Suisun Valley AVA offers an untrammeled landscape for wine lovers

It was at the Mountain View Wine Walk that I first heard of the Suisun Valley AVA. A Vezér representative set me at ease by saying that I wasn’t alone; Suisun Valley was an up and coming wine region that she wanted to introduce to the world at large.

The more I thought about it the more it surprised me that I could be so clueless about an area that snuggles up to Napa to its north. Suisun Valley received its own appellation in 1982, a year after Napa. The following year, when the North Coast became an AVA, Suisun Valley became a part of that as well.

It is small, about 3 miles wide by 8 miles long, with 15,000 farmable acres, of which only about a fifth is under grape cultivation. Lying between the Howell Mountains to the west and the Vaca Mountains to the east, the Suisun Valley AVA enjoys several microclimates that allow a variety of grapes to be grown for winemaking. So far, it has been known more for its farm produce than winemaking.

That may be changing as bigger players plant their stakes in the soil. The local wine country press reports that the Wagner family of Caymus Vineyards has bought land in Suisun Valley with plans to establish a wine facility.

As always, I did some research into the wineries to figure out the price range of their wines and if they offer food for purchase. The figures I use to determine price ranges follow.

Affordable: Below $25; mid range : $25 to $40; high end: $40 and up. Most wineries have bottles in all ranges. I’ve indicated a price range to show the predominance of wines in a certain range.

BackRoad Vines
All ranges
Open M – Th, Sat, Sun,1 p.m. – 5 p.m.; Fri 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Food for purchase on Fridays; bocce ball court; fun events throughout the year
707 759-0185
www.backroadvines.com

Keep Wines
The Scholium Project
Tenbrink Vineyards
All ranges
Tasting by appointment only
707 438-7887 for all three wineries
www.thekeepwines.com
www.scholiumwines.com
www.tenbrinkvineyards.com

Seven Artisans Winery
Mostly affordable
Open Th, Sun, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.; Fri, 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.; Sat, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
www.sevenartisanswinery.com

Suisun Valley Wine Co-op
Open Th – Sun, Noon – 5 p.m.
This Cooperative offers wines from four wineries:
www.blacksmithcellars.com
www.kingandrewsvineyards.com
www.mangelsvineyards.com
www.sunsetcellars.com
www.svwinecoop.com
Co-op: 707 864-3135

Wooden Valley Winery
Affordable
Open daily 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Cheese, crackers, dip
707 864-0730
www.woodenvalley.com

Vezér Family Vineyard
A group of three wineries, each with its own experience
Mid to high range
Open Mon – Thu, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Fri-Sat, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Light charcuterie and chocolate pairing
888 823-8463
www.vezerfamilyvineyard.com

Photo credit: Suisun Valley Vintners and Growers Association