Founded by Cliff and Lisa Howard, Tolenas Vineyard and Winery is the first Certified Craft Wine maker in the Suisun Valley. With limited intervention and lots of care, the Howards nurture high-quality grapes to make award-winning wine.

Founded by Cliff and Lisa Howard, Tolenas Vineyard and Winery is proud to be recognized as the first Certified Craft Wine makers in the Suisun Valley. What is a Certified Craft Wine you ask? It means the production is available commercially, limited to 5,000 cases or less, and most importantly, the winemaker (or makers) lead the entire production from grape production to the final blend. At Tolenas Winery, Cliff and Lisa, along with help from their three kids, are doing just that. Lisa’s parents Steve and Linda Tenbrink have been farming in the Suisun Valley since 1982, and being the “farmer’s daughter” certainly lends Lisa and Cliff the advantage of the first and the best when it comes to picking the grapes and choosing the very limited varietals they produce each year.

The Tenbrink family (and now second generation Howard family) farm 40 acres of grapes in two distinct locations right here in Suisun Valley. The biggest of the vineyards, lush with Pinot Noir, is located along I80 off Rockville Road. Perfectly positioned with the cool breeze from the San Pablo Bay, this area lends itself to making the delicious and now GOLD MEDAL WINNER (91 points) White Pinot Noir, “Eclipse.”

The remaining vineyards are set in the slightly warmer, central areas of Suisun Valley, one on Suisun Valley Road across from the Suisun Valley Co-op and Mangels Tasting rooms and the other surrounds the Howard’s Estate on William’s Road. Which also happens to be the exact area in which the name Tolenas comes from. “Rancho Tolenas” was a 13,316 acre Mexican land grant given to Jose Francisco Armijo by the governor in 1840.

All of the Tenbrink/Howard vineyards are kept beautifully and strategically manicured with many of the varietals minimally irrigated and even dry farmed. Tenbrink vineyards grapes are known and purchased by famous winemakers all over the United States. With large orders shipped back to the famous Biltmore Estate in North Carolina as well as wineries in Napa, Sonoma, Heldsberg, and Connecticut every year.