Wine, food and music in Ramona

​As the we head into the holiday weekend, I thought it worth reminding you that wineries in Southern California, especially the boutique ones in San Diego County,  are more than places to go shopping for wine.  The San Diego County winery scene is more about a place to go, our version of the neighborhood bar where everyone knows your name, than the sterile Napa or even Temecula large wineries. 
For example, on Memorial Day this year we met with a great group of friends (there were eighteen of us) for a party at Vineyard Grant James.  Brought our own food and music (see pictures below).  Fun time.

​Then, this past Sunday, I dropped in on Principe di Tricase with a few friends just to pick up wine.  It was pretty hot, so we did not plan on spending too much time there.
Well, sometimes the best laid plans of mice and men aft gang aglay.  Turns out, they had a great band playing – Relic Ruckus – cold Sangria and pizza, so we stayed.  Great afternoon.  Oh, I should mention that we tasted some new white wines – Fiano and Malvasia – that you might not find anywhere else.  Italian wines, of course.
On the food side, the pizza was excellent, and from what I understand they plan to have the same food cart there every weekend, offering not just pizza but other Italian dishes as well.  As for the band, well, as I said, they were great.  They were playing some Bob Dylan tunes when we walked in.  Later they played Honky Tonk Woman and a little ditty about lost shakers of salt.  Pretty broad range, I’d say.  If you want to catch them, they’re playing at Principe di Tricase again on July 18.