Shadow Mountain Vineyard & Winery is such an awsome property! The wine is fantastic. They have soooo many wonderful verieties. This is a complete vineyard and winery with all the production, botteling, storage, labratory, comercial kitchen, events, bongalos and storage for everything. The location is so beautiful and privet with just amazing views! read more

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This winery was really nice! We didn't get a chance to go inside as it was very crowded and no seating, plus music and it was the Wine & Art trail. It looks just as nice inside as it did outside, lots of room & places to sit, sip wine, relax and enjoy the beautiful scenic views. Not sure if they have snacks or food, most of the wineries out here usually don't have food or might have treats only. But you can grab a bottle and enjoy a homemade meal as most of us live near it. I think it's worth staying there absorbing it all. Will definitely go back, it looked like one of the popular ones out here. read more

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Beautiful winery, and apparently it's for sale you could live the dream on your own winery and apparently at a really good price!

Very casual vibe yet clearly knowledgeable about the grapes they grow & the wines they make. My niece & went on a Friday & each tried a variety of wines, reds, sparkling & dessert wines. Relaxed atmosphere. Over the top Halloween decor but so fun. They did have soup crackers but neither of us do gluten so we had brought our own snacks. read more

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Beautiful boutique winery with great wine, owners and staff. Recommend highly. They are going to be doing some remodeling to their tasting room as I understand it so be sure to call before you go out there. read more

We went here as a family picnic, and while I'm more of a beer person and we don't know a lot about wine complexity, we do enjoy drinking wine when we gather and visiting wineries when we are in this area. The weather was too hot during our visit, so we were the only ones sitting outside; despite the heat it was quiet and relaxing. The owners were also accommodating. They didn't mind bringing out wines for us and answered all of our questions about their wines with great care. read more

Shadow Mountain Vineyards & Winery - Tasting - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Warner Springs, California

Amazing experience! Jackie was very friendly and knowledgeable about the wines. We felt right at home and will come back many times.

Fun time at Shadow Mountain Vineyards learning about wine making from owner Julie Davis! What a great place with delicious wines. The artwork on the labels is great, and so is the conversation! read more

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I've had the pleasure of playing live music here and have enjoyed the supportive audience. I'm glad the music can give the already great atmosphere a positive ambience along with the award-winning wine experience. read more

Shadow Mountain Vineyards & Winery - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Warner Springs, California

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Cutest little place in Julian, CA. I was impressed by the cleanliness of the restrooms! The owner and staff are kind and welcoming. read more

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We visited shadow Mountain winery a couple weeks ago with our friends from Australia. Julie was gracious and greeted us warmly and explained her wines and the different flights available. We chose to try the white flight and settled in and out on her lovely patio in the back to have a picnic lunch. The setting is really serene and lovely she even offers free bottles of water which was greatly appreciated. It was interesting to see the operations around the winery since they were harvesting grapes at the time. Highly recommended bring a picnic here and hang out for a few hours it's really nice experience. read more

Great winery. Great owners, too! Vineyards are so beautiful and it has a lovely history. Julie & Stewart are great hosts and are creating some of the most delicious wines. A great place to spend a day and enjoy the views, the friendship and the wines, of course! read more

Love it here, thank you Pam and Alex We have enjoyed so many years here. The best Wine ever read more

This is one of my favorite wineries and, believe me, I've been to many all over the country. The wines are wonderful (far, far better than Emeral Creek down the road). My husband and I have been wine club members for many years and are never disappointed in Alex's work. I know the winery has been sold, but I understand Alex will still be the winemaker. Yea! I wish the new owners well. I don't recommend going there with a large group; the tasting room and even the patio are best enjoyed with a small group of friends. This may be because I find that tour bus groups tend to be loud, obnoxious and demanding--as evidenced in reviews here by people who visited with such groups. read more

This place is something out of a fairytale book. Everybody was so friendly! There was a lot of outdoor seating, facing the mountains. There was life music, and a delicious selection of wine. I would make the trip out here from the city at San Diego any day! It's cute, friendly, and relaxing. I can't wait to come back! read more

Shadow Mountain Vineyards & Winery - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Warner Springs, California

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God's country. Heading down the two lane road north of Julian, is this boutique winery that is a must see. How to get there? I highly recommend taking Hwy 76 from the inland route Hwy 15. The roads are somewhat wind-ey but the incline to 3500 feet is barely noticeable. When you reach Hwy 79, point yourselves north and go. This time of year, you follow some trickling creeks (Grandma called em "Cricks" ) sheltered by greening trees, passing by large rock formations, rolling hills and wide expanses of grassy meadows with purple and gold wildflowers, where a hawk or two are lazily catching a gust of wind while they look for their next meal. You'll pass by the sign for "owl boxes for sale", past a small casino or two on the Indian reservations, a bison farm, and make sure you salute as you pass by the Navy Survival Training Facility. It's a real trip folks. One that will lower your blood pressure ten-fold. Maybe 10 miles north of the little town of Warner Springs, you'll see the sign on the left and a dusty driveway lined on one side with vineyards. Voila. You have discovered the magic place called Shadow Mountain Winery. So, this is a tiny tasting room and practically a one-man show. They hire seasonal pickers but do all the pruning themselves. They have 15 varietals, an unusually large amount. They mostly specialize in reds but does have a few white. Hubby particularly loved the Merlot. Even I found a light white, a muscat cannelli, that was not syrupy sweet (Pamela's Pick) and only 6% alcohol. For a virtual teetotaler, not to mention designated driver, that is just fine. After an enjoyable experience and exchanging stories, Pamela (she also dabbles in watercolors which she proudly displays for sale) suggested we come back in the fall when they are picking the grapes and doing the crushing for a taste of the fruit in it's raw form, and an experience not to be missed, says she. If they do not already have enough on their plate marketing their business, they also run a little B&B, two tent-like cabins with heat and ceiling fans and king(?) beds. They are cute and cozy inside and are 10 steps away from the vineyard with a killer view of the hills and valley below. She offers a continental breakfast. (This year's price - Wine club members pay $88, and includes breakfast and a bottle of wine. Non-wine club price - $110.) Since there is no dinner served, she suggests trying the casino south of there at Santa Ysabel, or head north to the little Mexican cafe a few miles north (heard they had great chicken tortilla soup), or the BBQ cafe a few miles beyond at the county line. After we left the winery, we did make a stop at the BBQ place. I will be posting a review for this place, it was very good! read more

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Pam was definitely a big help & kind seller: first time doing wine tasting & wow this is so beautiful worth the visit on our way to Borrego Springs read more

Shadow Mountain Vineyards & Winery - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Warner Springs, California

Our friends have been coming here for years and love this place. We've been a few times with them. I can easily see why they come. Both Pam and Alex , the owners, are genuinely nice good people and are passionate about wine and their production. Clearly a labor of love. They could easily only produce mainstream wines but have expanded their grapes to include complex varietals. If you have an afternoon free, get in the car, drive out and relax and have a glass and take some home. You won't be disappointed. read more

Going for a drive through the beautiful country and found this gem of a winery. It's charming and quaint with beautiful grapevines. The wine was really good. It's called Old Gus Blend. Thumbs up! As an added bonus we were given delicious bundt cakes that were really good. Check them out! It's worth the drive. read more

Randomly came across this place while driving through the middle of nowhere to get to another place in the middle of nowhere. My friends weren't too jazzed about stopping but I convinced them. Really cute property, loved the little buildings and gardens. Walked up to the door and a lady looked at us through the window and turned the sign from Open to Closed and gave my friend a dirty look. Ok, we'll leave. Then she came outside and said, "We are closing, if you want to taste you better get in here right now!" We hurried inside and she shut the door behind us. She then yelled at a man who worked there (maybe her husband?) that he needed to help us. One of them (I don't remember who) told us to stay right where we were and not move until the man came back from what he had to do. We should have just walked out then. He came back in and was really nice. He poured our wines and explained each of them in depth to us. He asked where we were from and told us that he had opened the first wine bar in Orange County in the 70's. I liked him. They had some wine member's event going on, so people starting coming in to ask questions and he seemed a bit frazzled by it. Finally he went to help other people and told his mean lady to help us. She came over and rudely finished pouring the wine for my friend. The wines were alright, I liked two of them. I might have purchased them but the lady made us feel like we were inconveniencing her by being there, so I would have hated to inconvenience her by giving her my money. read more

5*s for this lil winery in Warner Springs!!! Pam and Alex are great people- who make great wine! Their reds are second to none. They grow ALL of their grapes, and the difference in taste is very noticeable to other wineries in the area. Some of my favorites are: Variation 3, Nebiolo, and their Zinfandel. Oh their Merlot is great too! These wines are robust- so if you are a rose drinker I'd skip this one. Go here for the reds- as they don't have too many whites to offer ( Although they do have a great bubbly!) The winery sits on beautiful grounds- and for around $100 they have luxury tents you can stay over night in! (A bottle of wine and continental breakfast included!)My family and I rented out both tents and we had a blast! I stop every time I'm in the area- u should too! read more

Shadow Mountain Vineyards & Winery - Amongst the vines! - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Warner Springs, California

Hmm, from the reviews, it is hit or miss with the service. While the female owner who served us was never rude, she wasn't smiley either. Not a problem with me. She also seems to have no problem speaking her mind. When I got there, they were serving a homemade potato leek soup to pair with one of the wines. Just a tiny little cup to sample. When someone asked if they could have more of the soup cuz they were hungry, she said no. haha! It wasn't an all you can eat, so I don't have a problem with that. It's a rustic little place with seats to sit outside and enjoy your wine. It was pretty crowded when we went, so I never got to chat with the owners and get any history. I don't recall any of the wines standing out to me, but if I was back in the out-of-the-way area, I would stop again. read more

Shadow Mountain Vineyards & Winery - Tasting room with soup samples for wine pairing. - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Warner Springs, California

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This place is disgusting. I visited this winery as a final stop on our wine tour this past weekend. What a HORRIBLE way to end the trip!! From the moment we got off the bus we were treated like crap. Apparently, their wine tasting takes place in a old tent in the back of a house.. Before we were aware of that (because no one greeted us) we walked into the house looking thing, thinking that's where our wine tasting was going to be... We were literally scolded upon entrance. The woman, who I think is the wife, shouted at us and told us this "isn't where your wine tasting is, it's in the back!" Excuse me... Let's make our way to the tent. We get back there and are reprimanded by the husband, Alex, to sit down so he can begin the tasting. Wow. Didn't know we were all paying to be treated like children. Thanks Alex. He starts going table to table to serve our wine and I'm sorry- I'm not one to be judgmental but the man needed a shower. His hands were absolutely filthy. SO Gross. We were FREEZING out there. It's WINTER and you have us out tasting wine in a tent without working heat lamps. What the heck is that?? Mid way though the tasting I absolutely had to warm up, so I went back into the "house". The house area carries the wine they sell so I decided I'd take a look. OH LORD. It smelled like a freaking kennel in there. I'm sorry, these people just aren't sanitary. I understand that this is a "mom and pop" type of place but c'mon. Keep your pets out of your "work place" or at least get a freakin air freshener. Get back on the bus to leave and the crazy wife gets on the bus going row to row to "make sure no one is stealing from us". Every winery prior allowed us to go home with wine glasses. These people don't know how to run a business, clearly. They're rude, unappreciative and dirty. Not to mention its SO far off the beaten path. Not worth the extra drive when there are so many other amazing winery's. Bottom line: DO NOT VISIT THIS WINERY. read more

Shadow Mountain Vineyards & Winery - There's the "house" that smells like a kennel and the tent where you'll have your tasting, if you dare come here. - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Warner Springs, California

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Great winery in an unexpected area. If it wasn't for last week's Reader, we would never have known this place existed. We took a detour after a trip to Anza Borrego and were glad we did. It was a bit of a drive, but the scenery was gorgeous. Why does this place get 5 stars? Well for 5$ (I believe) they give a tasting of 10 wines. Their entire available line-up. I think this is a fabulous deal. For 2$ more you get to keep the souvenir wine glass. Honestly, if we had realized this sooner, we would have opted to pay 2$ more for the glass. We love our growing collection of souvenir wine glasses and this was one winery we would like to remember. Why else the five stars? Because the wines we tasted here were of superior quality. I don't think there was a wine I didn't like and there were some truly memorable ones. So memorable, we had a hard time picking one to buy. It's rare I find a winery where I like most of the wines they offer, even the reds. I'm not a big red wine person, but the reds here are really good. Some standouts I would recommend coming from somebody who tends to like light, fruity, sweet wines. Do try the dry muscat. Never had a dry muscat before and this one was great. Had all of the flowery, fruitiness of a muscat that I love so much, but none of the sweetness. The cabernet sauvignon. Excellent. Smoky scent (grapes were hanging on the vine during the wild fires) but soft body. I usually dislike Cabs as they tend to be too strong and astringent for my taste, but this one was perfect. Finally, the sparking wine, which we ended up buying, it was that good. Nice and fruity, not too sweet, not too dry. Even though we shared the tasting, both my husband and I were feeling the effects of trying 10 wines on top of our previous visit to Hawk Watch. Shadow Mountain had a wonderful picnic area with plenty of tables. We had a wonderful picnic lunch out there and waited out the buzz. A perfect wine tasting trip. read more

I absolutely love Shadow Mountain! Alex and Pam are so knowledgeable and friendly and more importantly make an excellent variety of wines. To be clear it's not some big fancy Temecula winery but then again if you're a wine connoisseur you'll value what Alex and Pam have built, a wonderful winery with exceptional wines. I would highly recommend Shadow Mountain if you appreciate really good wine. Yes it's out of the way in the back country but we'll worth the visit! read more

This was probably one of my favorite wineries in the "Temecula" area. This place is at least 30 minutes from Temecula, but the wine is well worth it. It's a little winery off the beaten path and it reminds me of a boutique winery. Very pretty setting and can bring a picnic lunch to enjoy. We got a lot of education about wine while we were trying it. Additionally, the wines here were totally different (in a good way) the most of Temecula. It probably has to do with the elevation difference. But the wines seem bolder and more flavorful. A must try! read more

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Pam & Alex need to sell!! I took another couple to do the "Warner Springs" wineries ( Emerald Creek, Hawk Watch, Sierra Roble and Shadow mountain) since they had not experienced these wineries in Warner Springs. Shadow Mountain was absolutely the worse. The wine tasting area smelled and looked dirty, Pam was just the rudest person and acted like she was doing us a favor pouring our tastings. But the wine was just BAD. They used to have a great Zinfandel and there the only winery making Nebbiolo, and it was just crap. Alex and Pam need to sell this winery and let Pam do her art and Alex can just sit. They do not have what it takes to deal with the public anymore. I would never recommend anyone waste there time visiting this winery. read more

Our second trip back (because we live in Murrieta, 45 minutes away) but TOTALLY worth the drive. We belong to 6 wineries in Temecula, yet the wines from here rank at the top. Pamela is very knowledgable and accommodating. We bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a glass of wine under the peppertree shade. We sincerely recommend a visit...but be prepared: you more than likely will not go home empty-handed..... Wonderful wines, white OR red! read more

Disappointed.....wineries in the county are finally opening up and we love supporting small businesses but the owner was rude and seemed bothered by having customers. She didn't talk about her wines or what might be something we would want to try. We bought a couple of glasses of wine, which were small pours and the wine was not very good. I would stick with Emerald Creek or Hawk Watch for much better service and wine. read more

On our way to camp on an early Friday afternoon, we decided to spontaneously veer off our path to follow the 'wine tasting' signs... first off, since Covid restrictions are loosened, their charming wine tasting room is open.. we were greeted by Pam, and given quite a variety of tastes of their reds.. most of which are award winning.. (many ribbons from past competitions were on display) the property is adorable, and has a cute patio in front overlooking the beautiful old vines and valley... so much charm and beauty... we walked away with a few bottles in tow. Can't wait to return...soon. read more

Original Review: Shadow Mountain is my favorite local winery, and I've visited most of them at some point in the past few years. Owners Alex and Pam are extremely knowledgeable about wine and super friendly and willing to talk about their wine with all visitors. They specialize in a variety of reds (Merlot, Cab, Zin, Syrah, Carignane, and a few red blends), but also have a nice viognier, sparkling wine, and two muscats (one in a dry style, the other in a dessert style). Shadow Mountain also has a covered picnic area where you can enjoy a picnic lunch with a glass of wine. For our -1 year anniversary (a year before our upcoming wedding date), my fiance and I rented out one of the bungalows at the winery. We got to spend the evening drinking wine under a star-filled sky unlike anything you'd see closer to civilization. Early in the morning as the sun rose, we were serenaded by an amazing chorus of coyotes. I highly recommend Shadow Mountain not just for a nice drive out to a great boutique winery, but for a reasonably priced romantic overnight getaway, as well. Post-wedding update: I'm updating this review because my (now) husband and I had our wedding here. This was a great opportunity to have a beautiful wedding in a gorgeous setting at an affordable price. Whereas some wedding venues will nickle-and-dime you for table linens, chairs, lighting, etc, all of these things are included in the event package at Shadow Mountain. Pam does the catering (and our food was excellent) and helps to act as a wedding coordinator. She and her husband Alex really went above and beyond the call of duty to help us out when our photographer canceled at the last minute. Shadow Mountain is a great option for a couple who want a smaller (less than 75 people) wedding/reception in a gorgeous mountain winery setting. read more

What a wonderful treat. Recently I was joy riding myself up to Julian and passed this place along the way. So, naturally (I mean really, if you are on off time and you are passing up a winery or brewery for that matter, I mean what is the point then) I had to stop. The proprietors of this place are AWESOME! They are more than happy to share their knowledge with you. Things like, I had no idea how OLD their vines are; which are to say quite old. The original owner was (Italian I believe) and planted grapes to coincide with this. The Cab there is OFF THE HOOK! Excellent flavor with low tannin, which for me, equals low to no heart burn. If you have a four legged furry kid, you are invited to have your wine and/or tastings on the back porch area. Make sure that your furry dude is good with other dogs because they do have a dog named Dolby. If your dog cannot get along with Dolby, you will not be allowed to stay in the back. I had absolutely no problem with myself and my Boxer. read more

If you love wine you must come by this winery. It's about 40min outside of Temecula, but worth the drive. The owners are often the ones there pouring the tastings and they are very friendly and will tell you all aout the different varietals. They have a great outdoor patio where you can enjoy your wine and chat with friends. Prices are very reasonable and I recommend it taking the scenic route to this winery. read more

One of the great joys of living in California is driving down a country road and seeing a winery that you never knew was there. You stop on a whim, look around the rustic property, enter the tasting room with the squeakiest door you've ever heard, and stumble upon a winery that's been around for over 50 years. Amazing. Charming little winery, tasty wine, cute grounds. Stop by in you're in the area. read more

Great review by Nora S. Amazing value for a $5 tasting! Every wine was WAY better than anything offered in Temecula, which is WAY overpriced for the quality. Anyway, 10 tastes, and each one being better than the last for $5 is off the charts. The last winery I had it so good is Rotta in Templeton where you get 11 tastes for $3!! The winery is unique and adorable. Pam was knowledgeable and friendly and Alex knows viniculture better than most. I was amazed that they can grow just about every type of grape! That is unheard of! Anyway, don't miss this hidden gem! It's one of the best kept secrets of the area. read more

Casual elegance in every way. Wines are excellent. We've been here many times and stayed in the glamping bungalows. A really unique experience. You feel as if you are a million miles away but Shadow Mountain is actually easy to get to via a scenic drive. Don't expect TV but that's exactly the reason to come here. It's the perfect getaway. Love SM and Pam and Alex! read more

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This is the cutest boutique winery and the owner Pam is adorable! If you want to know anything about wine, she's more than happy to teach you. And their wines are So Good! Did I mention that they have vines that we're planted in 1945! I can't say enough good things about this winery. We'll see you again Pam (maybe on our way back from Borrego)! read more

On my way to Borrego Springs, Stopped at SHADOW MOUNTAIN WINERY by mistake , after missing the driveway for the winery just west. When I first turned off of Highway 79 , I wondered just where I was going. It is a bit off the beaten path . I'm glad I didn't turn around like I wanted too!! Ended up in Shadow Mountain's tasting room. I'm not a sophisticated wine drinker, in fact this was my first experience wine tasting in almost 40 years. I spoke with the proprietress Pam briefly about my wine likes and dislikes . I like big and robust red wines. I tried a Malbec , ( my favorite wine ever). It had a very harsh taste. I walked around the small room and noticed the Malbec was 40$ - I thought for that price it shouldn't be harsh , it should be pretty darn good. Pam and I talked some more, and she shared by example a few wine tasting tips. Pam then poured me a Merlot and I believe a Cabernet Sauvignon . Both had the same harsh taste as the Malbec . I was beginning to get frustrated , and had almost decided that the entire wine tasting experience wasn't for me. Pam said she had "one more " red for me to try. I asked her to turn the bottle around so I wouldn't have a preconceived opinion if I saw the name. I closed my eyes, took a sip, held it for a bit , and when it hit the back of my tongue , my eyes flew open and the first word that came to my mind was "soft". ( I'm not sure if that's the correct word to use !). The wine was so soft on my palette. It was absolutely delightful. Another sip confirmed my first impression. The wine ? NEBBIOLO , which at 32$ was a great find. After having the wine at home , it really is as good as that first sip ! Thanks to Pam for her guidance through my wine tasting. And for putting forth such a luscious wine . read more

fun finding this place, traveling a windy road on a whim while making our way back north from a wildflower whirl. the covid cloud hung over, thus the visit was short, but memorable. had wondered about any vines in the area earlier in the trip through the palomars, and found them on the opposite side. not super far from temecula, but this is a different world, wines included. they've got some reds under 13abv and others from 75-year old trees. doubt one will encounter anything quite like this anywhere read more

I can't top Michelle's review and I agree with it completely. Not only are Pam and Alex generous with their knowledge, they make wonderful wine. They also offer catering, so if you are planning a party, this is the place to go. This is a gorgeous setting for any gathering, and Pam is an unbelievable chef. If you haven't stopped here lately, do so. They have several award winning wines. Go eat, drink and be merry!! read more