We know San Diego isn’t California Wine Country, but in recent years, urban wineries have made a space for themselves in our communities — no rolling hills required. 🍷
Let’s raise a glass to five of these spots where the wine and good times flow.
Pali Wine Co.
📍 2130 India St., Little Italy
The family-run winery prides itself on bringing the diversity of California Central Coast to SoCal neighborhoods, including the heart of Little Italy. The wine selection is robust, but Pali is known for its pinot noir and chardonnay.
💡 Pro tip: Tasting flights start at $24 but if you buy two or three bottles to take home, the flight fee is waived.
Carruth Cellars Urban Winery & Tasting Room
📍 2710 Historic Decatur Rd., Liberty Station
Carruth is crushing the wine game with its newest location in Liberty Station joining tasting rooms in Little Italy, Solana Beach, Carlsbad, and Oceanside. The brand’s coastal wine production takes place in Oceanside, with fruit sourced from all over the West Coast.
💡 Pro tip: A portion of proceeds from the winery’s line of “Pay It Forward” bottles is donated to charitable causes.
For the record — this place is grape.
Photo via Lauren Cain + Record Family Wines
Record Family Wines
📍 1035 University Ave., Hillcrest
The Record Family is the backbone of this woman-owned winery that produces its bounty on the Paso de Record Vineyard in San Miguel, California, and brings the taste to San Diego.
💡 Pro tip: Peep the tasting room’s events for deals and fun happenings like Paint & Vino nights.
San Pasqual Winery
📍 8364 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa
The family-owned business is considered San Diego’s first urban winery, producing ~3,500 cases annually at La Mesa Wine Works off Interstate 8. San Pasqual also runs tasting rooms in La Mesa Village and Seaport Village, and is known to rack up awards — most recently winning five medals at the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
💡 Did you know? The biz recently opened Toast Bubble Bar, a second location at Seaport Village.
This OB winery is just steps from the beach.
Photo via @giannibuonomovintners
Gianni Buonomo Vintners
📍 4836 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach
This OB spot just steps from the beach is known for its selection of unusual wines, like its award-winning, European-inspired Blaufränkisch and Charbono. The beach winery produces its small lots on site — from fermenting and pressing, to bottling.
💡 Did you know? What’s with the biz’s namesake? Here’s the legend of Gianni Buonomo.
🍇 Hi, friends. This is just a sampling of awesome urban wineries in San Diego, so please don’t wine. If you have a favorite that we missed, send us a note and tell us all about it. Together, we achieve grapeness.
