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    Granite Lion Cellars

    4.4 (71 reviews)
    ModerateWineries
    Closed 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Joshua A.

    It's a pretty neat place to visit. I only wish they had heaters because when I went it was cold outside. Nonetheless, the vibes were there and the employees were extremely hospitable. Now getting to the actual wine. I really enjoyed how they had Flights already premade. I occasionally drink wine, but it was nice not having to choose. I would visit this place again once it starts to heat up and it's not so cold outside.

    The location is great, the wine was good and the overall atmosphere was quite relaxing. The only thing I didn't like was the fact that our gps took us out to a private road, which we did not know considering we were going someplace else. So we were about to turn around and the older white lady with the blonde hair seemed a bit annoyed that we drove that way, as she still let us out....again, that was our first time out there and that's what the gps told us to go. Then again, she wasn't friendly at the winery either, so I'm not surprised. Over all, the Hispanic lady and the flamboyant guy made our time there pleasant.

    View from the tasting tent
    Jerry M.

    Very friendly and informative on what to try. When we went it was just us and one couple. Good view of the vineyards.

    Beautiful property and good wine! Staff were friendly and attentive. The tasting room is immaculately gorgeous and has indoor and outdoor bar seating as well as indoor and outdoor tables. There is a creek with a small waterfall running by with seating in that area available. Very serene. Food truck on weekends. Highly recommend!

    Bel H.

    Food - you can bring your own food. Food trucks are avail but they do run out of food to sell ( good bbq meat ) . Lots of wine to choose from. Good price points Service - staff are very helpful and friendly. Ambiance - it is true that children are allowed in the premises. Of that bothers you, then this may not be the place for you. That part did not bother our group ( more than 10 people on our group). Love the place , we celebrated our friend's bday. Bathroom was also clean ( thought I throw that in) Watching the sun sets for me is always very calming.

    Troublemaker- Southern CA Red Wine
    Cara T.

    Beautiful drive heading in to this winery. Lusciously landscaped acreages with Italian Cypress, and the view of the vineyard across the fences. We arrived and walked up to a beautifully opened area with shaded covering and plenty of tables to choose from. They've got a lot of nostalgic decor from the historic past of rustic Jamul. There's a nice picnic area near a gorgeous waterfall, and light running stream. A huge mountainside where they're developing a larger appeal to a scenic facility as the business grows. Greeted by Cherylynn. She was extremely professional, knowledgeable and engaging. The wine we tasted and what was recommended was very good. We bought a bottle of red wine called Troublemaker which was fitting for the two of us. It's a robust blend of black fruit, toasted oaks and spices. Please be aware, they do not ship, so be prepared to carry your goods to go. There is a food truck on site. They make some delicious, authentic Mexican food. We got their Carne Asada Tacos which were amazing and went along with our wine as grilled meat is suggested for the perfect pairing. FYI- You can bring in your own food as well. Inside, is a small wine bar made of old wine barrels and wood. This shop also supports some local vendors and provide a selection of jarred honey as well as T-shirt's and other small touristy tokens. We went close to sunset and it was delightful , zen full and the atmosphere at dusk was absolutely picturesque to just breath in. Note-Trails are open to the public. Tours upon reservation. Open EVERYDAY are open every day 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Masks are Required. They do recommend groups of 8 or larger make a reservation.

    Dulce R.

    What an amazing gem in Jamul but simply minutes from San Diego. This place is open everyday but also has 3 varying catered food available for purchase. On February 26th, we were luckily to be able to try Heftyboy BBQ - Pulled Pork meal and Pulled Pork Nachos (which basically have everything the meal has with the addition or chips instead of the burger and homemade cheese). We came with friends who had been here once before, we opt for 3 flights, this place offers 3 different flights. 1 for Whites to Pink, 1 Sweets and 1 Reds. We thoroughly enjoyed the service and hospitality here... not to mention the wine! The Chardonnay was a favorite and the Sauvignon Blanc. I didnt care too much for the Reisiling, which I normally like sweet but this one was not too sweet. We ended up leaving aith 2 bottles... they are half sizes! Perfect for 1 person. Also as we were walking up, we noticed that this place provides flights in shot glasses, 4 on a wood block and you are first handed a wine glass with Option 1. After you finish, you pour your 2nd and 3rd one in the glass one by one. Very unique and awesome concept then being given several wine glasses. This place is peaceful and does get busy, but that doesn't take away from service. We had a dog, thisplace in dog friendly, their were children - this place is kid friendly. Also there was animals and a hiking trail. Not to mention the bathroom was immaculate and clean and super cool, kind of like a storage turned bathroom, plenty of room and perfect view of the vineyard. We will definitely be back!!!

    Alex S.

    Easy going wine tasting and a great place to gather and catch some sunshine! They are working an updating their tasting room and can't wait to come back!

    Diann B.

    We were celebrating our 22nd Wedding anniversary. We wanted to go wine tasting. We were staying at Thousand Trails Pio Pico and were looking forward to our adventure. I sought out reviews on Yelp. This was the first of three wineries in Jamul that we visited. The yelp reviews are wrong about what days this winery is open. They are open 7 days a week. First impressions were epic. There is a beautiful vineyard. There are tables with umbrellas that had Adirondack chairs. They were full. There is a covered patio that had tables and chairs. Standard yet effective stuff. Everyone looked happy. That's a great sign. We went to the "counter" and ordered wine flights. We ordered the reds. I mentioned that I was excited to be here on our 22nd anniversary. We sat down. Soon, we received a generous tasting in a wine glass. Minutes later the tray of reds arrived. Three employees came by to wish us Happy Anniversary. Very, very kind. Friendly banter. The tastings are $15 each. The red wines were delicious. OMGoodness ..so great. No wonder everyone looked happy. We flagged down an employee named Jim and asked him if we buy a bottle can we waive the tasting fee? He said no. We have a better deal than that!! If you become a member, for only $75, your tastings are waived and you receive 3, really 4, bottles of wine on the "Pick Up" list. We looked at the pick up list. Our favorite wines were on it. I hesitated and said, That's a great deal however, we live in Ventura. It's just too far. He laughed in a friendly way, and replied, I live in Utah and I work here. We said we would think about it. About 5 minutes later and after asking about shipping to Ventura, we said to Jim with enthusiasm, "You're the Man!!" He said thank you and nobody has told him he is the man quite like that. :-D $75 - $30 for tastings = $45. Since they are under construction creating a tunnel on their expansive and beautiful winery, they are temporarily giving a 4th bottle to wine members during this time. So $45 /4 bottles of wine = $11.25 a bottle. That is a steal!!! We thanked them profusely and were on our way to our 2nd winery. We returned later that week with my cousins. My cousins bought a bottle of wine and were impressed. We paid their tasting fees. The second winery, we went to, has signs all around Granite Lion Cellars. It is called Rustic Ridge Vineyards. Do not go. The wines are not tasty and there was no interaction with the husband/wife team until we were leaving. I will be writing that review next. If you want to go to a second winery, I strongly recommend Deerhorn Valley Vineyards. The gentleman from River Ridge recommended them. I'll be writing that review as well. Salud!

    Wine Tasting Flights
    Norbert K.

    This winery is still a work in progress, but progress it is making. We've heard good things about the wine from my brother-in-law and decided to seek it out. Finding it with the nav system was dicey, but once I gave up on the nav system and trusted my instincts, it was easy to find the turn off of Lyons Valley Road. We opted for the "Reds All the Way" wine flight, and it was quite good with the 2017 Merlot Reserve and 2016 United leading the way. Tasting was under a tent-canopy with the flight delivered by one of the owners. We enjoyed a Vietnamese banh mi sandwich we brought for lunch with our tasting. The grounds are rustic but beautifully appointed along the drive with flowering shrubs. We understand that a new tasting room is under construction, as is a "tunnel" -- i.e., an artificial cave. There's an artificial waterfall on the property and a picnic area. Children are welcome, and there are farm animals for them to pet. We look forward to revisiting as the property facilities improve.

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    Love this relaxing winery...been coming here for years. Have seen how it's been growing.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Granite Lion Cellars

    Says there is hiking at this winery...Is there a designated hiking trail? And what is the distance?

    There is a nice hilly rough road trail under 3 mile loop

    View All 2 Questions

    Review Highlights - Granite Lion Cellars

    Voke was so sweet and I can feel her passion for what she does, she was very helpful and it was very nice chatting with her.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    TL;DR: Hillside Ranch Vineyard is a family-owned, small-lot winery in Jamul with fantastic wines…read moreand a welcoming, personal touch. The soft opening was well organized with timed seating, generous tastings (Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Rosé, Pinot Noir, and Syrah), and light snacks. The property is beautiful, the facility is clean and stylish, and the views are stunning. Bonus perks include friendly hosts, a behind-the-scenes tour, ranch horses, plenty of parking, dog-friendly policies, and easy GPS access. Full review: Family-owned and operated, Hillside Ranch Vineyard produces handcrafted, small-lot wines from the hills of Jamul in San Diego County. We attended their soft opening today, and it was a huge success. The vineyard offered reservations with 15-minute arrival time slots, ensuring everyone had a cozy seat upon arrival. The family who runs the vineyard personally shared the story of how it came to be and guided us through each wine we tasted--they were incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and welcoming. During the tasting, we sampled the Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Rosé, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. Every wine was delicious--truly exceptional. Table snacks, including seasoned nuts and crackers, were also provided. After the tasting, we were given a tour of the facility, where we got to see where the wine is made and tested. A few of the ranch's horses even stopped by, which was a fun and memorable touch--we were able to pet them as well. The building itself is very clean, beautifully decorated, and thoughtfully set up, with heaters near the outdoor seating for comfort. The vineyard and surrounding ranch are immaculately maintained and absolutely beautiful, offering photo-worthy views in every direction. There is plenty of parking, and GPS took us straight to the tasting room with no issues. Leashed dogs are welcome, and smoking is permitted in the parking lot.

    The wife snd I stopped by to grab a bottle of wine for me and decided to do a quick tasting! Let me…read moretell you..... the wine there is fantastic loved all of them and even their olive oil!!!!!! Do yourself a favor go see Donna and her staff ( very sweet people) highly recommend!

    Valentina Vineyards - 2022 Sauvignon blanc

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    Went to the winery on a Friday afternoon, was presented with a very thorough explanation of their…read morewines, the grape origins and the subtleties of each wine. The tasting was seriously enjoyable. They also make their own olive oil from their olives on the property. You can really tastes it's pure, clean taste of the extra virgin olive oil. I even brought home some of their honey. I live close to Valentina's and they say that eating locally sourced honey is good for allergies. I also came home with 2 other bottles of wine that I am sure we'll enjoy. Lance, the owner was a pleasure to meet and I will definitely be sharing this place with friends. See you soon

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    Pearson Brothers Winery

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    Not sure why this winery has such a high rating when it's hard to even get in? Don't make the same…read moremistake we did by assuming they'd be open! :( I agree with the Yelp review posted a month ago that their communication is lacking regarding operating hours. In retrospect, this winery also doesn't have many reviews - likely because they don't welcome walk-ins and fail to note that anywhere. Their 5-star reviews aren't recent; posted a year ago for some & over two years ago for most. Tried to go this weekend when it should've been open. Called prior to make a reservation; went straight to voicemail and no indication of actual hours. No signage about hours/whether they were open or closed, except a small, unwelcoming security-related sign noting the premises were being watched. Lesson learned: leave a voicemail and make sure someone gets back to you first before you go. Don't waste your time getting out here only to be met with a locked gate and no one around.

    This review is not for the wine, service or facilities. This review is for the unprofessionalism…read more and lack of transparency regarding hours of operation. I was looking forward to trying the food and wine here after seeing other reviews but was not able to do so. I came here on a random Saturday afternoon to do a tasting. When I checked the website, it didn't mention anything about requiring reservations, being closed or having a private event, yet when I got there, the gate was locked and there was no signage posted. I tried calling multiple times to ask why they weren't open but no one answered. The voicemail also didn't have any message about being closed. I was very upset but instead of wasting the 30 minutes it took me to get there, I decided to go to the next closest winery which was Granite Lion Cellars Winery. Pearson may have lost a customer but I gained a new winery.

    Granite Lion Cellars - wineries - Updated May 2026

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