MURRIETA’S WELL: HISTORICAL TIMELINE 1850s Joaquin Murrieta, a legendary bandito, roams California during the Gold Rush era. Murrieta earns a reputation and a livelihood rounding up cattle and horses that then ran wild in the California open range, driving them down to Mexico to sell to the Mexican Army, a very lucrative business. Larger than life for these escapades and for taking revenge against American miners who assaulted his wife and killed his brother, Murrieta’s reputation spreads as far south as Chile. During his crusades he set up base camps up and down the coast range. Murrieta and his men often stopped to water their horses at an artesian well bubbling up from the floor of the Livermore Valley at the base of the Arroyo Mocho, today the site of Murrieta’s Well Winery. 1870s Louis Mel, pioneering businessman, emigrates from France to the United States, setting up insurance agencies all over the west from Canada to Mexico. During his travels, Mel falls in love with the Livermore Valley in California. There, Mel buys a charming property with a flowing stream and an artesian well the locals call “Murrieta’s Well.” Mel’s discovery of this natural source of water and the unusually gravelly soil capture his attention due to its likeness to some of greatest vineyard sites in France. Mel buys the surrounding land and builds a gravity-flow winery into the hillside adjacent to the well, where the century old walls of river rock and cement still stand. 1880s In 1884, Louis Mel’s wife writes a letter to her childhood friend, the wife of the Marquis de Lur-Saluces at the famous Chateau d’Yquem in Bordeaux, introducing fellow Livermore Valley pioneer Charles Wetmore. Wetmore travels to Bordeaux where he obtains cuttings of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon from the Chateau. He also acquires cuttings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, likely from Margaux, In 1889 Wetmore wins the grand prix at Paris with wines made from these cuttings. He shares these cuttings with Louis Mel, who plants them to his estate in Livermore Valley. 1930s Ernest Wente buys the property from his friend and neighbor, Louis Mel, keeping the winery and vineyards in production during Prohibition by producing sacramental wines. 1990 Philip Wente, who grew up a stone’s throw from the winery in the Victorian-era house built by the Mels, and Sergio Traverso, chief winemaker at neighboring Concannon Vineyard, form a partnership to create the wines of Murrieta’s Well and resurrect the exquisite wine estate, replanting the vineyards with additional Bordeaux, Spanish and Portuguese varietals. 1991 The beautifully restored old stone winery opens its doors to visitors for the first time. Release of first vintages of White Meritage (1990 Vintage), Red Meritage (1989 Vintage) and Zinfandel (1989 Vintage). Media Contact: Charles Communications Associates, LLC | [email protected] | 415.701.9463 2000 Sergio sells his interest in the winery to the Wente family. He remains an integral part of the winegrowing and winemaking team, consulting in the vineyard and during blending. 2002 Karl Wente named winemaker for Wente Family Estates, encompassing Wente Vineyards, Murrieta’s Well and Tamás Estates, with Sergio and Phillip as consulting winemakers at Murrieta’s Well. 2004 Release of first vintage of Zarzuela (2001 Vintage), a blend of Spanish and Portuguese varietals, including Touriga Nacional, Tempranillo, Souzao and Touriga Francesca. 2010 Murrieta’s Well celebrates 20 years with the introduction of two new enticing blends; the Whip, a blend of six aromatic white varietals including Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Muscat Cannelli, Gewurztraminer and Orange Muscat, and the Spur, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Media Contact: Charles Communications Associates, LLC | [email protected] | 415.701.9463 MURRIETA’S WELL: KEY FACTS Murrieta’s Well is a Livermore Valley wine estate defined by its distinctive blended wines, stunning location, and a rich heritage that began during California’s Gold Rush era. In 1990, Fourth Generation Winegrower Philip Wente and Winemaker Sergio Traverso merged old and new winemaking styles, reviving the historic winery originally established by Livermore Valley Pioneer Louis Mel. The Place: Set in the heart of the Livermore Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA), as well as the greater San Francisco Bay AVA, Murrieta’s Well is located 35 miles east of San Francisco. The site is located on a natural water source at the base of the Mocho Canyon. The legendary gold rush era bandito Joaquin Murrieta is known to have frequented the artesian well in front the winery, and it is for him that the winery is named. The Winery: Originally built in the 1880s by Livermore Valley pioneer Louis Mel, the old stone winery building is a timeless example of early California architecture. Local timber and concrete made from gravel gathered from the nearby Arroyo Mocho Creek were used in the construction. One of the first examples of California gravity flow design, the building is now home to the Murrieta’s Well Tasting Room. Owners: The Wente Family Winemaking Team: Winemaker Karl Wente; Consulting Winemaker Sergio Traverso. Wines: Blends handcrafted to showcase the exceptional terroir of the property, and the art of blending. The Whip and the Spur are sophisticated white and red blends respectively. Los Tesoros de Joaquin wines (The Treasures of Joaquin), linked to the heritage of the surrounding vineyards, are produced in small quantities and are sold only at the winery or online. The wines in the Los Tesoros de Joaquin portfolio honor the pioneering bandito Joaquin Murrieta. Production & Cooperage: ~12,000 cases (vintage dependent). Aged in French, American, and Eastern European oak barrels. Acreage: 92 acres planted to: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Zinfandel, Petite Verdot, Mourvedre, Tempranillo, Souzao, Touriga Francesca and Touriga Nacional. Tasting: May–October: Daily 11:00am to 4:30pm, and November–April: Wednesday through Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Media Contact: Charles Communications Associates, LLC | [email protected] | 415.701.9463 PHILIP R. WENTE Fourth Generation Winegrower and Co-Founder of Murrieta’s Well Philip R. Wente is a fourth generation winegrower, and for more than 20 years he has headed the operation, expansion and redevelopment of the Wente Family Estate vineyards and its land development programs. Under his supervision of agricultural operations, the winery’s vineyard holdings increased significantly. He replanted the family’s estate vineyards, utilizing the soil resources and new trellis system technologies to further enhance the natural distinctiveness of each vineyard block. In 1990, Philip teamed up with winemaker Sergio Traverso to revive the historic 'Murrieta's Well' winery focusing on red and white blended wines produced from the sustainably farmed 92-acre Estate Vineyard and the adjacent historic Raboli vineyard. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather Ernest Wente, Philip pursued his love of viticulture at University of California at Davis. He graduated in 1975 with a degree in agricultural science and management, specializing in viticulture and enology. In recognition of his commitment to viticulture, Philip was elected to the Board of the Wine Institute in 1977, served as chairman in 1995, and continues as an ex-officio officer to the present time, a further tribute to his commitment to the stewardship of the California wine industry. Philip is strongly committed to preserving and protecting the family’s vineyards through the 'Farming for the Future'-program dedicated to sustainable agriculture. The program is a system of practices that enhances the vitality of the soil, creating a harmony of sustainable ecology, minimal water use and reducing non-organic waste, all part of the family’s ongoing focus on sustainability. “Our vineyards are our heritage. We want to produce exceptional wines with the least environmental impact, and create vineyards that will endure and thrive,” Philip explains. Philip is a leading advocate for the Livermore Valley and Arroyo Seco as winegrowing regions and is actively involved in land use and planning issues in the Livermore Valley. In 1986, Philip spearheaded the South Livermore Valley Planning Process that created a General Plan Amendment adopted in 1993. One of the many tools developed during this planning progress was the formation of the Tri-Valley Conservancy, an innovative agricultural land trust that harmonizes real estate development and agricultural land preservation in Alameda County, California. These initiatives were so successful that they are being used as a model in many other areas of the country. Philip lives with his wife, Julie, and their daughters in the Livermore Valley home built by his grandfather early in the last century. Media Contact: Charles Communications Associates, LLC | [email protected] | 415.701.9463 SERGIO TRAVERSO, Ph. D. Consulting Winemaker and Co-Founder of Murrieta’s Well A renowned winemaker in both North and South America, Sergio Traverso co- founded Murrieta’s Well with Philip Wente in 1990 with the shared vision of creating wines of character and distinction. Sergio later sold his interest in the winery to the Wente family, staying intensely involved as consulting winemaker. Today he works closely with Fifth Generation Winemaker Karl Wente on the winery’s unique portfolio of blended proprietary wines. Growing up amongst the vineyards and wineries of Chile and the son of well- respected winemaker and distiller Bartolomé Traverso, Sergio’s interest and experience in wine began early. He attended the University of Chile in Santiago, where he graduated with distinction as a biochemist. Sergio caught the attention of a visiting professor from the University of California at Davis, where he was asked to come to California to be a research assistant. While at U.C. Davis he obtained a master's degree in food science and a doctoral degree in microbiology.