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Wine : Vineyards
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Domaine Artefact Vineyard and Winery: From Wine Wanderers to Winemakers

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Domaine Artifact Vineyard and Winery lies above Escondido’s San Pasqual Valley, nestled between granite-studded ridges. The name is derived from artifacts found throughout the property. Indigenous peoples have resided in the valley for approximately 8,000 years. The artifacts found on the property have been curated and are now on display at the World Museum of Natural History in San Bernardino, CA. Together, they have built the Estate from the ground up, beginning with the vision of the estate to planning, planting, and management. Continue Reading →

From Horse Ranch to Winery: The Making of Old Julian Vineyards and Winery

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Old Julian Winery, whose namesake derives from their location, Old Julian Highway, had a roundabout inception. Lee Montgomery and his late partner Lynn bought the property in 2011. It was a working ranch with goats and horses, no vines. Lee and Lynn visited Temecula regularly for wine tasting. One day after a trip, the two stood on their patio, overlooking the property, and the dream was formed!  “They decided to plant vineyards and make wine. They didn’t think of having a winery, just making their wines,” said Lee’s sister Shelli Montgomery Continue Reading →

Correcaminos Winery: A Journey to Winemaking: From Many Paths to the Vine

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Sue Robinson Winemaker and Co-Owner at Correcaminos Winery

We named our winery after our roadrunners who live in the area and visit us on occasion. Plus it was an easy logo to create.  People seem to remember it even if they can’t pronounce Correcaminos.
Today Correcaminos Winery has a lovely tasting patio with large canvas tents to protect patrons from the elements. Their wines change all the time, but they have a lovely First Note wine, a sweet wine that features Symphony grapes. This popular wine is perfect for hot summer days. Another white wine is Viognier. Continue Reading →

Woof ‘n Rose Winery: A Trailblazer in Ramona’s Wine Scene

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Woof n Rose Winery motto

Marilyn and Steve Kahle, owners and winemaker (Steve) for Woof ‘n Rose Winery in Ramona came to San Diego in 1987. They purchased a property on five acres in Ramona, a small town east of San Diego.

“Our wine journey began as a landscaping project in 1995. With five acres of property which was essentially burnable brush, we decided to clear a small portion of our property and plant a few grapes to see if they would grow and if it would be something we would enjoy. The grapes grew and we did seem to enjoy it, so we planted more grapes, eventually planting a total of nine varietals,” Marilyn Kahle said. Continue Reading →

Papalo, La Mesa Village and Chef Drew Bent’s Sonoran Desert-Inspired BBQ

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Papalo Sonoran BBQ

Where does creative inspiration come from? It’s different for everyone, but for Drew Bent, it was the smell of the Sonoran desert.  “After I left Lola 55, (which he helped open and subsequently earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction) I was driving to Tucson with my wife. It was raining during the drive, and once it stopped I rolled down the window to smell the fresh air. I inhaled the air and turned to my wife and told her that he wanted to make food that tasted like this air smells. I wanted to make food inspired by the desert, which is vast, beautiful, calm, and quiet, Bent said. Continue Reading →

San Diego’s Backcountry Wine and Dine Pairing

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Fresh from a journey to Italy, Ramona Ranch Winery co-owner and President Teri Kerns and co-owner and Winemaker Micole Moore partnered with Farmhouse 78 Restaurant in Santa Ysabel to explore wines from Italy and Ramona.

This warm summer evening food and wine lovers gathered at Farmhouse 78 Restaurant to enjoy a five-course Italian meal and two types of the same wine for each course; one from Ramona and one from Italy. This is such a fun event and helpful to experience the nuances and flavors of local and international wines.
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Areté at Iris Vineyards

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Iris Vineyards 2020 Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir

The philosophy of Areté comes from Ancient Greece and refers to excellence of any kind. This philosophy guides the Iris Vineyards team to endeavor to excel at constant attention to their vineyard practices, wine quality, and hospitality. Their goal is to produce fresh, fruit-forward wines that honor the land and the full potential of the grape. Continue Reading →

Gotta love a beautiful Albarino whether from Southern California or Northwest Spain

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Spanish and Southern California Albarino

I love learning about new wine regions. Recently I was able to review some wines from the Galacia region of Spain. This region is located in the larger northwest region of Spain called  Rias Baixas. This wine region is called Galicia. The soils are granite and sandy, which are conducive to producing aromatic white wines. Since the 1980’s the Albarino grape from this region has been the most successful white wine export. Continue Reading →

Retirement Redefined: Rancho San Martín Winery’s Evolution for the Future

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Gary and Virginia (Ginny) Boney started planning their retirement in 2003 and purchased four acres in Ramona Valley. “We completed the house in 2006 and realized we had a lot of land with no plans. Our friends, the Castellis had built a house and planted a vineyard, so we decided to do the same. The plan was to grow grapes and sell them to local vintners,” Ginny said. Continue Reading →