Orfila is a beautiful winery and I am a wine club member here. It is a Friday evening favorite to…read moreenjoy wine and good food while overlooking the view of the Hills and vineyard. One thing we love was their live music on Friday nights, but they have changed up their event calendars discontinuing music on Friday nights and only have it on Sundays. They added other things like trivia and line dancing during the week, which may be popular, but for us live music is what drew us there. I hope they bring it back.

What a beautiful winery we have that's not too far out of town. Located in Escondido and not too…read morefar off the freeway. I was here to do a race that came with a wine tasting event after. They have a huge tasting room where we got our wine and I tried a few of their reds and I especially loved the syrah and merlot. I'm not a huge fan of rosé but the friends who love rosé said that theirs were pretty good too.

We had such a good time here for movie night! Bob was a delight. We knew we wanted a bottle to…read moreshare between the two of us for the movie, and after asking us a few questions, he picked the perfect one. We were sold immediately! We watched Under the Tuscan Sun and it gave us all the feels. We will definitely be back to do a proper tasting and check out the estate and cafe once it's fully open. Pro-Tip: They have a pizza vendor on site, but they ran out by the time we got there at 6:00 PM. Definitely get there earlier and order sooner rather than later!

Wonderful low key Sunday afternoon here. Sampled the flight and enjoyed many of the wines…read more I'd say this is a great place for a more mature audience vs the vibe at other local wineries with bachelorette parties and/or lots of young kids running around. There are options for small bites here or bring your own. New cafe coming soon and lots of summer events. Learned a ton from chatting with the owner Lynn. They certainly pour their entire heart and soul into this property and the wines. The folks here aren't employees, they are family. It feels intimate and real which is so refreshing.

What a nice find for us! A short drive from San Diego Wild Animal Park led us here after we visited…read morethe park. We were greeted by their friendly servers who sat us out on their patio. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed the view. From the patio you can see the big balloon at the Wild Animal Park floating up and down. We decided to have a glass of red. Our friendly servers were so helpful, offering us tastes of their wines to help us decide which one we would get. Tough choices because they were all very good! A very nice vibe here. They are only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Tasting Flights (Four 2 oz. pours): Sparkling $25, Mixed $22, Red $25, Reserve $29, Dessert $24 (3…read morepours) We used to be members of Hungry Hawk several years ago but hadn't stopped in for some time. We had specifically joined the wine club because we really enjoyed their white wines, which is unusual for us as we're more "big red" drinkers. However, on this visit the tastings were primarily reds. We were told that they will be releasing a few more whites as we get closer to summer. Their large patio, with umbrella/roof-covered tables, offers beautiful vineyard and surrounding mountain views. They also have live music, but it's best to check their website calendar as to who/when. WINES: We shared a Red and Reserve flight, but we did ask to try the new 2024 Estate Mélange Blanc (58% Pinot Gris, 42% Viognier) which was one of our favorites. The wines are well-made, and they offer a nice selection of varietals, so you should be able to find something you like. We brought in some hummus & pita bread to munch on during our tasting, but they do sell a few snack items as well. We ordered two 4oz Beehive Cheese blocks ($8.50/ea.), which were a nice addition to the tastings. If you haven't been here before, I recommend you give them a try. They do take walk-ins, but reservations are recommended.

I just got back from an afternoon at the Forgotten Barrel Winery. What an amazing time we had. No…read moreonly so they have a wide choice of wines to choose from, by the glass and by the bottle, but the prices are reasonable. They also offer tasting menus, so you get healthy pours of different wines to try. They also offer some premade food for sale, charcuteries, hummus, crackers, cheeses. Plus there's a food truck that sells amazing burgers starting at 3. While we were there, there was live music being played in the Central courtyard. Guests could sit on their provided seating under a large shaded tree and some had their small dogs with them on leash. Because we were a medium size group and had made a reservation, we were placed in a separate room with plenty of inside and outside covered seating. The winemaker even gave us a tour of the facilities. Showing is the process from the grapes, to the hopper and ending with the barrels where they age. It's definitely worth driving out to visit this beautiful winery in Escondido.

We stumbled upon this nice venue while searching for another winery online. We enjoyed an evening…read moreof music and comedy called, Jazz & Jokes. The staff are very friendly and efficient. It turned out to be a very nice place to visit. We enjoyed ourselves.

During the pandemic, I was really lucky to find this black woman owned wine and beer tasting room…read morein North Inland...surprisingly downtown Escondido. I've been a repeat customer since then. It's an immaculate chic spot to sip & unwind...sip & conversate...sip & dance. I especially love the wine tastings and dj nights. I always have a fun time! So be ready to enjoy yourself!! Just sip & be merry!!! There is a great variety of choices so let your palate decide. For the port wine lovers out there, this is the place to come to. Cassandra, the owner, has a nice collection. Importantly, the service is absolutely fantastic. And, I don't want to forget the yummy charcuterie board that's available to satisfy your food appetite. FYI - Follow on social media to find out about events and promotions.

I came here with some friends, and they had a free tasting event featuring some wines from Northern…read moreCalifornia. The staff was super friendly and sweet. The wines were quite good. I loved the vibe, the art and the wine, so I'll be back.

Espinosa Vineyards was a fantastic way to spend our afternoon after a busy day at the San Diego…read moreSafari Park. Between great service, plenty of parking, and delicious wine, I would happily stop by again! We also enjoyed a thoughtfully-crafted charcuterie board.

Espinosa Vineyards is so relaxing and delightful. Just hang out and enjoy a bottle of wine and…read morechill The service is beyond reproach, friendly accommodating. It's like being in a family backyard. . Wow, what a backyard a musk come the wine is absolute delightful. Enjoy the photos.

We booked a wine tasting at Mia Marie for a team builder and had a wonderful time. The venue was…read moreextremely accommodating to fit into our schedule. The vineyard is nestled in the hills of Escondido which offers spectacular views of the region. We were there late afternoon and it was all very pretty with the sunlight and shadows. The venue itself is very suitable for small and large crowds. There is ample parking and clear directions to the tasting area. Our team tasted a variety of wines which were all unique and delicious. The menu offered many options for us to try. Our wonderful host Monique has a passion for wines and was extremely knowledgeable. I learned a great deal about the different types of wines. It was a beautiful afternoon and evening with my colleagues. We all enjoyed ourselves immensely and are looking forward to our next visit for live music and salsa dancing! Thank you Mia Marie for hosting us! And thanks to our knowledgeable and delightful host Monique for an amazing wine tasting experience! Highly recommended!

Had a great first time wine tasting experience when I visited! Monique was extremely knowledgeable…read moreand accommodating. Beautiful views as well!

We stopped by Belle Marie Winery an hour before close on a Tuesday. Located right off of Champagne…read moreBlvd. (I kid you not) in Escondido, this is one of many wineries in the area. We easily found parking in their complimentary lot. Ambiance (4.5/5): This is one of the things that make wineries great... the scenic views. While they have a tasting room inside, your best option is to sit outside on the small yet charming patio. The best part is that you'll enjoy the mountains in the background as you sip on your vino. Service (4.5/5): We ordered a bottle of wine about 10 minutes before close. One of the owners was nice enough to allow us to stay outside on the patio way past closing time. He said we could stay as long as we wanted. That's the type of service you rarely see at drinking holes these days. Food (N/A): They had various snacks to purchase and you can also add chocolates with wine flights but we were on a liquid diet. Drinks (4/5): If you're interested in doing a wine tasting, they have both a red and white option. The prices are affordable (especially by California standards) for both flights and if you'd like to purchase bottles of wine for enjoying there or to take home. I did the red flight. They serve it to you on a cutting board of sorts with a piece of paper giving you a short description of each wine. From there, we had a bottle of sauvignon blanc. I didn't take any wine home, but you can get a discount if you buy in bulk. One last thing that made Belle Marie an awesome winery is that it was one of the few open on a Tuesday in the area. A lot of them are open on the weekends only or Wednesday-Sunday or Thursday-Sunday. Belle Marie delivered on the only day we could stop by. For that, I'm grateful!

What a cute little winery! The outdoor space is spacious, dog-friendly, and absolutely beautiful…read morewith the castle backdrop. As for the wine, the flights were limited to just a choice of all-white or all-red. I got the red flight and was hoping for some bolder flavors, but perhaps they are better known for their whites? The ladies I was with said they really enjoyed the white wines!

This is a wonderful winery in the Highland Valley wine area. My husband and I discovered them a…read morecouple of years ago by accident while looking for a different winery (there are 9 wineries in the Highland Valley wine Region). It's a very laidback, super relaxing winery that is in definite contrast to a few of the bigger more boisterous places in the area. Ron and Kelly are warm and welcoming, and very knowledgeable about wine. Their property has lots of tables and chairs outside with a decent amount of shade, which for me is a must, because my Irish skin cannot tolerate the San Diego sun. They are also very dog friendly, and usually have their own dog, Jade, acting a "greeter" when you arrive. How is the wine? Very well-thought out. I've never had less than an excellent glass of their wine every time we visit. My husband and I never leave without at least one bottle every time we visit. They are definitely worth the long and windy drive to find them.

Tastings: $21/person for 5 pours…read more First visit to Bastian's Vineyards which is tucked away on several acres in Highland Valley. This family-owned, boutique winery has created a rustic tasting experience on their outdoor patio overlooking the vineyards and surrounding hillsides. It seemed like most of the patronage were regulars. It's very dog, friendly, however, the dogs ran all over the place and begged at each table for anybody that had food. I'm fine with dogs but owners need to keep them in line just like when bringing your children to a winery. Charcuterie trays were available for purchase ($18) and made a nice accompaniment to the wines. There was live music during our visit which was a nice addition to the ambiance. WINES: Owners/winemakers, Ron & Kelly Bas, have been in the wine-making business for over 20 years and were wonderful hosts. Their estate grape varietals include Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. They also purchase Cab Franc, Merlot, and other varietals. They are currently pouring 2022/2023 vintages of their reds. IMO, the wines were on the lighter side for our palates and seemed to already have some age to them. We were fortunate to taste Ron's soon to be released Viognier, which was excellent. Overall, a nice experience, but I could have done without all the dog commotion.

Lovely winery tucked into the hill right as you enter Highland Valley. The owner Ray was incredibly…read moresweet and took his time telling us their story. We did a tasting on their gorgeous patio and enjoyed the view. Ended up taking home a bottle to enjoy later, too! Adding this spot to our list of favorites for when we are in the area, for sure.

Highland Valley Vineyards is the kind of hidden gem you almost don't want to share but it's too…read moregood to keep quiet. This spot is where the wine, the views, and the vibe all line up perfectly. The scenery is stunning, the energy is laid-back but elevated, and the wine? Absolute knockout. We came for a tasting and left as wine club members without even hesitating. A big part of the magic is Ray, the owner. He's not just pouring wine--he's pouring his heart into every glass. You can tell he genuinely loves what he does, and it makes the whole experience feel special. Highland Valley has that sweet spot mix of intimate, welcoming, and seriously impressive. It's the kind of place that makes wine lovers geek out, while also being the perfect backdrop if you just want to sip, relax, and soak in the views. Honestly, you'll want to tell all your friends about it because that's how good it is.