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Ramona Ranch Winery

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Teri Kerns and Micole Moore Co-owners of Ramona Ranch Winery

Teri Kerns and Micole Moore moved to Ramona in 2004. “Returning to living in the Country was important to me, as I grew up in the Country on the Oregon Coast. We purchased 10 raw acres, with a stick-framed house, which started our Ramona adventure. I’ve always loved wine, its history, and romance. I attended and joined the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association in February of 2005, to plant a few vines and make wine,” Kerns said.
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The Secret Supper, An Enchanting Evening at Maison Madeleine in Beaux Bridge Louisiana

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Maison Madeleine Patio

Driving through the bayou into the lush tropical jungle, we arrive at a homestead called Maison Madeleine Bed & Breakfast, nestled among gardens on the shores of Lake MartinBuilt in the 1840s, it’s on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of fewer than 50 surviving Creole cottages from its era. Under the starry Louisiana sky, the twinkling white lights illuminate the ancient trees in this historic Acadian setting. This supper event is so secret that even our guide didn’t know what it was or what it entailed. Continue Reading →

From Fairways to Fine Wines: The Monserate Winery Story

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Monserate Winery entrance

What started as a golf course, has been converted into a state of the art winery and wedding venue. In 2016 Jade and Julie Work bought the 116-acre Fallbrook Golf Course (ironically the site of Jake’s first job where he got fired the first day for accidentally tipping over a golf cart!) and proceeded to plant 75 acres of vines. But not to worry, they saved the 100 year old oak trees along with many sycamore trees. They also replanted many ancient olive trees around the tasting room and restaurant. The winery is a family affair with all the Work children and their spouses working in some capacity at the winery.
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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 →

Agustina Hobbs Unveils a New Legacy in Wine

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Agustina Hobbs, daughter of Paul Hobbs and winemaker for ALH

Can you imagine having your father be one of the most famous winemakers in the world? Paul Hobbs, legendary winemaker in Napa, taught her that “you have to show up, walk the vineyards, know how your grapes are progressing, get an idea of what kind of wine you want to make”. She took this to heart and has created her first vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon from famous Napa Valley Continue Reading →

Poco Montaña Vineyards

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Daniel Castro and Don Kerl, partners in life and the newest winery to open in Ramona opened in August 2024. Don is the CFO and Daniel is the winemaker. It has been a long journey, starting in 2018. There is a lot of red tape with the County of San Diego. Lots of frustration. There are numerous additional financial expenditures to accommodate various County departments. But all of that is over now and they can just focus on their wines, their customers and their community. Continue Reading →