Shop And Sip Local To Celebrate National Wine Day In San Diego
May 25th marks National Wine Day – a holiday that is certainly deserving of a proper celebration – especially this year!
Lucky for us, San Diego has a plethora (“Would you say they had a plethora?”…what movie?!) of local options to help you get your celebration game on!
Here’s a list of ideas on where to indulge (please check in with them before going to ensure open hours, etc), whether you are looking to celebrate close to home, or you’re up for a quick road trip during Memorial Day Weekend (don’t drink and drive!).
Stroll To Your Closest Urban Winery
Nestled within San Diego and its neighboring cities, you’ll find several great urban wineries. Although the grapes may not be grown on-site, these wineries offer a nice selection of handcrafted wines for you to sample in their tasting rooms, and a comfortable ‘neighborhoody’ feel.
Carruth Cellars – Venture slightly north of the city to their Solana Beach tasting room for an urban, coastal vibe. The wines may be made using grapes from Northern California, but the wine is produced on site. Primarily specializing in red wines, Carruth Cellars also features a delicious Sauvignon Blanc for white wine fans. If you want to head even further north, there’s also a tasting room in Carlsbad. For those closer to the city, head to the Carruth Cellars Wine Garden in Little Italy.
Gianni Buonomo Vintners – When you think of Ocean Beach you likely don’t immediately associate the laid back waterfront community with wine but it is home to the tasting room of Gianni Buonomo Vintners. While the grapes are flown in from Washington State and the Sierra Foothills, the wine is produced on site. Stop in Wednesday through Sunday (hours vary) or book an appointment for Monday or Tuesday.
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Negociant Winery – Veer away from traditional reds at Negociant in North Park’s Boulevard District and try one of the bolder varieties, like a Sangiovese or Grenache. These wines are produced in small batches using grapes sourced from the Central Coast, Baja and Washington State and are perfect for those looking for something different.
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Pali Wine Company – If you love pinot noir, Pali Wine Company is a must try. The Little Italy winery is dedicated to specializing in small batches of the rich red wine. Their sister label, Tower 15, features Bordeaux and Rhone Blends and is also available in the tasting room and on the rooftop deck.
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2Plank Vineyard – While the vineyard is located in Fallbrook, you don’t have to travel that far away to sample one of the wines from the winery’s diverse collection. There was a tasting room conveniently located in Sorrento Valley (not sure if it’s currently operational) or you can head up to Vista to visit their tasting room (confirmed to be open).
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Witch Creek Winery – Make a day of your trip to Carlsbad and visit the beach before heading two blocks east to this urban winery. While the grapes are grown throughout California and Baja, the red wines are produced on-site in Carlsbad in small batches that practically guarantee that there will be something new to try throughout the year.
Ready for a short road trip?
Want to venture a bit further out but stick within San Diego County? These incredible wineries are just a short drive outside of the city and you get the added perk of seeing the peaceful setting of the countryside vineyards.
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Vesper Vineyards – By using grapes from a single organic vineyard and naturally fermenting them, this Escondido winery is looking to make a name for itself in the area. Tastings are now available at the shared urban winery facility in Escondido.
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Bernardo Winery – Recognized as Southern California’s oldest operating winery, Bernardo Winery has been making wine since 1889. Located in the countryside of Rancho Bernardo, you can visit the tasting room, stroll through a collection of quaint shops offering everything from jewelry and handbags to artwork and clothing. They have a variety of options now available for tastings, dinners, etc.
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OrfilaVineyards and Winery – Head east from Escondido and you’ll discover the sprawling 70 acre vineyards of Orfila in the San Pasqual Valley.
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Milagro Winery – Visit Milagro in the Ramona Valley to explore the winery, organic farm, orchard, and tasting room. You will have to plan your visit on the weekend as the winery is only open on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6pm.
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Menghini Winery – While the promise of pie often lures San Diegans out to Julian, you can add Menghini Winery to the list of reasons to venture to this charming mountain town. The six-acre vineyard is surrounded by apple orchards, making it the perfect location to treat yourself to both a glass of wine and then stop for a slice of infamous Julian pie when you pass through town. The winery is open seven days a week.
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Vineyard Grant James – Named the second-best winery in the United States by Travel + Leisure, this Ramona winery lets you enjoy a glass of wine in a peaceful country oasis. Their tasting patio is open Thursday through Monday from noon to 6 p.m.
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Turtle Rock Ridge Vineyard Winery – Located in the Ramona Valley, Turtle Rock Ridge offers a tasting room and a complimentary winery tour where you can learn about how their wine is made. Open Thursday to Sunday.
Pick Up A Bottle (Several!) And Sit At Home With Friends!
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Nothing’s better than a good night at home with friends and a little too much wine! Little Italy’s Vino Carta is the perfect place to start the evening with a glass of wine or two at their bar, and a bottle to take home from their retail shop.
The Wine Bank in Gaslamp packs two floors full of great wine. Whatever you’re looking for…you’ll probably find it there!
And if your living room isn’t big enough for all of your friends, the Wine Pub in Point Loma invites you to make their heated patio your living room for the night!
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Or, of course, just about all of your favorite local bars, restaurants, and hotels will be offering a special for National Wine Day – pick any of them and enjoy!
Wherever you end up, enjoy National Wine Day!
We’ll see you out there!
PS – Feature photo by Kelsey Chance on Unsplash
