Wente Vineyards Riva Ranch Chardonnay is a single-vineyard California white wine sourced exclusively from the Wente family's estate Riva Ranch Vineyard in Arroyo Seco, Monterey County. The blend is 98% Chardonnay and 2% Gewürztraminer, delivering a perfect balance of tropical fruit and acidity with creamy notes of butter, vanilla, and subtle oak. At 14.5% ABV, this is a rich, full-bodied Chardonnay with a smooth and approachable profile.

The wine is crafted using a meticulous winemaking process: 90% of the wine is barrel fermented in a combination of 60% new and 40% second-use French and American oak barrels, while the remaining 10% is steel fermented for freshness. One hundred percent of the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation and is then aged sur lie for 10 months in the same French and American oak barrels, developing its signature creaminess and complexity. Tasting notes reveal green apple, tropical fruit, peach, and lemon aromas and flavors, complemented by touches of vanilla, spice, oak, and butter with a long, flavorful finish.

Wente Vineyards is recognized as California's "First Family of Chardonnay." Karl L. Wente pioneered winegrowing in Monterey County's Arroyo Seco district when he planted vineyards there in 1961, and the winery was the first in California to produce a varietally labeled Chardonnay from the now-famous Wente clone — a cutting that forms the foundation of many of California's great Chardonnay vineyards today. The Riva Ranch Vineyard's cool coastal climate, gravelly loam soils, and extended growing season contribute to wines of elegance and depth. The 2023 vintage earned 90 points from Wine Enthusiast.