Chuck Wagner and I made a date, 15 months from now, when he’ll finally let me interview him. And it’s only 15 months away, right? Think we’re kidding? We’re not. I’ve been asking him since he moved into Suisun Valley, by 2022 when his winery first opened. I was right there in the beginning to welcome him. I asked him at the time if I could interview him and he guardedly nodded, which made it very open-ended. Mr. Wagner understood then and still does now, I would imagine, which would mean his trust is growing.
Welcome to Caymus-Suisun Vineyards
Who Do I Think I Am?
Well, I know who I am as regards Suisun Valley, because I began to help them define themselves in 2004, and it wasn’t easy. They were primarily grape growers, and didn’t expect me to bring up wine. There were only two wineries at the time, and the rest of the board of directors were specifically grape growers. My first suggestion was, “You gentlemen need to have your own brands, because that’s what is going to drive people to your area, based on flavors, aka, tourism.” What I didn’t say, “The price of your gapes will grow.” I should have, my 20/20 vision was misunderstood.
20-20 Vision
Thank God For Buddies
My buddy Roger King, of King Andrews Vineyard, whose label I accidentally designed as an idea, has become a great friend. We can be brutally honest with each other. He took Jose and me on a tour of the valley, right in the beginning, from the southern end at San Pablo Bay to the very north’s Suisun Napa line. Roger said: “See these grapes?” They were on the Suisun side, “They sell for $300 a ton.” Then he said, “See these grapes?” They were on the Napa side, “They sell for $3000 a ton.”
From here to there, $300 versus $3,000
Super Cape Donned
Wanna see me get my hair in a twit, just show me an injustice, and I’ll come flying in with my super girl cape, to turn the tables. And, I know I have, many times in life, so I’m more empowered. Suisun now gets $3,000 a ton, while Napa get a whole lot more, but not proportionally. Then $300 to $3,000 now. PI: “A 900% increase from $300 to $3,000 is impressive, but the real story is in the 135% increase from $3,000 to $7,051. This more accurately reflects the current situation and provides a fuller understanding of the price growth.”
When Napa County refused Charles’ request to plant grapevines in his vineyards, he was undeterred and constructed an extraordinary winery. Knowing the potential of his property and having secured water rights, he built a successful business. He often speaks about his journey at events and allows me to listen in on his conversations with fans. His passion and drive are truly inspiring!The playing field is more fair, and let’s just say it got Chuck’s attention, when Napa County refused Chuck’s request to plant grapevines in his vineyards. H he was undeterred and constructed an extraordinary winery.
Knowing the potential of his property and having secured water rights, he built a successful business. He often speaks about his journey at events and allows me to listen in on his conversations with fans. His passion and drive are truly inspiring!
Jo Diaz when an injustice exists
Their Terroir
In the past, I’ve done research about the history of the area and discovered that its northern end shares similar soils with Napa Valley, while the southern end is influenced by San Pablo Bay. Moreover, the region’s rich past dates to Chief Solano and even older times. My own writings on the subject have been buried over time, perhaps due to webmaster’s storage limitations and a belief that they are no longer relevant. However, I think there is still much to learn from this history, and I may consider publishing my research in the future… Later Gator!
Later Gator
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Written by Jo Diaz, a partner of Diaz Communications, who is helping to make stars realize their dreams. Edited by partner Jose Diaz. To reprint, please contact Jo Diaz: jo@diaz-communications.com
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