We had previously taken some family pictures here with their beautiful landscaping (small…read morewaterfall, bridge over a stream, etc) so we decided to come back and do some actual wine tasting. We took a Lyft here but it is pretty remote (near Jamul Casino, but a few miles further) and hard to get a driver out, so I don't recommend it. Having a designated driver makes the most sense. If you have to rideshare, Uber is faster than Lyft in Jamul. I thought the red wines were nice and easy to drink but I'm not a wine connoisseur. The friends we were with thought the wine overall was good but not great. The 2024 Rose of Cabernet was my favorite, despite being one of the cheaper ones. Food options were very limited. Just cheese, hummus, meats and crackers, so don't arrive here hungry. Our server was very nice and friendly. There was an older gentleman walking around who was equally friendly and helpful. But there was an older lady behind the bar area who was very upset when we moved chairs inside by one window. I still think it makes sense, but don't do it. Apparently it obstructs the huge bar area walkway. There were kids running around while we were there. But this place is not kid-friendly, so leave them at home. Overall, the wine is fine and the setting is pretty. I recommend checking it out, but I probably will not become a regular. For those who live nearby, this place is great.

This place is lovely! I loved the earth toned lobby glistening with black marble counters and gold…read moretinted hanging globe pendant chandeliers. The staff was friendly and the atmosphere was very laid back. All the wine we tasted was good, but I particularly loved the first and last wine of the sweet flight. We were here right before sunset and it was gorgeous!

We love it at DeerHorn! The wine is amazing. I never had a tasting I didn't like. The olive oil…read moreand vinegar tastings are a a pleasant experience in itself. Very casual. Pet friendly. And I love that you can bring outside food. Diane is always a pleasure to chit chat with.

I had such a great time here! I stopped by on my way back to San Diego proper after visiting the…read morelocal alpaca farm (yay feeding alpacas!), and from the moment I arrived, I felt so welcomed. Diane was an absolute joy--she had me laughing every time she came by the table! We did the wine and olive oil tasting, and while not every wine was exactly my style (wine is all about personal taste, after all), they were all well-crafted and enjoyable in their own way. The balance of fruit and acidity was spot on, and I really appreciated the lower alcohol content (most around 13.2%), which is rare for the area. Unfortunately, we missed out on trying the Pinot Noir since it had just sold out, but the newly bottled Montepulciano is going to be a perfect light summer wine! Chris also stopped by, and we ended up having such a fantastic conversation that I truly didn't want to leave. This is the kind of winery that makes you feel like an old friend from the moment you walk in, and it absolutely makes you want to return. And I definitely will! Highly recommend!

Wow! This was my first visit to the Tasting Room at Hillside Ranch Vineyard and I was blown away. I…read moreabsolutely loved it! The views were stunning and it was such a relaxing, peaceful atmosphere from the moment we arrived. The tasting room itself was beautifully designed, stylish yet comfortable, making it easy to settle in and enjoy the experience. I loved the decor and the photos of the family history on the property! The hosts were genuinely welcoming, knowledgeable, and passionate about both the wine and the vineyard. We could tell they truly cared about creating a memorable experience for their guests. Every wine we tried was wonderful, and we appreciated learning more about the winemaking process and the stories behind each type of wine. This is the kind of place you want to sit and linger at for hours. I wish we'd been there at sunset - I bet it's amazing. Highly recommend for anyone looking for great wine, beautiful scenery, and warm hospitality.

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.

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

What a jewel of a place. Honestly one of the best wine tastings i have had in a while. To begin…read morewith the dulzura creek area is a hidden treasure of 6 working and one to come wineries. They are representatives of what old California wines use to be. The kind of places where you met the owners, talked about the grapes, got to see the fields, discuss real life events, enjoy good wine. You don't get that anymore from the commercialize corporate Napa or Temecula areas. There are still some places but in general the days of enjoying those wine country areas are long gone. The wines had great character and taste. From the whites with their aromas and great senses. Easy to pair with light food or pastries or just drink at an event or picnic. The rose wine with their unique changes in palate and taste a great addition for an awesome lunch get together, an afternoon boating, or a good sunset. To the ideals reds with bold creativity. Screams of chimichurri, big pieces of beef, lamb or portobello grilled. Yet you can just sit with some and enjoy an evening with some cheese, bread and music and think "life is alright". This place is not big but you feel comfortable, you are welcome by the family as if you are a long lost cousin, the country side makes you want to stay. Next door there is a nice store with a continuous running grill and excellent tacos when you get hungry. Don't forget to try and buy their great olive oil and honey. All natural grown on location. I am hard to please to 5 stars. I can't wait to come back bring a good basket of food and just spend my afternoon thinking of nothing and enjoying everything.

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.

I've lived in San Diego for almost 20 years and didn't know there was a wine region here! The…read morecouple who runs this vineyard was very friendly and helpful. I loved the Malbec and bought a bottle. Dry viognier was also very nice. We also tried the Debit, which is a very ancient vine from Croatia, and very rare. This was a full-bodied, fruity (apple notes) wine, but not at all sweet. Lovely vineyard!

My husband and I had a wonderful time at the winery. We loved hearing the story of the family! But…read morenot only loved the wine but also the property. We brought some meats and cheeses to eat by the little river and drink a bottle of wine. It's very relaxing!

Tim is such a pleasant person to be around, and he makes your wine tasting experience great. I…read morereally loved seeing the animals on the property and hearing about the winery's charitable efforts. It's kind of unfair to rate this whole establishment low because of a few bad bottles, as that happens at every winery. We bought a case of wine and have had no issues.

This place is absolute heaven! The beautiful winery is in the foothills of Alpine, CA...and is…read moreright next to the Cleveland National Forest. It's a beautiful and very peaceful place. Their wine is also knowns as the "Donkey Wine," famous for the artwork of donkeys on the label. The rescued donkeys on the bottle are actually on the property and you will get to meet them! This vineyard specializes in unfiltered red wines and the wines are made from start to finish right there! They have over 10 varietals: Zin, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet, GMS blend, Maavedre, etc. The owner/vintner/winemaker, Tim Petersen, is very passionate about his wines. He gives excellent tastings/tours by appointment. You will be in the actual barrel room and will get to same wines (even directly from the barrel!), and learn a lot about what goes into making the wines. You will get a motorized tour of the vineyards following the tasting. Tim makes every one of his guests feel like they are special. Most of his clients are repeat customers...some even come all the way from Texas every year to visit the winery. All the wines are excellent as well. The Merlot and Zinfandel are my favorites! You won't want to miss the opportunity to visit this place, relax, and enjoy some fantastic red wine!