The best part about the tasting room is the staff. I enjoyed someone taking the time to talk to me about what I was drinking. Also, there is an adorable outside patio where you can sit and sip your wine. Plenty of buttery breadsticks and fresh water refreshed our palates between sips. Such an experience helped us to trust our own responses to the wine. Bryanna allowed us to explore the wines without overloading us with facts about the grapes or winemaking process. She responded to our questions with sensitivity and no hint of arrogance. All of us came away from the experience with a heightened awareness of the care with which Elizabeth Spencer wines are sourced and crafted. The reds we tasted were distinctively delicious, each proudly representing its appellation and the winemaker's skill.

Don and Deedee Sodaro moved to southern California in 1966 from Chicago, Illinois, the city Giuseppe Sodaro had adopted as his home in America over 70 years earlier. Though the Sodaro passion for wine ran deep, it would be another thirty years before they would be able to realize their dream of starting a winery to carry on the family namesake in the New World. In 1996, their opportunity finally arrived, and so began their search for the perfect terroir. After an extensive nine month search through the central and north coasts, Don and Deedee came upon a magnificent property set among the hillsides and alluvial terraces of the south-east Napa Valley, and immediately they knew they’d found someplace special. Gorgeous estate located in the Coombsville District, so its a close jaunt to downtown Napa. Fabulous views, and some of the best reds I have had the pleasure of tasting! A reservation is required, but definitely worth the planning to experience this romantic vineyard.

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