Lia CabreraWhen my friend visited from Ohio, we needed a plan that felt special but was still low-key. Something nicer than grabbing a drink but easier than planning a whole dinner. We wanted that relaxed afternoon where you can both talk and actually enjoy it.
The problem is that not every tasting room lives up to the hype once you walk in. Some feel cramped, some feel rushed, and some make you wonder why you even bothered.
That’s why we narrowed it down to the best wine tastings in San Diego we would genuinely recommend to friends with no hesitation. So, keep reading and let the sipping start.
1. Bernardo Winery
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Website: https://www.bernardowinery.com/
Address: 13330 Paseo del Verano Norte, CA 92128
Contact: +1 858-487-1866
Hours:
- Wednesday-Saturday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Monday-Tuesday: Closed
Pricing: $$
Bernardo Winery has a simple and approachable setup. You can choose a traditional tasting with six winemaker-selected wines for $30, or go for a wine flight for $20 with three 3-oz pours.
What makes it especially easy is that no reservation is needed for standard tastings, which works well for spontaneous plans or last-minute visits. From there, you can taste inside the main tasting room or head to the outdoor Wine Shack, depending on your mood.
Founded in 1889 and family-run by the Rizzo family since 1927, the winery has a lived-in feel. You can also pair your wine with Sicilian- and Old Californian-inspired dishes like handmade pastas at The Kitchen, the in-house restaurant.
| PRO TIP: Go to The Kitchen after your tasting, not before. Since it runs as a walk-up restaurant with open seating, you can order food whenever you are ready without locking yourself into a reservation. |
2. Carruth Cellars
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Website: https://carruthcellars.com/
Address: 118 S Cedros Ave #C, Solana Beach, CA 92075
Contact: +1 858-847-9463
Hours:
- Monday-Thursday: 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Friday-Saturday: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Pricing: $$
Carruth Cellars has several tasting rooms spread along the coast, so it’s simple to pick a location that fits your day. At each tasting room, you can order structured wine flights or full bottles, and settle in with indoor seating or open-air patios.
Their tasting also leans heavily into value, operating as a true urban winery. This means the wines you taste are fermented, aged, and bottled in San Diego. Their grapes come from vineyards in Northern California, Central California, and Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
They also offer a 90-minute seated private tasting that includes five selected wines, a cheese-and-charcuterie pairing, and a host who will walk you through flavor profiles and winemaking details.
| PRO TIP: For a bigger experience, you may opt to join their Coast to City Tour. It’s a guided winery visit, curated tastings, and more, turning wine tasting into a half-day experience. |
3. Gianni Buonomo Vintners
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Website: https://www.gbvintners.com/
Address: 3492 Pickett St, CA 92110
Contact: +1 562-458-9477
Hours:
- Wednesday-Saturday: 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Sunday-Tuesday: Closed
Pricing: $$
Known for being a unique urban production winery, Gianni Buonomo Vintners sits in the city’s Ocean Beach and Sports Arena area. It’s often praised as one of the best places to taste wine right where it is made.
Their wines are fermented, barrel-aged, and bottled on-site. We like how you can mix and match current releases through a six-wine tasting flight for around $25, usually featuring two whites and four reds.
Beyond tastings, the space stays lively with themed events. One of which is called Fedora Friday, where the first glass from a new release is just $5, and Sunday Funday lets guests bring food and enjoy a relaxed social vibe.
| PRO TIP: Sign up for the Fedora Family Wine Club ahead of time. There’s no initiation fee, and members get complimentary tastings plus 10-20% off bottles. |
4. San Pasqual Winery
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Website: https://www.sanpasqualwinery.com/
Address: 805 W Harbor Dr, CA 92101
Contact: +1 619-544-9463
Hours:
- Monday-Sunday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Pricing: $$
San Pasqual Winery runs three different tasting locations. It includes the La Mesa Boulevard Tasting Room, the La Mesa Wine Works and production center, and the Seaport Village Tasting Room with views of the bay.
No matter which location you visit, the wines keep things interesting. Everything is handcrafted in small batches using grapes from local vineyards and well-known regions across California.
Their tastings usually include a variety of whites, sparklings, and more. We like how it makes the experience feel personal and a little more adventurous than the usual lineup. Plus, they host regular events, from wine club pickup parties to seasonal celebrations.
| PRO TIP: If you want to try more wines for less, time your visit around happy hour. Those $7 glasses and $12 flights are one of the easiest ways to enjoy wine tastings without stretching your budget. |
5. LJ Crafted Wines
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Website: https://www.ljcraftedwines.com/
Address: 5621 La Jolla Blvd, CA 92037
Contact: +1 858-551-8890
Hours:
- Tuesday-Thursday: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Friday: 4:00 PM – 9:30 PM
- Saturday: 2:00 PM – 9:30 PM
- Sunday-Monday: Closed
Pricing: $$
Instead of pouring from bottles, LJ Crafted Wines serves wines straight from the barrel, so tastings, glasses, and even growlers are shipped from Napa Valley. This makes wines taste fresher and more expressive.
Their small-batch lineup has different varieties. Our favorite was their Sauvignon Blanc, which is bright and crisp with citrus and green apple notes. Meanwhile, the Chardonnay is smooth and balanced with light oak and a touch of vanilla.
On top of that, they encourage a zero-waste approach by using reusable growlers and growlettes instead of single-use bottles. This is the reason why they have been recognized by San Diego’s Environmental Services.
| PRO TIP: Before you leave, ask about filling a growler or growlette. Since the wine comes straight from the barrel, taking one home is often a better deal than bottled wine. |
6. Orfila Vineyards and Winery
Media credit: orfilavineyards
Website: https://www.orfila.com
Address: 13455 San Pasqual Rd, Escondido, CA 92025
Contact: +1 760-738-6500
Hours:
- Monday-Friday: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday-Sunday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Pricing: $$
At Orfila Vineyards and Winery, you are looking out over 70 acres of rolling vineyards and hills. It feels polished and a little indulgent without being stuffy.
Once we started tasting, it was easy to see why people keep coming back. They focus on handcrafted wines, especially French and Italian varieties and Rhone-style blends, which makes the whole tasting experience feel intentional.
What really sold us, though, was how easy it is to make it a regular spot. The Orfila Wine Lovers (OWL) Club gives members 10 complimentary tastings or glasses each month, plus 20% off wine and merchandise.
| PRO TIP: Join the OWL Club before you arrive, even if you think you’ll only visit once. The complimentary tastings kick in right away. Between the free pours and the 20% wine discount, most people save money on their very first visit. |
7. Solterra Winery & Kitchen
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Website: https://solterrawinery.com
Address: 934 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Contact: 760 230-2970
Hours:
- Monday-Tuesday: 4:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Wednesday-Thursday: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Friday: 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Saturday: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Pricing: $$$
Instead of driving inland, you can sip wine at Solterra Winery & Kitchen. It’s just a few minutes from the beach, at a full-production urban winery where everything is made on-site.
As you move through the tasting, the wine lineup keeps things interesting. Solterra sources grapes from top regions in California and Baja Mexico, then blends them to create balanced, Rhône-style and mixed-region wines.
The full kitchen serves Mediterranean-inspired dishes like tapas and paella that pair naturally with the wines, and happy hour specials make it easy to sample more. With live music and regular events, tastings here often turn into an easygoing night out.
| PRO TIP: Join the Amphora Club on your first visit and get your bottle filled right away. The refills usually cost less than buying bottled wine, and since you can refill anytime, it is one of the easiest ways to save money. |
8. Koi Zen Cellars
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Website: https://koizencellars.com/
Address: 12225 World Trade Dr P, CA 92128
Contact: +1 858-381-2675
Hours:
- Wednesday-Thursday: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Friday-Saturday: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Sunday: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Monday-Tuesday: Closed
Pricing: $$
Koi Zen Cellars is a small urban winery tucked into Carmel Mountain Ranch. Tastings are straightforward and affordable, usually involving a koi pond.
As you move through the tasting, the focus on quality becomes clear. Koi Zen sources grapes from respected regions such as Sonoma and Paso Robles and handles the full winemaking process on-site.
If you want more hands-on, it offers private tastings with the winemaker and even wine-blending experiences, where you can get to create your own custom blend. These options make tastings feel more interactive and memorable.
| PRO TIP: Buy a bottle after your tasting, even if it’s just one. The tasting fee gets waived, which basically means you get to taste five to six wines for free. |
9. Quigley Fine Wines
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Website: https://quigleyfinewines.com/
Address: 1551 Fourth Ave Ste 101, CA 92101
Contact: +1 619-795-7043
Hours:
- Tuesday-Saturday: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Sunday-Monday: Closed
Pricing: $$
Quigley Fine Wines specializes in wines from European, Australian, and New Zealand producers. Tastings here feel more like a guided discovery.
As you settle in, you’ll notice how approachable the space feels. We even love how guests can choose tasting flights, order wine by the glass, or open a bottle.
They are direct importers and distributors of small‑production wines—especially boutique international wines—often from family‑owned vineyards.
| PRO TIP: Sign up for the Quigley Fine Wines mailing list before your visit. Subscribers often get early access to rare imports, special tastings, and bottle discounts. |
10. Pali Wine Co.
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Website: https://paliwineco.com/
Address: 2130 India St, CA 92101
Contact: +1 619-569-1300
Hours:
- Monday-Tuesday: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Wednesday-Thursday: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Friday: 2:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Saturday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Pricing: $
The tasting room of Pali Wine Co. sits right in Little Italy, so it’s easy to stop by while you are already out and about. You can start with a tasting flight, switch to a glass, or share a bottle without feeling too formal.
As you taste your way through the menu, their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay shine from California’s cooler regions like the Santa Rita Hills. The flights are set up so you can compare styles side by side, and the weekday happy hour specials make it tempting.
Add in the patio seating and rooftop deck, and you’ll see how easy it is to turn one glass into a relaxed evening. We also appreciate their comedy nights, trivia, and live music on the calendar.
| PRO TIP: Opt to sign up for the wine club to ensure you can explain to them how to claim your 20% on your first visit, especially if you plan to take something home or come back soon. |
