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August 10, 2012 (San Diego) – The San Diego Wine Country Festival will be held at Bernardo Winery on August 11 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Meet the winemakers of San Diego County in one location and sample 10 different wines.  Bernardo Winery is located at 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte, San Diego.

Tickets are $25 online at www.brownpapertickets.com or $30 at the door.  Each admission includes 10 wines, tasting glass, baguettes, and oil and vinegar.  Visit http://bernardowinery.com/ for more information.

August 7, 2012 (Ramona) – Hacienda de las Rosas Winery is hosting its annual Grape Stomp on September 3 at its ranch and winery in Ramona.  This year’s proceeds will be given to Wounded Warrior Homes, Inc, a local organization that will provide transitional housing to single service members who are being medically discharged with Traumatic Brain Injury.

The event is private and open only to members of the Winery’s Club.  Join the Club by August 10 and you will be able to attend the event.  Festivities will include a live band, huge buffet, wine tasting and grape stomping.

Click here to join the Club.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Leon Thompson and Miriam Raftery

August 18, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Could East County someday rival Napa Valley as a prime winemaking locale?

San Diego County has over 40 wineries, nearly all in the eastern regions. Bernardo Winery in Rancho Bernardo is the County's oldest; Orfila in San Pasqual has won more than 1,000 awards. But now some East County winemakers are producing vintages gaining attention of wine connoisseurs--winning awards and savoring the fruits of their labors.

By Ryan Lescure

August 3, 2009 (Alpine) -- I found Pure Hoppiness a month ago, largely by accident. I strolled into the local watering hole and attempted to order my usual beer. I was informed by the bartender that they had just run out. After regaining my composure, and wiping the tears from my eyes, I settled on Pure Hoppiness, a double India Pale Ale brewed by the Alpine Beer Company.

I was so taken with the hoppy, yet smooth taste of Pure Hoppiness that I made sure to look up Alpine Beer Company after my walk home. Upon visiting their website, I was astonished to discover that were based in Alpine, California.

A  column for East County wine and beer enthusiasts

16765 Bernardo Center Dr., San Diego CA 92128
(858) 673-7512; www.thebarrelroomsandiego.com

By J.J. Gold, guest columnist

April 7, 2009 (Rancho Bernardo)—Could a place that received both theWine Spectator 2009 award of excellence and the Wine Enthusiast 2008 award of distinction possibly live up to the hype? I headed off to the Barrel Room in Rancho Bernardo, determined to find out. Much to my delight, the wines that I sampled were both unusual and highly pleasing—and the food was equally delectable.

By Richard Noel

Orfila employee Dolores Castaneda pours a generous taste for Shari Zollo (right) of Vista, who enjoyed the festivities with Barbara Deuel and Drea Zollo Bush (both of Oceanside).

“Oh yes, it’s Eighties night!”

For all those who still wear their sunglasses at night, you could have worn
them to Orfila Vineyards’ tasting room as the crew kept the doors open
late on October 23rd for a special evening of uncorked fun.  With a 1980s
music theme, wine club members and other visitors enjoyed listening to blasts
from the past while sipping the Escondido winery’s latest hits.  Tasting
room manager Benjamin Wier put together what may be the first of many more
late-night events to come, and pulled it off with the flair of a high school
reunion. 

By Richard Noel

If you’re out and about in East County and in the mood for a great glass
of wine in an elegant atmosphere, relax with the knowledge that this urge will
not require you to drive into the urban core of San Diego and spend an exorbitant
amount of time or money just to park your car.  That’s because GIO
Restaurant in downtown La Mesa has opened the doors to its much-awaited wine
bar.