Vezer Family Vineyards
Vezer Family Vineyards is nestled in the Suisun Valley, southeast of Napa and Sonoma, around Mankas Corner near Wooden Valley. We were welcomed immediately upon stepping inside the adorable tasting room, reinforcing our decision to add in some unplanned stops to our trip.
Some of the best things about the Vezer tasting room:
- Open Daily – NO Appointment Needed
- Hours: 10am – 5pm Sunday through Friday, open until 6pm on Saturday.
- Barista Café & Deli
- Tasting Fee is waived with purchase of (1) bottle of wine per taster ($10.00 pp for 3 wines)
Sandra was immediately enthralled to give us a tasting, hear about our travel so far and just genuinely excited to get to know us. I think building that instant connection changes your experience entirely. A couple that clearly had an established friendship with Sandra came in shortly after us and made our tasting even more enjoyable! The couple runs a limo business in wine country, which could come in handy when touring and tasting to our hearts’ content! As our tasting began, we shared stories of who we are, who we once were, and how we arrived to the moment we were in. Here is Vezér’s story…
Vezér Family Vineyard History
Vezér Family Vineyard is owned by Frank and Liz Vezér ( pronounced “Vey zare” or also “Vee-zer”). They are best known for their Petite Sirah and their Zinfandel, which are actually used in other popular wines like those from Sin Zin and Ravenswood. UC Davis has actually rated the Suisun Valley Appelation as one of the best regions with perfect soil and climate for growing Petite Sirah. Though not widely known, Suisun Valley is one of the older American Viticultural Areas in North America, approached its 29th birthday last year so it is interesting I spent the days approaching my 29th birthday in Suisun Valley! The soil is some of the oldest but Vezer is a relatively young vineyard. They released their first Zinfandel in 2003, producing eight additional vintages for now. Some of the words to describe their wine making process are dynamic, complex and classic.
Vezér Family Vineyard Wines
Sandra was happy to make us a cheese plate as well, fresh mozzarella, aged gouda, and rice crackers so that we could fully enjoy ourselves and the wine!
2007 Verdelho
Only a handful of vineyards in California grow the Verdelho grape. Verdelho, grown in Portugal, has a very light oak taste and honeysuckle. It was balanced and refreshing, with a hint of citrus but delicate with peaches, apple and pear. It contains ~ 25% of Sauvignon Blanc so it is a little more crisp than sweet, similar to a Pinot Grigio.
2006 Petit Sirah
The deep purple of this Sirah is indicative of its dominating blackberry note and aroma. It was a little spicy and smokey with firm tannins. Again, Suisun Valley is a premier appellation for Petite Sirah so this was a fantastic choice.
2007 La Salette
Vezer’s third vintage, La Salette, is quite the example of another Petite Sirah. “In the nose, one is first attracted to the ripe cherry, toasted oak, ripe plum and a hint of sweetness.” The complex flavors, palate and aroma lead to a wonderful balance on structure and a lively fruit finish.
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
Suisun Valley in 2006 delivered a world class harvest of Cabernet Sauvignon. Cranberry and mocha notes and a complex structure make this a fabulous “classic” for red wine lovers! We actually were able to taste this aerated because Sandra poured it for us into a aerator glass, which I had yet to see before!
Wine has antioxidants so aeration oxygenates the wine which brings out all of its’ unique qualities even more. I loved the “aeration” glasses (note to self!). We finished up our tasting by grabbing a bottle of the Petit Sirah and taking a private tour of their event venues 
. Thank you Sandra!
