JAMUL WINE FESTIVAL BRINGS CHEERS THIS SATURDAY SUMMER’S EVE 1.8K
Total Views: 100 By Miriam Raftery July 26, 2019 (Jamul) – Beside a babbling brook under shady oak trees at D&S Farms, home to Granite Lion Cellars, the 2019 Jamul’s Premier Wine Festival is set to be the best yet this Saturday, July 27 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. In addition to speakers ranging from sommeliers to winemakers, guests can savor tastings from 10 area wineries plus beer and hard cider. Dining tastes will including offerings from the award-winning Crafted Greens restaurant, Valentine’s Bar and Grill, and chefs Desmond Fonesco and Joe Coppola serving up everything from linguini to luscious desserts. “People love the ambience—the coolness of the place in a relaxed atmosphere, the sound, the music, the talks in the Grotto,” says Gary Gorton, marketing director at St. Pius X Church. All funds benefit the 50-year-old church’s building fund to add solar and fund classrooms to support youth programs and a retreat for young people coming up at the University of San Diego in August. New this year, two golf carts with drivers donated by Imperial Beach Golf Club will ferry guests from the parking lot to the party under the oaks, illuminated by twinkling lights. A DJ from Brandon Watts Entertainment will provide music for guests to enjoy or dance beneath the stars. Ever wonder why winemakers plant roses in their vineyards? Find out when Richard Westfall, owner of Westfall Vineyard in Campo, speaks on “The Days of Wine and Roses.” Want to learn about jobs in the wine business locally? Linda McWilliams, director of the viticulture college at City College and the winemaker for San Pasqual Winery in La Mesa will speak on Vineyard Apprenticeships. Curious what tales a sommelier can tell? David Whited, a sommelier for Trader Joe’s and Granite Lion Cellars, will share some stories. There’s even a photo booth for guests to make some memories to take home. Father Higinio Garcia will hold a blessing for the event. Guests can wine prizes in an opportunity drawing and a silent auction including a wine table with 18 varieties of high-end wines and other items, artwork and more. New entries this year include Jamul’s new Vecchieoso Winery and PRP International, as well as Utopia Hard Cider of Scripps Ranch. Participating wineries and breweries include: Campo Creek Vineyards Casi Cielo Farms & Winery Deerhorn Valley Vineyards Dulzura Vineyard and Winery Granite Lion Cellars Javalinna Leap Winery Novo Brazil Brewing Co. PRP Wine International San Pasqual Winery Spanish Peacock Winery Utopia Hard Cider Vecchieoso Winery Westfall Winery “We had almost 200 last year and this year we’re expecting 300,” says Gorton. D&S Farms, home to Granite Lion Cellars is continually upgrading their beautiful property. Their ambitious growth plan includes aspirations to “carve a cave into the mountain to store wines for fermentation like they do in Napa, with a tasting room there, and planting an orchard around the vineyard,” Gorton notes, adding that ultimately the owners hope to add luxury homes nestled in a vineyard orchard “like Rancho Santa Fe.” If you haven’t headed out to Jamul before, or want to enjoy a relaxing summer’s evening in the countryside, Jamul’s Premier Wine Festival is a delightful getaway experience. All food and alcohol drinks are included for $65 per person or $120 per couple in advance, or $75 per person at the door. View flyer. The ticket includes food, wine, beer and cider tasting plus coffee, water,soda and a souvenir wine glass, entertainment and more. Tickets can be purchased at stpiusxjamul.com or by calling St. Pius X, Jamul, at 619-669-0085. This event is limited to age 21 and up. Printer-friendly version
1.8K viewsYOU’RE INVITED! WITCHES WINE & DINE FOR WILDFIRE ALERTS OCT. 27 1.8K
Total Views: 57 CANCELLED: Due to most invitees having conflicts on this date, this event is cancelled. The good news is we’re changing the date and location- but we will still be having our annual Halloween party. The new event will be Sunday evening, October 28 at a private residence on Mt. Helix with great music and prizes–just $10 and bring a dish to share! Watch for details soon. October 5, 2018 (Jamul) — You’re invited to our “Witches Wine & Dine” haunting Halloween party on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 4-8 p.m. at Granite Lion Cellars Winery in Jamul! The fun begins in the wine tasting room at 4 p.m., followed by a catered dinner in the haunted oak grove with music by DJ Doug on Sax, catering by Freshly Prepped, a costume contest and a treasure-trove of prizes! RSVP and pre-pay before Oct. 20 ($45 per person) Checks: Mail to East County Magazine, 4438 Hideaway Place, La Mesa, CA 91941 Credit cards or Paypal: Tickets at www.EastCountyMedia.org/events Special thanks to California Coast Credit Union for sponsoring entertainment for this very special event. Scroll down for the devilishly delicious details! Menu: Wicked spicy shrimp kebobs, deviled eggs, hot pepper mummies, pumpkin-shaped empanadas, meaty BBQ, scary pasta with meatballs, Halloween stuffed peppers (vegetarian), enchanted apples, spooky cupcakes. Price includes wine tasting at tasting room; wine is also available for purchase by the glass or bottle from the winery; water and lemonade also provided free with ticket. Costume contest: Prizes for best costume and best couples costume. Musical entertainment by the fabulous DJ Doug on Sax, who plays with the Mar Dels Thanks to our prize sponsors! California Coast Credit Union, Granite Lion Cellars, EMed Spa, Giardino’s, Mountain Mike’s Pizza, Barnes & Noble, Maxwell’s House of Books, Club Pilates, Prete a Porter Salon, Maldini’s Pizzeria, authors Joyce Strand and Teresa Burrell, San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra, Visionary Dance Theatre, & more Proceeds benefit East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts, East County Magazine and East County Media, helping to keep you safe and informed. Buy tickets now ($45 before Oct. 20): www.EastCountyMedia.org/events Questions? Call (619)698-7617 or email editor@eastcountymagazine.org Get free publicity for your business! Donate a prize or make a donation to sponsor our dinner or costume contest. Booth rental space also available! Happy haunting– we hope to see you all there! Printer-friendly version
1.8K viewsCHAMBER MIXER AT GRANITE LIONS CELLARS SHOWCASES NEW OUTDOOR EVENTS VENUE 17
Total Views: 56 By Miriam Raftery July 5, 2018 (Jamul) – The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce and Alpine-Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce held a joint mixer beneath shady oaks at a new outdoor event venue at D&S Farms, home to Granite Lions Cellars in Jamul. This charming spot includes a babbling brook and waterfall, as well as a spacious lawn with ample room for weddings and other special events, complete with twinkle lights after dark for a fairy-tale effect. Chamber guests enjoyed farm-fresh foods as well as tastings of Granite Lions’ Cellars award-winning wine, including silver awards in the San Diego International Wine Competition. The winery’s website proclaims, “We believe doing everything with all our soul is the best way to reflect the beauty of life. You can visit Granite Lion Cellars at https://granitelioncellars.com/. Printer-friendly version
17 viewsTHE EVOLUTION OF JAMUL AS A WINE REGION 5.8K
Total Views: 110 By Gary Gorton, St. Pius X Wine Tasting Festival Committee Photos, left and below right: Vineyards and tasting room at Granite Lion Cellars in Jamul May 23, 2018 (Jamul) — Jamul has always been identified as a wine rich region. Grapes and wine were introduced to California in San Diego at the site of the Mission de Alcala, the first of the California Missions by Father Junipero Sierra who established the first vineyard on the Mission Valley Property back in 1769. The first wine for sacramental use was made by the monks in 1774. How appropriate, then, that it is St. Pius X in Jamul hosting the third-annual wine-tasting festival this year. The date is June 30, 2018 from 5:30pm to 9:00 pm. The festival will be sponsored by the Wineries on Highway 94 and is being hosted at Jamal’s own D&S Farms, home of Granite Lion Cellars. Long time Jamul resident Ron Torretto recalls his Italian and French grandparents crafting their own wine at home when he was a child both in central Illinois and here in San Diego county. He has researched local table grape and wine production. In his youth he recalls the remnants of the vineyards that had been devastated by parasites and disease, including the area that became the route of Highway 8 through El Cajon, Encanto and elsewhere. This blight, coupled with prohibition in the World War II era, destroyed the grape growing and wine industry in San Diego. It took years to have a resurgence during which the Napa/Sonoma Region came to be and grow to what it is today, a world-renown wine region. In the San Diego Region, only the Bernardo Winery and Ferrara Wineries survived the blight and prohibition. In the early 1990’s the San Diego Wine Industry began to flourish again. Growth remained steady until the 2003 and 2007 wildfires destroyed many acres of alternative crops such as avocados. Since that time our industry has experienced an acceleration in activity as many of those acres have been replaced with drought tolerant grape vines. According to M. A. (Manny) Melendrez, President, Spanish Peacock Winery in Jamul and a chemist who has traveled the world, our weather is similar to the Mediterranean which bodes well for producing grapes for wine. His research has also shown that Jamul emulates the wine country in northern Spain and southern France, hence, his choice of Jamul/San Diego County for his vineyard and winery. He is certainly not alone. Today, in addition to the hundreds of vineyards in the area, Jamul is also home to more than 60 micro-vineyard growers. Hundreds more exist across the County of San Diego. A few have even grown into boutique wineries. Greg Maness of Maness Vineyard and Casa Cielo Winery has become quite the purveyor of wine in Jamul. Greg began growing grapes in Jamul over twenty years ago. In 2006 he began selling his estate-grown grapevines at local farmers markets promoting the emerging industry. In 2008 when the boutique winery ordinance was passed by East County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, Greg and his wife Dr. Paula Maness, along with business partners John and Lissy Keily, began installing and maintaining micro-vineyards at local family homes and across the county. His long-term vision of Jamul would allow new grape growers the ability to sell their grapes to local wine makers supporting the industry in the future. To date they have consulted on over 80 micro vineyards and have personally installed over three dozen vineyards of various sizes, 12 in Jamul alone. The trend is very hot right now. Greg, Manny and others already in the wine making business in Jamul and the greater San Diego area will be featured speakers at the upcoming third annual St. Pius X Wine Tasting Festival at D&S Farms, 2801 Jamul Highlands Road, Jamul, at their beautiful Park in the Grove. Many great wines produced in Jamul and the surrounding area will be featured, to include: Campo Creek Winery, Casi Cielo Winery, Dulzura Winery, Granite Lion Cellars, Javalina Leap Winery, San Pasqual Winery, & Spanish Peacock Winery. Westfall Winery has agreed to pour. Presenters include: Greg Maness, Linda McWilliams, Former President San Diego County Vintners Association and David Whited, Sommelier for Trader Joe’s. We also hope to have Wil the “Wine Guy” Burtner, The Fox5 host of Wine Wednesday. This year’s event is going to feature “food pairing by the experts.” Desmond Fonseca, Director of Food Services for La Vida Real Senior Living in Rancho San Diego, Joe Coppola, local amateur chef extraordinaire and his Italian themed foods and Ferris of Crafted Greens will be joined by Jamul’s own Val of Valentin’s and many others in the Jamul area for a magnificent wine tasting and food-pairing experience. Also, Nova Brazil Brewery in Otay Lakes, the 8th fastest growing brewery in the nation will be there with their featured beers. All proceeds going to the Youth Services of St. Pius X. The past has brought us to our current exciting time but what might the future have in store for the Jamul Wine community? We are so blessed to have D&S Farms in Jamul Highlands as a sponsor to St. Pius X in hosting the Wine Tasting Festival. It truly is a match made in heaven and we hope to have this wine experience at the beautiful home of Granite Lion Cellars, D&S Farms, for years to come. Jim Knudson, Resident Manager, has a desire to be a Jamul community asset as they implement their future growth plans. Surrounding the nine-acre vineyard is an orchard with recently planted figs, avocados, apples, pears and other fruits. They plan to make all their produce available for charitable support to the local non-profits like St. Pius X for harvesting to assist those in need in our community. The winery, Granite Lion Cellars, is a small portion of the land use and the new wine-tasting room that will be constructed soon, will be a beautiful addition
5.8K viewsFIVE LOCAL WINERIES, ENTERTAINMENT AND FINE FOOD JAN. 23 IN EL CAJON 3.1K
Total Views: 39 By Kim Beales January 14, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) — A night of enjoying fine wines, great food and live jazz is on the horizon in East County. On Saturday, January 23rd, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the community will come together for a fun evening to benefit St. Pius X Catholic Church’s building fund. The money raised by the event is earmarked for the restoration of the church’s buildings dating back to the 1950s. Guests will enjoy unlimited wine tasting and heavy hors d’oeuvres. The event will feature the following wineries, all of which are located in East County along Highway 94: · Dulzura Vineyard and Winery · Granite Lion Cellars · Deerhorn Valley Vineyards · Campo Creek Vineyards · Westfall Winery “The wine tasting event is a fun way for the community to get together in a fun atmosphere for a great cause,” explained Gary Gorton, wine-tasting/community coordinator for St. Pius X. “We encourage people aspects of the community to join in this great event and get to know some of your neighbors.” Complementary coffee, tea, water and soft drinks will be available along with a full no-host bar. Street parking as well as free valet parking will be available. The public is welcome and encouraged to come meet their neighbors at this great event. It will be held at the Tatar Hacienda, 2333 Pence Drive, El Cajon, CA 92019. The event is open to the public (21 years of age and up). Cost is $100 per person. Tickets can be purchased at www.stpiusxjamul.com on the donations page or call St. Pius X, Jamul, 619-669-0085. Printer-friendly version
3.1K viewsWINERIES ON HIGHWAY 94 WEBSITE NOW UP: TOURS TO LAUNCH SOON 15
Total Views: 58 By Miriam Raftery August 24, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The newest growing wine region in our area is along historic Highway 94. A website has been set up at http://www.thewineriesonhighway94.com/ by growers and wine producers bringing their vision of a wine-region in the southeast county to fruition. The website states, “We are now demonstrating that the high quality fruit produced by these vines can in fact become world class wines. Now this vision is a reality as several of the wines vinted here have recently been not only recognized but have received awards in international competition.” The site launched in 2014 and currently has four vineyards: Campo Creek Vineyards, Dulzura Vineyards & Winery, Deerhorn Valley Vineyards and Granite Lion Cellars. More are slated to join the effort soon including Maness Vineyards. Owner Greg Maness announced in the Maness newsletter that in summer 2016 Maness willlaunch the opening of its own Boutique Winery and Tasting Room Tours in Jamul. Casi Cielo (“Almost Heaven”) “Heavenly” Wines will feature hand crafted batches of estate grown red, white and orchard fruit wines. Maness states, “A section of the historical Adobe Estate that has been growing grapes and making home made wines since the early 80’s will be transformed into a unique wine tasting room area with inside and outside seating amongst the vineyards with elevated decking, allowing patrons to view our amazing mountain top heavenly views of Jamul. A separate wine production facility and underground wine barrel room is part of the tour and our unique gift store will offer vineyard lover knick-knacks, original oil paintings by the Artist Grego” and other items. The name Casi Cielo meaning “almost heaven” was penned by Paul and Marie Vesco in the early 1970’s when their hilltop Adobe Estate was built located next to a pristine 6000 acre nature preserve in the rolling hillsides of greater Jamul. Greg and Paula Maness of Maness Vineyards purchased the legendary wine growing estate in 2006 and have restored the once famous private winery to continue the long standing tradition of wine making started decades ago. “Future guests will surely love the informative tours with access to transportation buses for small groups who wish to visit us and several other tasting room facilities on the same day,” says Maness. Printer-friendly version
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