Solano County boasts the second oldest American Viticultural Area (AVA) in California, second only to the Napa AVA.  The Suisun Valley AVA encompasses 15,000 acres of western Solano County and is part of the world renowned North Coast AVA, which includes Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino Counties.  The twenty wine grape varieties grown in the Suisun Valley find their way into many Napa and Sonoma wines as well as into the barrels of eight homegrown wineries.  Wine drinkers are also starting to discover that the Suisun Valley is a great destination for tasting fine wines in a slow paced, bucolic setting that contrasts with the Napa wine tasting experience.

Wine grapes have carpeted the floor of Suisun Valley since the mid-1800’s.  In the latter years of the 19th century, one of largest commercial wineries in the United States, the Mangels Winery, was located in the Valley.  Agricultural economics, plant diseases, and Prohibition have buffeted the Suisun Valley wine grape industry in the past, but today, a core group of growers, vintners, and wine enthusiasts have joined together to form the Suisun Valley Grape Grower’s Association. This group is rallying to increase recognition of this unique wine producing region.  As well as continuing to supply Napa and Sonoma wineries with grapes, there are more than 20 winemakers using Suisun Valley appellated wines, and five tasting rooms located in the Valley.