Wente Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Southern Hills 2022

California Cab from one of the state's oldest family-owned wineries — Livermore Valley register at the weeknight price.

Taste
Black cherry, plum, vanilla, mint, and a soft tannin frame. Approachable, balanced, dinner-table — California Cab at the accessible register.

Region
From Livermore Valley, California. Wente Vineyards was founded in 1883 by Carl Wente — one of the oldest continuously operating, family-owned wineries in California. Southern Hills is the accessible Cab tier from their estate program.

About This Wine
Body: Medium-full body · Acidity: Balanced · Texture: Soft, approachable tannin

Best For
Burger night, steak dinner, weeknight Cab, gift for a casual California wine drinker, weekend grilling

For Who
Casual California Cab drinkers, dinner hosts pairing burger or steak nights, weekend grilling, gift recipients who appreciate California history without cult-tier pricing

Similar To
If you like Bogle Cabernet, Robert Mondavi Bourbon Barrel-Aged, or Hess Select Cabernet, this is in the same accessible California Cab register — Wente's longer history adds a heritage angle.

Pairing
Cheeseburger, ribeye, grilled lamb, baby back ribs, Korean BBQ (galbi), aged Cheddar, charcuterie

Drink Window
Drink 2025–2028. Best within 3 years of release; not a cellar wine.

Collector Note
Wente Vineyards has been continuously operating since 1883 — surviving Prohibition, the Depression, and consolidation waves that took out most California wineries from that era. Southern Hills is the accessible tier from a producer with serious history. Drink fresh; not a cellar wine.

Mood
Familiar, dinner-table, weeknight, weekend-grilling

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How old is Wente Vineyards?
A: Founded in 1883 by Carl Wente, the winery has been continuously operating and family-owned for over 140 years — one of the oldest in California. Most California wineries from that era closed during Prohibition; Wente survived by selling sacramental wine and other workarounds, making it part of the original California wine industry continuity.

Q: Where is Livermore Valley?
A: Livermore Valley is in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area, about 35 miles east of Oakland. Historically one of California's major wine regions before Napa took the spotlight; now smaller in distribution but with deep history. Wente is the Livermore Valley's longest-running estate.

Q: What food pairs with this?
A: Grilled red meat (burger, ribeye, lamb, ribs), barbecue, aged Cheddar, charcuterie. Wente Southern Hills is built for weekend grilling and weeknight steak — approachable structure, soft tannin, dinner-table register.