2021 Caymus-Suisun Grand Durif

Separated from Napa by just an invisible county line, Suisun Valley (which became an AVA in 1982) is still largely undiscovered. With its warm days and cool nights, this pastoral region reminds us of Napa Valley in the 1960s. Known for delicious stone fruits and walnuts, it is also gaining recognition for exceptional wine. Durif is synonymous with Petite Sirah, the widely grown grape in the region – Caymus-Suisun added "Grand" to the name for its grand style. With harmonious tannins, this wine is opulent, luxuriously soft and totally enjoyable.

 

Chuck Wagner founded Caymus Vineyards with his parents in 1972 in Rutherford, California, in the center of Napa Valley. Now Caymus is putting down roots in a neighboring wine region called Suisun Valley. Only a 30-minute drive southeast of Napa, Suisun Valley is less well-known than its more famous neighbor, but shares a similar maritime climate and superb soils. Chuck likes to say that Suisun Valley reminds him of Napa Valley in the 1960s – full of open space, small family farms, meandering waterways lined with native oaks, and exceptional vineyards. Known more for its production of stone fruits, Suisun Valley is increasingly being recognized for its wines.

 

 For the past several years, Chuck has been producing Caymus-Suisun Grand Durif -- Durif is synonymous with Petite Sirah, one of the varietals that thrives in Suisun Valley. In addition to growing grapes in the region, the Wagner family also plans to open a winery in Suisun Valley, slated for opening by early 2021. Chuck feels privileged to include “Suisun” on a Caymus wine and believes that people will come to know and appreciate the region more and more. The family looks forward to inviting people to explore the special character of a place they consider a “hidden gem.”