VINEYARD GRANT JAMES...

CACTUS STAR VINEYARD AT SCAREDY CAT RANCH

Becky Cullen designs cool labels like this one.

We were the very first customers to visit Cactus Star Vineyard’s new tasting patio. The Vineyard is part of Joe and Becky Cullen’s Scaredy Cat Ranch,  named after a very timid horse. Joe’s engineering job took him to Spain, Italy, Germany and Turkey, where came to know and enjoy wine. In 1995 Becky gave him a winemaking kit for his birthday; the rest is history. The couple relocated from Pittsburgh to Ramona, planting their first grapes in 2001. Their winery – ensconced in a couple of small, semi-underground structures – has been licensed and bonded since 2006. There are now 600 vines on the Cullens' property. Joe makes around 150 cases of wine each year, most of which is estate-grown. His “Two Dogs Barking” label differentiates non-estate wine sourced exclusively from the Ramona AVA.

Two Dogs Barking

We liked everything here, starting with a dry, tasty, 2009 Two Dogs Barking Grenache. The 2009 Scaredy Cat Ranch (100%) Tempranillo is a winner. This grape is hard to grow in Ramona because it’s not heat tolerant, but Joe’s vines are on a slope that gets a marine breeze. It was interesting to compare the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (80% Cab, 15% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec) and the Petit Verdot from the same year (80% Petit Verdot, 15% Cab, 5% Malbec). We ultimately decided on the Cabernet Sauvignon for its well rounded flavor and dry finish.

It was a pleasure to visit and taste these wines. We'll be back! 

Stained glass art adorns the winery structures.

Cactus Star's tasting patio is open on weekends by appointment.
760.787.0779

KOHILL WINERY

Mike Kohill loves wine. He got serious about winemaking shortly after he met Johnny Schwaesdall (one of the Grand Daddies of the Ramona winemaking scene).  Mike’s vocation is engineering, making him part of a significant subset of San Diego County winemakers.  A UC-Davis distance-learning course helped him launch what is still a “weekend winery” as he still holds a fulltime job away from the estate. Kohill Winery released its first vintage in 2006 and is now producing 250-300 cases per year, made exclusively from Ramona Valley grapes. We especially like Mike's reds, including the 2008 "Aurora's Blend" (Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Viognier), and the bright and pleasantly tannic 2008 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.

Barbera Grapes Fermenting 
The 2008 vintage will be released this year.

The wine club here is pretty casual - an email list that affords members the first opportunity to puchase new wines.

Kohill Winery is a great place to taste. Open weekends 12:00-5:00. 760.787.1042

FRIDAY TOURING IN JULIAN & RAMONA

Friday touring requires a bit of preparation as some tasting rooms are only open on weekends. Here's a lineup we put together to introduce our friend Edgar,  visiting from Seattle, to San Diego County wines and some memorable scenery.

We started the day at the Blue Door Winery tasting room in Julian. After six years, winemaker Marc Hashagan is in the business full time, and the wines reflect his skill and attention. We loved the newly released Press Cuvée, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Barbera. And on its own, the 2009 Barbera is a winner. Kameron is a wonderful tasting room host - knowledgeable and welcoming. We always have a good time here.

Next we drove up the road to see Mel at  J. Jenkins Winery. She was pouring a new Vin Gris de Syrah - perfect for a hot day, and a nice 2009 Sauvignon Blanc with notes of grapefruit and melon. Moving on to reds, the current standouts are a smoky 2005 Syrah and the newly released 2010 Merlot - dry and full bodied, with a complex spectrum of flavors.

Outside the J. Jenkins tasting room

Heading towards Ramona, we spread our picnic on the patio at Milagro Farms Vineyard and Winery, where tasting room manager Kyle and marketing manager Audrey kindly served us each a flight. We can't seem to leave this place without (at least) a bottle of Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Vines at Milagro

We'd made an appointment to visit Marilyn and Steve Kahle's Woof 'n Rose Winery, tucked away on a hillside overlooking the Ramona Valley. A lot is new since the last time we stopped by, including a delicious 2009 Highland Valley Merlot, 2009 Eglantine (Cab. Franc, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon), and 2009 Estate Cabernet Franc. Steve and Marilyn were the first to grow Cabernet Franc in Ramona; their award-winning wines are clear evidence that this was a good idea!

Modest about their success, the Kahles told us they never stop learning about viticulture and wine making, stressing the importance of belonging to other wine clubs (to avoid "cellar mouth" - developing a narrow palate for one's own wines) and a spirit of cooperation among the region's grape growers and winemakers.

To end the day we stopped in to see Rose and Herman Salerno at their winery. In contrast to the bustling weekend scene, late on a Friday afternoon it was quiet enough to visit with the Salernos while we tasted Herman's excellent red wines, all made without added sulfites. Our favorite is (still) the 2007 Lagrein. We left with a bottle, plus two giant zucchinis from the garden. 

Blue Door Winery Tasting Room

2608 B Street, Julian

760.765.0316

Open Thursday - Monday noon-5

J. Jenkins Winery

1255 Julian Orchards Drive, Julian

760.765.3267

Open Thursday - Sunday 11-5

Milagro Farms Vineyard and Winery

18750 Littlepage Road, Ramona

760.787.0738

Open Friday - Sunday 11-5

Woof 'n Rose Winery

17073 Garjan Lane, Ramona

760.788.4818

Open by appointment

Salerno Winery

17948 Highway 67, Ramona

760.788.7160

Open Wednesday-Sunday 11-6 (or later)

RAMONA RANCH VINEYARD AND WINERY - Opening Soon!

Since 2004 Teri Kerns and Micole Moore have been transforming their property to incorporate a vineyard; a winery; a garden; a well tended menagerie of barn animals, working dogs, and housepets; and a comfortable home. They make it look easy. Soon their new tasting patio will be open and we'll all be able to sample and take home Micole's delicious wines.

Tickled Pink Sangiovese Rosé - from foot-stomped Ramona grapes!



Teri

Joined on the patio by Ramona Valley Wine Region Magazine publisher and designer Dave Billick, we sipped Rosé and talked about what's to come. Dave firmly believes that making wine in Ramona is "a collective and better learning environment." In the vast pool of California... wine, it makes sense for these winemakers to share their knowledge rather than compete with one another.

Test rows of different grape varietals

Next we tasted Ramona Ranch's 2009 Zinfandel made with grapes from Hatfield Creek Vineyards, about half a mile away. It was easy to see why this wine was awarded "Best in Show Red" by Amateur Winemaker magazine. After a fun visit with the outdoor animals: two horses, a pet steer, three goats, and a small flock of heirloom hens we moved inside to do some barrel tasting.



Micole

These wines are good! Our favorites: 2010 Petit Syrah (Hatfield Creek grapes) and a slightly grassy Cabernet Sauvignon (Adobe Vineyards grapes) that's fruit forward at first but shows nice tannins on the finish. We also liked the Super Tuscan blend, but after so much wine all we managed to write about it was "yum." 

Medals already!

Stay tuned for more news from Ramona Ranch, a welcome addition to the Ramona winery community. 760.769.1622

ALTIPIANO VINEYARD

Denise and Peter Clarke moved onto their Highland Valley property in 1997. In Denise's words, Altipiano ("high plain" in Italian) was "a diamond in the rough" - good sun, some elevation, a little house... They make light of their creative efforts and hours of sweaty toil, but the Clarkes clearly worked hard to create what's now a very polished gem: so beautiful, so classy, and so real. Their estate is a working farm and their exquisite home is a welcoming place for all to enjoy. It's a labor of love and a reaffirmation of farming community values.

One of the llamas

Why wine? The short answer is the the Clarkes' avocado trees burned in the 2007 wildfires and they seized the moment to plant vines - lots of them. Favoring Brunello in the afterglow of a trip to Italy, they soon found themselves with 2600 plants. According to Peter, this was a "classic example of failing to consider the endgame." What were they going to do with roughly 24 barrels of wine each year?

Vines...

Neighbor Jerry Cordiano looms large in this account as a good friend who's been generous with his knowledge of viticulture.  We see seeds of a cooperative emerging among the growers in this community, who often share eggs and produce as well as winemaking equipment and expertise. And we certainly look forward to tasting Altipiano’s estate wines next year. The Clarkes are working with Ramona winemaker John York, and will at first specialize in (of course) Brunello. Peter’s rightfully optimistic about this: “Good Brunello grapes can have a high tannin content, which makes possible improvement with age up to 30 or so years. If we are wildly successful at growing the grape and making the wine, I’ll be around 105 when I taste our best wine. Some have said that with tasting wine all those years, I just might make it to 105” (Ramona Valley Wine Region Magazine).

Part of Altipiano's expansive patio

At present, visitors to the tasting room can sample five wines,  mostly from Paso Robles-area grapes: Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Franc. We especially liked the full-bodied, spicy Cabernet Sauvignon. Soon guests will be able to compliment their wines with artisanal cheeses and fine chocolates. The Clarkes also welcome picnickers.

Altipiano's wine club offers quarterly 3-bottle shipments at a 20% discount, which applies to other purchases as well. Members are invited to exclusive wine club events. They're encouraged to schedule private winery tours and may reserve the facilities for private events at a reduced cost.

Tasting Room

The Altipiano Vineyard tasting room is open weekends 11-sunset. 760.839.7900

LENORA WINERY

Lenora Winery, in operation since 1999, has 7 acres of vines including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Muscat, Grenache, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Merlot, and Caberenet Sauvignon. The wines derive from estate, Ramona Valley and other California grapes. There is something for every palate here, though only a limited number of bottles are open for tasting on any given day. We enjoyed the lightly tannic “Dos Rojos” blend of Merlot and Sangiovese.

Eric Metz pouring in the tasting room

Eric Metz bought Lenora in 2008. He's planted Nebbiolo and Syrah and will soon introduce estate wines under the Metz Winery label.

Picnic area with BBQ

Lenora's wine club members get two personally selected bottles per month at a price not to exceed $20. 10-20% discounts apply at the winery.

Lenora Winery is open for tasting weekends 10:00-6:00. 760.788.1388

PYRAMID VINEYARD

Pyramid Vineyard used to be a Christmas tree farm, tended on the weekends by owner Don Kohorst and his family. As the children grew older their enthusiasm for the business declined, and in time Kohorst decided to get out of tree farming. Retired from his engineering job, in 2000 he started planting vines and learning about winemaking from the likes of Lum Eisenman, who founded the San Diego Amateur Winemaking Society, and Ramona wine guru Johnny Schwaesdall. Later on he took some classes at Mira Costa College and directly from Eisenman, in collaboration with the folks at Belle Marie Winery. Since then Kohorst has become friends with Joe Cullen of Cactus Star Vineyards; he calls Cullen his "taster."  

All of Pyramid's wines are estate grown. There are several Muscats including a dry one - rare in these parts, plus  a couple of light-bodied, full-flavored reds. The 2008 Syrah won a gold medal at the fourth annual Lum Eisenman Ramona Valley Wine Competition.

The Pyramid tasting room – a work in progress when we first visited in 2011 – is now completely enclosed and comfortably furnished, with picnic tables just outside. Open weekends 12:00-5:00. 760.789.4682

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WINE COMPANY tasting room & wine bar

Vintners Nathan, Sandy, and Garrett Marsh have just opened a friendly, comfortable tasting room and wine bar right in downtown Ramona, exclusively featuring San Diego County wines and beers. Their place is in the rear of the antique store at 369 Main St. Currently six wineries are represented: Lenora, Mahogany Mountain, Orfila, Pamo, Salerno, and Shadow Mountain. This list is already quite good and will only expand as the Marshes continue to reach out to area wineries.

In a few years the Marshes will be pouring their own El Tesoro wines too. According to Nathan, "If it weren't for Alex and Shadow Mountain we wouldn't be doing this." A visit there is what inspired Nathan and Sandy to plant vines on their twelve acres in Ranchita. Nathan explains his family's leap into vinticulture quite simply: "I just like wine!"

Guests of SoCal Wine Co. may choose five tastes for $8 or purchase wine by the glass or bottle. Bottle prices are the same as at the wineries. The menu below is a sample; offernings change.

760.518.1229 760.518.0296

MILAGRO FARM VINEYARDS AND WINERY

We’d been anticipating the opening of Milagro’s tasting room without really knowing what to expect. Well, the place is a gem – and even better, it’s just down the road from Edwards, another favorite Ramona winery. At present, twenty of the property's 110 acres are planted with vines. The first planting was in 2001 with additions in 2003 and again in late 2007 to compensate for fire damage.

The wines currently available at Milagro are well developed despite their youth, thanks to the taste and expertise of winemaker Jim Hart. All of them are estate grown with the exception of the 2009 Merlot. We liked everything, a lot! But the standouts are 2010 Karen’s Reserve Chardonnay – oaked but not too much, with depth and spice; and 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon. Manager Ben Wier treated us to a taste of the 2007 Cab, which exudes cherries without being sweet.

Milagro (“miracle”) is owned by Kit and Karen Sickels of LaJolla. Their careful management of the property has left most of it untouched, with vines planted along the land's natural contours. The estate is lush with native oaks and stately boulders; it's even home to a flock of wild turkeys. The classy, high-ceilinged tasting room affords views of the grounds and the working winery. Next time we'll ask permission to picnic; there are no tables yet, but plenty of nice spots to put down a blanket. Guests are encouraged to walk around and take in the scenery.

Milagro’s wine club offers three bottles quarterly at 20% off retail, free tasting for members and two friends per visit, a 20% discount on additional wine, invitations to events, private winery tours by appointment, and discounted rates to use the facility for private events. 

The tasting room is open Friday-Sunday 11:00-5:00. 760.787.0738.

RAMONA TASTING MAP

Map: Ramona Valley Winery Association

Here's a handy map of winery tasting rooms that are current members of the Ramona Valley Winery Association.

Printable PDF

A new online magazine about Ramona wineries



LA FINQUITA WINERY

In the 1990s Mario Bergeron was a wine broker in San Diego. Then he and his wife Diana started a successful custom bottle etching business in Napa. Mario learned winemaking to complement what they were doing, so they could fill the bottles themselves. In time the Bergerons migrated back to San Diego County and became the proprietors of an overgrown eight-acre citrus farm in Ramona. “We were so busy we didn’t even meet our neighbors for two years!” Mario told us. They’ve maintained their etching business and slowly transformed their land into a lush and beautiful estate, planting two acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes in the process. La Finquita’s first estate-grown “Vista Ramona” wine will come next year.

Mario poured us a “Blanc du Champ” Chardonnay/Sauvignon Blanc/Chenin Blanc blend. Next we tried a 2005 Merlot from Napa grapes: spicy nose, dry finish. The 2006 Napa Cabernet has nice tannins; 2008 Suisun Valley Zinfandel is fruity and sweet-spicy, but with a dry finish. Also in the winery’s current collection are a 2008 Napa Syrah and 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon from Valley Center fruit.

La Finquita’s tasting room has a beautiful patio suitable for group tastings or enjoying a bottle or two with friends. Downhill from the patio Mario’s built a serious wine cave which will soon be climate controlled for barrel aging. Right now it’s an amazing setting for serious dinner parties.

 





La Finquita is open by appointment. 800.411.3732

MAHOGANY MOUNTAIN VINEYARD AND WINERY

Mahogany Mountain Vineyard and Winery is situated on 43 acres on a Ramona hillside. Currently 5 acres are under cultivation with Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Mourvedre, Petit Verdot, Syrah, and Zinfandel. Back In the day, owners Michael and Kim traveled in France and learned what real wine tastes like. They started saving money to buy grape cuttings for their land and joined the San Diego Amateur Winemaker Society. In the course of learning to make hand-crafted wines they interned at Belle Marie. Today all of their wines are pure varietals (100%), made from their own grapes. So far they’ve managed with family labor only; both Michael and Kim have large families! Their son, who majored in biology, is also part of the enterprise. Mahogany Mountain wines have won medals in Finger Lakes and Sonoma competitions, among others. We especially liked the 2008 Zinfandel – nice tannins, and the 2008 Morvedre.

Mahogany Mountain's wine club offers three 2-bottle shipments of premium, limited-edition wine at a cost not to exceed $65. Club members receive discounts on additional purchases.

The Mahogany Mountain tasting room is open on weekends, 1:00-4:00. Heading south on Mussey Grade Road, watch for the Salvation Army camp.  About ¼ mile after that, turn left on Mahogany Ranch Road.  760.788.7048 

Winning Wines at Mahogany Mountain

Link to newest Mahogany Mountain post...

SCHWAESDALL WINERY

We hadn't visited Johnny Schwaesdall, proprietor of the oldest tasting room in Ramona, for quite some time, but we've heard his name quite a lot in our recent ramblings. He’s helped many an aspiring winemaker get started and played a pivotal role in establishing the Ramona AVA. Johnny bottles wines under the Schwaesdall and Ramona Winery labels, the latter of which is available in local stores. His ports deserve special mention, especially the Orange Muscat. And – strange as this sounds coming from us – the White Zinfandel tasted quite refreshing on a hot summer day.

Johnny's Truck

Schwaesdall Winery is open weekends 10:00-6:00. 760.789.7542