We love to sip + be social, but don’t get your hops up if you’re heading to one of these tasting rooms. We’re going to take a no-beer tour of San Diego by exploring tasting rooms serving wine, canned cocktails, or spirits. Our county has over 150 breweries — and we love our beer scene — but it’s nice to have some variety.
Best of all, these companies sell their drinks to-go. So, you can take home some cans, growlers, or bottles — and maybe turn your living room into the tasting room.
Cutwater Spirits
📍 Miramar - 9750 Distribution Ave.
Born out of Ballast Point, Cutwater Spirits is about as San Diego as you get. Its canned cocktails takes the guesswork out of making a delicious drink, and the tasting room offers everything available in cans + specialty drinks made with spirits distilled in-house.
You & Yours Distilling Co.
📍 East Village - 1495 G St.
As an urban distillery, You & Yours offers a collection of spirits + canned cocktails. This female-founded company has an East Village tasting room where you can sip in a relaxed, picturesque atmosphere before taking home your favorite canned cocktails or bottles of house vodka + gin.
Carruth Cellars
📍 Carlsbad - 2727 State St.
📍 Little Italy - 2215 Kettner Blvd
📍 Solana Beach - 118 S. Cedros Ave.
In Carruth Cellars own words, it “buys grapes from the country and makes wine by the beach.” This cellar takes the best grapes the West Coast can offer, brings them to San Diego, and turns them into wine. It has three tasting rooms, with plans to expand into Liberty Station + Oceanside.
A yerba mate heaven in Barrio Logan. | Photo via @drinkkove
Kové Hard Yerba Mate
📍 Barrio Logan - 1745 National Ave. (adjacent to Thorn Brewing)
If you’re in the mood to try something different, Kové’s ready to challenge your idea of a “hard” drink. Made with yerba mate — an herbal tea — these drinks offer refreshing flavors that can be enjoyed in the Barrio Logan tasting room or taken home.
Juneshine
📍 North Park - 3052 El Cajon Blvd.
📍 Scripps Ranch- 10051 Old Grove Rd.
For those who love the acidity, hard kombucha is another brew you’ll find in a can. Juneshine has become a San Diego favorite by adding fun flavors to its brews, and you can sample the menu at one of its two tasting rooms.
FruitCraft
📍 Hillcrest - 1477 University Ave.
If you’re looking for a fun drink, FruitCraft probably has an option for you. The Hillcrest tasting room offers wine, hard seltzer, hard cider, kombucha + mead. Usually, you need a reservation, so make sure to call ahead.
Lost Cause Meadery
📍 Pay Park - 5328 Banks St.
📍 Miramar - 8665 Miralani Dr.
Mead — made from fermented honey — is one of history’s oldest drinks, yet it may be a new taste to many. Lost Cause hopes to change that by bringing the art of meadmaking to San Diego + letting you taste what the buzz is about.
Serpentine Cider
📍 Miramar - 8665 Miralani Dr.
📍 University Heights - 2311 El Cajon Blvd.
When people think of hard ciders, apples usually come to mind. Serpentine is using more fruits + giving options, so everyone can try something new. This makes its tasting rooms sweet places to find a new favorite.
Seven Caves, many more flavors. | Photo via @sevencaves
Seven Caves Distillery
📍 Miramar - 7950 Stromesa Ct.
Distilled in Miramar, Seven Caves specializes in rum, gin + whiskey. he gin includes flavors from San Diego, like local citrus. You can grab a small group of friends and reserve a private tasting to avoid the crowds.
Malahat Spirits Co.
📍 Miramar - 8706 Production Ave.
Grab a few rum-loving, whiskey-drinking friends and head to a private tasting at Malahat. The company distills its own spirits locally + in small batches, making them perfect to drink straight or in cocktails.