Wente Branches Into Champagne, Rebrands Flagship Wines
April 2, 2025Known for its flagship namesake brand, which grew 2% to just over 370,000 cases in the U.S. last year, Wente Family Estates has widened its portfolio lately, most recently entering the Champagne segment with the Castelnau brand. Part of the Terroirs et Vignerons de Champagne group, which also includes the Nicolas Feuillatte and Henriot brands (handled by Palm Bay and Jackson Family Wines in the U.S., respectively), Castelnau made a limited debut last year and is now branching into more U.S. markets.
“The big brands have done a wonderful job at bringing more Champagne drinkers into the category,” notes Aly Wente, SVP of marketing and customer experience at Wente Family Estates. “Where the big brands often fit into higher energy occasions, such as nightclubs, Castelnau is definitely for the dining occasion, with a focus on restaurants and more intimate experiences.”
Castelnau puts an emphasis on long aging, with its non-vintage Brut spending a minimum of five years on the lees, and the 2008 Blanc de Blancs aging for over 15 years. The NV Brut cuvée retails $60, the NV Rosé cuvée is at $70, and the 2008 Brut Blanc de Blancs is positioned at $90.
“We have 10 million euro in turnover and produce 600,000 bottles annually,” notes Castelnau CEO Hannelore Chamaux. “We want to focus on the high quality of the wine, keep a high level of aging, and offer Champagne drinkers a unique expression.”
Castelnau joins a Wente stable that was up 3% overall last year, led by gains for the flagship Wente Family Vineyards brand’s super-premium and appellation tiers, which rose 5% and 12% respectively. Last year, Wente added a Baily Hill Pinot Noir ($20) to its lineup, along with a Mount Diablo Highlands Red Blend ($20). Wente Family Vineyards’ 2022 Morning Fog Chardonnay earned a spot among Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2024.
“This year, we’re launching a Pinot Grigio to capitalize on that segment that’s welcoming new consumers into wine, and we’re launching all-new packaging across the Wente Family Vineyards brand,” Wente says, adding that demand has been solid lately and the company anticipates further growth this year. The new branding on Wente Family Vineyards distinguishes the namesake label from other portfolio offerings like Murrieta’s Well, Angel’s Ink, and Ravel & Stitch.
Also forthcoming on the new product front are a low-alc, low-calorie Spanish sparkler as well as an organic French Sauvignon Blanc, both from import partner Andres Blanchard.—Daniel Marsteller
| Wente Family Estates’ Leading Brands In The U.S. (Thousands of 9-liter case depletions) |
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| Brand | Origin | 2023 | 2024 | Percent Change1 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wente Family Vineyards |
California | 365 | 371 | 1.6% | ||
| Hayes Ranch | California | 63 | 59 | -6.1% | ||
| Angel’s Ink | California | 23 | 21 | -9.3% | ||
| Blanchard Perez | Spain | 10 | 12 | 14.2% | ||
| Ravel & Stitch | California | 10 | 9 | -6.2% | ||
| Total Leading Brands2 | 471 | 472 | 0.2% | |||
| 1 Based on unrounded data. 2 Addition of columns may not agree due to rounding. Source: IMPACT DATABANK © 2025 |
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