Uncork, Sip Back and Relax! That is our motto at Koi Zen Cellars. We are a hidden gem in the Carmel Business park in Carmel Mountain Ranch just down the street from Home Depot. A craft winery that has been named San Diego’s BEST Local Winery 2 years in a row.
Ray Schnorr and Jeannine O'Brien, owners, farmers, and winemakers, began their journey with a simple landscaping idea—planting 10 Zinfandel vines alongside their home in Rancho Bernardo. They sourced the plants from Sonoma County, stored them in a hotel during a trade show in San Francisco, and planted them in the spring of 2004. A year later, as the vines thrived, the question arose: “What are you going to do with those grapes?” What started as a casual interest in wine evolved into a full-blown passion for winemaking. After acquiring the necessary equipment, building refrigerated storage, and eventually purchasing land for a vineyard, their amateur label, "Slippery Slope," was born.
During this time, Ray immersed himself in winemaking, taking classes at a local community college and online courses from UC Davis. He became active in the local home winemaking community, earning recognition and accolades in county and state winemaking competitions. Jeannine, too, became a winemaker, producing a gold medal-winning vintage. More recently, she passed the rigorous exam to become a Level 1 Sommelier in the Court of Masters.
In 2007, they acquired their property in Highland Valley and began construction on their winery and vineyard in 2009. Acknowledging the region’s rich history of grape growing, which spans over a century, they named their estate Highland Valley Vineyards and designed the winery in a 1920s craftsman style.
Their approach blends traditional winemaking techniques with modern technologies to craft wines of distinction and character. They specialize in producing bold red wines with full body, balanced fruit, and a rich finish. To complement their estate-grown grapes, they source fruit from San Diego (South Coast), Mexico, Paso Robles (Central Coast), Amador County (Sierra Foothills), Lodi, and Dry Creek Valley (Sonoma County).
As winemakers and farmers, Ray and Jeannine now oversee the full journey from earth to bottle, practicing sustainable farming to enhance fruit quality while minimizing environmental impact.
Our vineyard and winery represent the culmination of nearly 6 years of hard work, patience, and persistence. Since 2001, our dream and vision has been to build a small San Diego mountain winery in Warner Springs that offers an incredibly intimate wine-tasting experience. In April 2008 our dream became a reality as we proudly opened Hawk Watch Winery to the public. Our wines are hand-crafted from only the finest fruit using hands-on, old-world wine-making techniques. Each bottle truly represents the excitement and enthusiasm we have for premium wine making and the passion and obsession we have for viticulture.
A stone’s throw from both Julian and Temecula, we invite you to take a short, scenic drive through the mountains of Northern San Diego County and stop by our tasting room. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. – Mike & Lisa Schnell
Twin Oaks Valley Winery is a family owned and operated business. Although established in 2001, Malcolm and Kathryn Gray purchased the winery in 2013 to introduce new, updated winemaking techniques to “old world” wines and refresh the brand. We specialize in crafting small batches of wine from the finest grapes grown in the San Diego County. We are proud to support our local farmers and growers. In addition to making our own wines, we offer a “custom crush” service allowing individuals, groups and organizations to use the facility to make wine for themselves.
Family owned and operated boutique winery with award winning wines. Fifteen estate grown varieties. 10 acres overlooking the beautiful San Pasqual Valley & San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Bring your picnic & enjoy some of our wine with the beautiful views!
Stehleon Vineyards wines are San Diego grown and produced. Owned by Al and Lisa Stehly, their grove and vineyard management company cares for the vines that produced these first vintages. Small, custom vineyards have been hand pruned and the fruit hand harvested. Wine-making has become a family affair, and daughter Alysha Stehly produces and bottles the wine in Escondido in northern San Diego County. Having recently planted their vineyard of Rhone varietals, the Stehlys hope to eventually expand their offerings of wine that always pair well with friends
Abundant, beautiful, and joyful, the vineyard expresses an idea that the best things in life are simple and honest. If there is truth in wine, it comes from the plain transition of fruit and soil and sun into a blend of art and fate. Granite Lion Cellars begins with the best vine stock and cherishes the distinctive characteristics that make every variety unique because we understand that all we take through life is ourselves. A young winery, Granite Lion Vineyards presents a rich and distinctive taste intrinsic to the passion of youth.
Altipiano is a boutique vineyard and winery surrounding Peter and Denise Clarke’s grand Tuscan villa with tasting room, barrel room and crush facility. Lush patios and gardens with vineyard and skyline views. Located above San Pasqual Valleys San Diego Zoo Safari Park five miles east of Rancho Bernardo at Interstate 15.
The winemaking philosophy and the techniques employed at Blue Door is a straightforward approach – keep it as simple and as natural as possible, then always fill it with passion and commitment.
Located in Alpine, CA at an altitude of 3,000 feet is Rock Canyon Vineyards. Hot summer days and cool nights contribute the some wonderful handcrafted and unfiltered wines with delightful unique earthy falvor. Think of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel and some red blends.
