Dixon—Visitors to the Solano County Wine Pavilion at the 138th annual Dixon May Fair, set Thursday May 9 through Sunday, May 12, will see more flair, wine education, wine varietals and premium wine offerings.

The pavilion, located just left of the main gate, past the Leber Garden Stage, is a welcoming wine environment that features a tasting room filled with more than than 50 wines from 12 Solano County wineries, said Don Huffman Jr., director of wine for the Friends of Dixon May Fair.

Fairgoers can drink wines by the glass starting at $4 or take a tasting tour of Solano County with tastings starting at $8.  Proceeds from all the wine sales go directly to the Friends of the Dixon May Fair and is used for improvements, scholarships and awards for all the agriculture exhibitors.

  The pavilion will feature seven wineries from Suisun Valley, two from Dixon, one from Green Valley and one from Vacaville. They are Blacksmith Cellars, Ledgewood Creek Winery, Mangles Vineyards, Sunset Cellars, Vezer Family Vineyards, Winterhawk Winery, Wooden Valley Winery and Tenbrink Vineyards, all of Suisun Valley; Jess Jones Vineyard and Purple Pearl Vineyards of Dixon; GV Cellars of Green Valley; and Quercus Wines of Vacaville.                   

“I’m very pleased by the support the local wineries have provided this year,” Huffman said. “We have all but two county wineries pouring everyday at the fair and many of them are award winners at the California State Fair.”  

Pavilion corporate sponsors include Nomacorc LLC, Amcor Flexibles American Canyon and Premier Cask Inc.

From the rich Green and Suisun Valleys, to Pleasants, Vaca and Lagoon Valleys, to the Dixon Ridge, “these vineyards provide not only wine for our local wineries, but they also support the grape juice needs of many national recognized wineries,” Huffman said.

The $19 million-dollar Solano County wine grape industry is a big boost to the local economy, said John M. Vazquez Jr. of Vacaville, chair of the Solano County Board of Supervisors. “The wine industry in Solano County has always served a valuable role within our county’s economy and heritage. I look forward to walking through the pavilion this year.”

The 100-member Friends of Dixon May Fair is a non-profit organization, all volunteer group, that works year-round to provide hands-on support to the fair. The Friends are responsible for all beer and wine sales during the fair, ensuring that 100 percent of the profits go right back to the fair. Monies collected are given back in the form of scholarships awards and improvements of the Dixon May Fair grounds. The organization is headed by Donnie Huffman of Vacaville, father of Don Jr.

Last year The Friends raised nearly $140,000, and provided $16,000 in ag-related scholarships and awards. More information about the Friends is on the their Website at www.Friendsofthefair.org. For more information contact Huffman at (707) 257-2585 or email him at don@hcnapa.com

The Dixon May Fair is the oldest fair in the state. The grounds are located at 655 S. First St., Dixon.