Carolyn Wente

Carolyn Wente is the fourth-generation winegrower and current chairwoman/chairman emeritus of Wente Family Estates, the Livermore Valley winery founded by her family in 1883. She joined the business in 1980 after graduating from Stanford University and working as a financial analyst at Crocker National Bank, then rose through sales and marketing to become president in 1995 and the company’s first female CEO in 2008. Her leadership helped shape Wente Vineyards’ lifestyle and hospitality businesses, including the Visitor Center, The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards, and the family’s broader wine-country experience.