’s longest continuously operated family-owned winery, is pleased to announce the latest permanent addition to its wine portfolio with the debut of the 2024 Pacific Mist Pinot Grigio (SRP $18). A tribute to the cooling breezes and coastal influence that define California’s Central Coast, this crisp, white wine is sourced from certified sustainable vineyards that the Wente family has cultivated over five generations.
The fifth generation Wente leadership has been especially attuned to the wine styles that have found success among their millennial and Gen Z peers. As Pinot Grigio consumers themselves, the team planted the Pacific Mist vines while consumer interest in California-grown Pinot Grigio was still nascent. This experimental move proved strategic, as the wines are now being released amid strong consumer demand for the category – super-premium California Pinot Grigio is up 21.7% in the last 52 weeks (as of 4/13/2025, according to US scan data provided by Circana).
“While the 2024 Pacific Mist Pinot Grigio represents years of meticulous development, we are fortunate that its release coincides with such a dramatic rise in popularity for this category,” said Aly Wente, Fifth Generation Winegrower and Senior Vice President. “Wine drinkers of all ages continue to seek refreshing, high-quality wines from trusted producers, while less common white wine varieties in California, like Pinot Grigio, add an element of discovery for younger drinkers looking to expand their horizons. Pacific Mist Pinot Grigio delivers the very best of both worlds.”
The Pacific Mist Pinot Grigio is shaped by and named for the morning fog and afternoon winds rolling in from the Pacific Ocean, which preserve freshness and enhance vibrant aromatics in the grapes, and ultimately the finished wine. Cold fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks to maintain the delicate floral aromatics, this Central Coast Pinot Grigio has a lively palate, bursting with crisp green apple, zesty grapefruit, and a bright citrus core. Beautifully balanced acidity lends to a mouthwatering quality, making each sip effortlessly invigorating. Light, expressive, and endlessly approachable, this wine is a perfect companion for summer salads, burrata, raw oysters, or grilled shrimp with lemon.
The introduction of Wente Family Estates’ Pacific Mist Pinot Grigio comes on the heels of the winery’s two other permanent portfolio additions added in 2024: the Mount Diablo Highlands Red Blend and the Baily Hill Pinot Noir (both $20 SRP). It also coincides with Wente Family Vineyards’ recent rebrand and packaging updates, which means Pacific Mist’s front label prominently displays “Certified Sustainable” – a visibility that is also strategically positioned to attract a more engaged consumer audience, whose purchasing decisions are increasingly driven by ethical winemaking practices. That sustainability is palpably demonstrated by the lighter-weight (400 gram) glass bottles that house Pacific Mist Pinot Grigio (and which now define the entire Wente Family Vineyards portfolio) – an eco-conscious innovation that significantly reduces carbon emissions during transport.
Pacific Mist Pinot Grigio is a part of Wente Family Vineyards’ Coastal Vineyard Series. It is now available in both national and international markets. For additional details or inquiries, please visit Wente Family Vineyards’ official website at wentevineyards.com.
About Wente Family Vineyards:
Founded in 1883, Wente Family Vineyards has been celebrated for its industry wide contributions to innovation as the longest continuously operated, family-owned 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.
In 2010, it 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 winery 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 Family 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.
