He’s been coming here for fourteen years, playing golf, and drinking wine. What’s not to like, he asks.
But we should acknowledge the fact that Eric Wente, the brand ambassador of the popular California winery picked Aruba, as his charity recipient in the Caribbean, by becoming the chief sponsor of an annual Golf Tournament.
You have it all, he explains, all tournament components are in place, and we have enjoyed putting this together. Each year I love to see the winners of the Aruba tournament in California, playing golf, and drinking wine, I try to spend some time with them each year.
Going back in time, first there was Arion wine company. Then in collaboration with the Ellis family at the Papiamento restaurant the charity Golf Tournament was conceived. Then Wente Vineyards came on board, and the rest is history. It’s a great tradition, says Eduard Ellis, chef-proprietor of Papiamento Restaurant, we really look forward to it, each year.
The partners have been hosting the event with the longest name – Wente Vineyards, Arion Wine Company, Papiamento Restaurant Charity Golf Tournament, with great dedication.
Wente, fourth generation winegrower & chairman of the board at Wente Vineyards, reports five of the sixth generation Wentes are working in the 135-year-old family business, and the sixth, is gaining some experience at an equally prestigious neighboring estate. His 42-year-old daughter is now CEO, a position he held for 29 years, since the age of 24.
The wine business in general is very competitive, he shares, only getting more competitive as we go along and while people are quick to say they world drink ABC – Anything But Cabernet, or Anything But Chardonnay, they are very faithful to the popular varieties and continue to faithfully drink Wente’s famous Morning Fog Chardonnay and Southern Hill Cabernet.
Staying at the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino, general manager Hans-Georg Roehrbein was his golfing partner last year, this year the man sharing his golf cart is the general manager of the Mill Resort, the two will be talking about the upcoming rebranding of the property, as a Marriott Courtyard!
