La Finquita

La Finquita is another boutique winery in Ramona, even further off the beaten path than Chuparosa.  At first glance, it is pretty much like Chuparosa – small tasting room with comfortable seating inside and tables outside as well, though with an actual tasting bar.  But, of course, they have their own uniqueness that I will get to shortly.  Pictures of the winery are shown below.

La Finquita is a very new winery, only four years old.  Their tasting menu is shown below, five tastes for $10, six for $12 (makes sense).  The wines are pretty interesting, and this was my first taste of Petit Verdot (did not like!).  I did like their GSM, which is a first for me.  All of their wines are technically Estate bottled, and mostly red (only one white wine on the menu).  Unlike other boutique wineries, La Finquita has a wine club.  Wine club members buy two bottles of wine per quarter, or eight per year, at a 20% discount.  They only offer free wine tasting for members on pick-up – not a real issue.  Of course, they make no effort to chill their red wines for tasting….

Now, for what makes them unique.  As I stood at the wine tasting bar, I could not help but notice on my left two slushy machines, one cranking a dark slush, the other a white slush.  There were two other containers in the back by the sink.  Below is a blow-up of the one of the boards behind the bar.  Ever heard of White Angel or Red Devil Slush?  Well, that is what they have in the two slushy machines.  But wait a minute – this is a winery!  They must be wine slushes!  The other two containers are for their Sangrias.  A woman came up to the bar while I was there and they created a drink mixing all four!  By the way, I tasted the White Angel/Red Devil combo – really not my thing, but on a hot summer day in Ramona…