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Turkey day, Christmas, and New Years are around the corner! You'll need some great wines to pair with your favorite holiday dishes! Why not add some Suisun Valley wines to your repertoire?


Here are my top SV wine choices for your holiday table:


  1. Emmolo Sparkling Wine



2. Tolenas 2022 Grenache

This year's Tolenas Winery collection is absolutely fabulous! Their Fall lineup includes a 2022 Grenache which they call a "winter rosé". I couldn't agree more with that descriptor, as it is a light red wine with a beautiful cranberry hue. This wine has a nice body and minimal tannins which makes it easy to pair with lighter holiday side dishes and appetizers.



3. Tolenas Totality

What is Totality? Tolenas Winery created a sister wine for their Eclipse wine (read more about this in Suisun Valley Spotlight). Totality is made using Pinot Noir grapes grown in the Suisun Valley. The wine is a delicate red that is not too heavy or tannic, but still bold enough to hold its own alongside hearty holiday dishes. Enjoy this wine with your Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas roast.



4. Caymus-Suisun 2020 Grand-Durif

A visit to Caymus-Suisun would be incomplete without a tasting of their Grand-Durif. This wine is made using Petite Sirah grapes from the Suisun Valley, the Petite Sirah capital of the world! Durif is the old French name for Petite Sirah and Chuck Wagner, owner of Caymus, wanted to pay homage by naming his wine Grand-Durif. The name is actually an oxymoron; ask the story during your next visit to Caymus-Suisun! I recommend serving this wine with your holiday charcuterie board or Thanksgiving meal. It also goes well with chocolate and makes a wonderful gift!





Tolenas Winery's vines turn the most magical shades during the Autumn

The Suisun Valley is beautiful at all times of the year, but there's something about the Fall that's the best of all! The foliage on the sprawling vines changes from green to beautiful hues of red, yellow, orange, and brown, which signals that the Autumn season is in full swing. Scroll through for some of my favorite things to do during Autumn in the Suisun Valley!


In the California wine world, October is the beginning of the crush season, meaning grapes are picked and crushed to be fermented into wine. This is an exciting time of year where local vintners are hard at work creating new wines to be enjoyed the following year. It's typically still pretty warm in the Suisun Valley in late September and early-to-mid October, so there is ample opportunity to soak up the sun while enjoying some Fall fun!


Here's your Suisun Valley Fall Bucket List:


Check out the pumpkin patch at Larry's Produce - October to early November

Larry's Produce is a staple in SV, so when it's open during summer and Fall, it's a must-visit for all your produce needs. They also have a pumpkin patch in the Fall which is essential for stocking up on Fall decorations, taking family photo ops, and studying the unique varieties of pumpkins they have on offer. I recommend visiting in mid-to-late October when the corn maze is full swing!


The many varieties of pumpkins make the pumpkin patch at Larry's Produce an awe in Autumn

Go to Tolenas Winery for a Fall Wine Tasting - late October through November

Tolenas winery is one of my favorite SV wineries for any time of year and especially during the Fall! Their beautiful gold and red vines during make a magical backdrop against the stately Tolenas house. It's a fun and rustic-meets-refined feel that makes Tolenas a perfect place to spend an Autumn afternoon. I recommend visiting between late October and mid November.



Get a Spiced Latte at Village 360! - September through November

In my opinion, it's not really Fall until I've enjoyed a pumpkin spiced latte (it's basic, and I'm OK with that)! Village 360 at Backroad Vines has a variety of Autumnal coffee drinks that are sure to get you in the spirit! It's a wonderful place to soak up the views of the Suisun Valley and enjoy a seasonal sipper. Make sure to get some breakfast or a pastry while you're there!


An Autumn-spiced latte with avocado toast is a perfect way to start the day!

Pick a Bouquet of Fall Flowers at HVH - September to mid-November

HVH Flowers is one of those quaint farms that make you feel like you're on the French countryside. During the fall, the farm offers a variety of blooms, namely marigolds. They also display an annual Dia de los Muertos flower backdrop that makes for some stunning family photos. In addition to offering you-pick bouquets at their flower stand, they also offer activities throughout the Fall season. Make a bouquet, a Thanksgiving arrangement, or a pumpkin succulent centerpiece at one of their many Fall workshops!


The plethora of marigolds at HVH farms during the Fall season make for some stunning flower arrangements

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