Shadow Mountain Vineyards & Winery

If you are looking for wineries off the beaten path, so to speak, there are plenty in San Diego County.  In the past we found a very nice winery heading southeast towards the Mexican border in the Jamul area.  If you go north and then east of Mount Palomar to the Warner Springs area you’ll find another group of wineries.  Among these, right off of Rt. 79, is Shadow Mountain Vineyards & Winery.  We drove up there through Ramona, taking 67 to 78 to 79.  Unless you have a sports car and like to drive along winding roads, I would suggest you take 15 north to 79 then east on 79 to the winery.  We took that route back – a bit longer but a much easier drive.

If you get past the long trip out to the winery, and the mile or so dirt drive, you will find it is well worth the visit.  Shadow Mountain is a large boutique winery (30 acres) offering only Estate wines, growing 16 different grape varieties, some from vines that were planted over 50 years ago.  Their facility is relatively rustic, with nice views and a nice area outside to sit (see pictures).

The tasting room is nothing to write home about – small with little seating – so you shouldn’t go on a day like we did, when it was too cold to sit outside.  Tasting fee is $10 per person for six tastes.  They didn’t work off of a tasting menu per se, but I have attached a picture of their price list.  You will see that they make a Nebbiolo varietal.  More about that later.  Their other wines were quite good, except for their Tempranillo but never take my word for Tempranillo since I really, really don’t like Tempranillo.  My only complaint is that the temperature in the tasting room was a bit high, and they served the red wine at room temperature.

Now the Nebbiolo grape is used to make Barolo, generally regarded as the King of Italian wines (and the wine of Kings).  They are very proud of their Nebbiolo, so we were able to talk them into tasting some.  All I need to say is that we walked away with four bottles, two of their 2013 crop and two 2016 vintage that had just been bottled.  Yes, the wine is that good!  How good?  See the medals in the picture below.  By the way, they do their own artwork for their bottles.

The winery also has cottages to rent and a wine club.  Wine club members purchase three bottles a quarter, but, unlike other wineries, the customer gets to pick the wines!  Discount is 20% and extends to the cottage rental as well – a very nice deal indeed.  They also hold an annual event for wine club members only.  Now if they could just move a bit closer….