[VAY•SO]
PRODUCED AND BOTTLED
IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Imagine you're watching a sunset...calm and consistent, every afternoon the sun's rays spread out across the horizon casting long shadows behind you. After the busyness of the day, this is the time when it all begins to slow down, that golden moment when the day concludes and the night begins. This is the inspiration for Veso. It’s that first drink of the night warm-buzz, somewhere between anticipation and fulfillment, where transition becomes a ritual.
MY STORY
I’m Chris, Founder and Aperitif Maker of Veso
I can’t remember a time when I felt satisfied by a simple answer. It’s by nature’s design that I have an unwavering curiosity to dig into the complexities of life. Inclined to express this part of me, I experimented in engineering, design, experiential hosting, small batch wine-making, I even created my own fermented sriracha (much to the dismay of my house-mates). This curiosity, paired with an analytical mind, led me to the hi-tech world of software engineering, managing projects and working on the next new thing. It was during this time that I began to see an opportunity to pull all of my experiences together. Veso was about to become a culmination of sorts, allowing me to direct my curious, analytical mind towards my love of hosting (and wine) and sharing this with the world.
A more mindful drinking experience
In the years leading up to Veso, I had become more aware of my experiences involving alcohol. I found myself either out late drinking many cocktails with little regard to their contents, or talking through the nuances of a single glass of wine over dinner, and the chasm between the two spiked my curiosity.
I felt drawn to create something inspired by the heritage of traditional wine making, infused with the fast paced, innovative nature of craft cocktails. Drawing from my knowledge base built years earlier in wine making, I swapped my desk for a countertop and began experimenting in my kitchen. And somewhere between the winery and the crowded bar, abstinence and excess, I found the world of aperitifs.
Complex to make, but simple to sip
In the aperitif craft, I saw infinite possibilities. Meant to stimulate the appetite, aperitifs are complex, subtly bitter alcoholic drinks that boast aromatic notes and are often served bubbly. I build my aperitifs intuitively, like putting a puzzle together with my eyes closed. Bright citrus peels, tart white wines, earthy spices, and aromatic fruits each lend their complexity to my work. While paying homage to Old World aperitif making, Veso draws inspiration from California’s innovative culture, resulting in an easy to sip, uniquely modern aperitif.
Crafted by hand, naturally
In the winery, I build, continually pausing to taste each batch’s progress. Infusing spirits is a complicated, demanding craft and the flavors evolve at their own pace. Sometimes I feel like more of a doting shepherd than anything else.
But the real magic happens with the passing of the bottle from my hands to yours. Once in your glass, Veso is meant to inspire good conversations and shared experiences. I’m the type of person who makes space for your voice in the conversation, curates a playlist for the night, and folds your napkin on your dinner plate. Veso is my way of sharing these experiences with the world, my way of inspiring a more intentional drinking culture. It’s what I hope you feel when you sip Veso, and what I hope in turn you share with others.
- CHRIS BEYER, FOUNDER AND APERITIF MAKER
But the real magic happens with the passing of the bottle from my hands to yours. Once in your glass, Veso is meant to inspire good conversations and shared experiences. I’m the type of person who makes space for your voice in the conversation, curates a playlist for the night, and folds your napkin on your dinner plate. Veso is my way of sharing these experiences with the world, my way of inspiring a more intentional drinking culture. It’s what I hope you feel when you sip Veso, and what I hope in turn you share with others.