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We've compiled the best of the best in North County and Around - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
A visit to this family-owned winery can be an enlightenment with its combinations of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petite Syrah, Zinfandel, and Pinot Noir. The winery is known for its big reds like Refugio Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as its Amour de L'Orange sparkling wine, which pairs well with breakfast dishes and hors d'oeuvres. There's live music Thursday through Sunday from 1 to 4 pm.
A trip to Southern California's oldest operating winery, founded in 1889 and run by the Rizzo family since 1927, feels like traveling back to early California days; some of the vines on the former Spanish land-grant property have been producing grapes for more than 100 years. Most of the grapes now come from other wine-growing regions. A collection of quaint shops surrounds the winery. Manzanita Roasting Company has coffee and fresh pastries, and The Kitchen serves pizza and pasta Wednesday through Sunday. Shops sell cold-pressed olive oil, jams, and other gourmet goodies, as well as apparel, home decor items, and arts and crafts. A farmers' market is held Friday from 9 am to 1 pm. No dogs or outside food or drink allowed.
Take one part historic stables and one part French-and-Italian reds, and you’ve got an urban winery with nothing but unfiltered goodness. You won’t find sparkling, white, rosé, or anything sweet on the menu, just straight reds (and occasional sangria and hard cider on tap). Named for the servants’ entrance at the Governor’s Palace in Santa Fe, New Mexico, this boutique winery is captured in a painting of the blue door hung above the bar. During winter months, you can cozy up to the fireplace with a glass of mulled wine.
For quality wine and an enjoyable wine-tasting experience, Milagro leads the long list of wineries in Ramona. Overseeing production is Hugo D'Acosta, who trained in Bordeaux and is considered one of Mexico's preeminent winemakers. The classy tasting room is tucked inside a copse of ancient oak trees, surrounded by vineyards, fruit trees, and local animals. Their highly rated wines are Sauvignon Blanc, Barbera, and Sangiovese.
Visitors here can taste award-winning Syrah, Sangiovese, and Viognier produced from grapes harvested from the 10,000-acre vineyard. The Rose Arbor has a picnic area, and there's a gift shop with wine-related merchandise. There's also a tasting room on Cleveland Street in Oceanside.
One of the only local wineries to produce their wine on-site, South Coast is all about the experience, with tastings and tours (by reservation) that end with a wine-cheese pairing with a "wine tree" of five blends. The wine list features estate-grown and -made Viognier, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Black Jack Port. The award-winning Group Therapy has spicy notes of Grenache, the earthy character of Zinfandel, and the acidity of Sangiovese. Be sure to try their bourbon-barrel wine. The winery also operates a hotel, spa, and restaurant.
Known for his line of popular sparkling wines using the French méthode champenoise, winemaker Tom Stolzer also produces still wines made from Rhône- and Mediterranean-type varietals such as Syrah and Cabernet. Be sure to try the red wine infused with chocolate. Tastings are offered daily, live music on Friday nights April through October, and jazz concerts are presented weekends May through September.
