Festival Brings Local Vineyards To The Waterfront

Next weekend will be the Suisun City waterfront Business Improvement District's Seventh annual Art, Wine and Chocolate Festival at the Suisun Waterfront.

The event this Saturday will feature wines from some of the most well known, as well as some up-and-coming, wineries of Suisun Valley and Solano County.  So Suisun City Patch thought we would give you a two-day, sneak peak of which wineries will be offering tastings, plus a little information about them. Today’s featured wineries: Suisun Valley Wine Cooperative, Ehler Vineyard, and Vezer Family Vineyard.

Suisun Valley Wine Cooperative: This cooperative is located on Suisun Valley Road, just before Larry’s Produce. Wine featured from this co-op will include that of Sunset Cellars, Mangels Vineyards, Blacksmith Cellars and Winterhawk Winery. Tastings are served by actual winemakers and growers, so you are sure to have access to the rich history behind the wines you are enjoying.

Boasting of diverse wine styles and flavors from distinct family-owned wineries, you can typically find Pinot Grigio, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdelho, Merlot, Syrah, Petite Sirah, and Tempranillo from Mangels Vineyards. Sunset Cellars features Zinfandel, Syrah, Pinot Gris, Barbera, and Petite Sirah. Blacksmith Cellars offers a Cabernet Sauvignon, Admantine, Syrah, and Chenin Blanc. Winterhawk Vineyards offers Chardonnay, Merlot Rouge, Merlot, Orange Muscat, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Tempranillo and Sauvignon Blanc.

Ehler Vineyard: Part of the movement to produce “conscious wine,” Ehler Vineyard is located in American Canyon. Their focus is quality wine, sustainability, community, and philanthropy. All proceeds for wine sales go to support the Leducq Foundation, "a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to funding international cardiovascular research.”

Staying as current as possible in environmentally-friendly practices, wine is produced on a small family farm, much of which is through the use of strict organic and biodynamic technology standards.  Selections of wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carbernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Vezer Family Vineyard: Located in Suisun Valley, this family vineyard has produced wine since 2003. It is best known for it’s Petite Sirah and Zinfandel that is rated as among the best in the region that it attributes to the perfect soil and micro-climate found within Suisun Valley.

Their approach for winemaking incorporates “balancing opposing elements to create wines that are dynamic, complex, and embody the classical ideals that define the world’s finest wines.” Additional wines served at the vineyard are Saugvignon Blanc, Verdelho, Franci Black Muscat, La Salette, Cabernet Saugvignon, and Merlot.

The festival will be Saturday, October 1 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  and admission is free. Wine tasting is $20 and will include a commemorative wine glass and 8 – 1 o.z. pours. Wine shop tents will offer bottles for sale; full glasses will also be available.

For more information on the Art, Wine, and Chocolate Festival, visit the website.