News from the Tasting Rooms and Other Sips

News from the Tasting Rooms

Kim Hargett, co-owner of Mahogany Mountain Vineyard and Winery, reports that recent visitors to their tasting room have included people from Europe, who know a thing or two about wine. Hargett said they enjoyed their tasting enough to buy some wines “to take back as gifts for their relatives.” One British man told Hargitt  their wine was  “a true American gift from the local artisans, rather than some souvenirs made in China.”

Mahogany Mountain is planning a fundraiser for victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The winery will donate one dollar from each bottle sold in their tasting room through May 11 to the relief effort.

“We will donate to the American Red Cross fund designated for Japan quake and tsunami victims,” Hargett said.

Over at , they’re putting finishing touches on plans for an Easter sale, according to co-owner Rose Salerno. She said that since the passage of the Tiered Winery Ordinance “we have been getting steadily busier as word spreads and our place in Google and other search vehicles becomes more prominent.”

Salerno reports that visitors have been referred by the Ramona Chamber of Commerce, the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau and the San Diego County Vintner's Association among others.

“One of our favorite new promoters is La Jolla Wine Tours . They bring anywhere from 2 to 20 wine tasters on every visit to us and other local wineries.  Exposure is great and sales are growing.”

"We are becoming a destination in San Diego County.” Salerno said.

The Word is Spreading

Alternative Wines is a wine shop in Carmel Valley. Proprietor Peter Ackley’s motto, featured on the masthead of his website, is “Life’s too short to drink boring wine!” To that end Ackley specializes in what he calls “specialty and boutique world class wines.” He is a supporter of local wines, and includes Ramona Valley wines in his stock.

I spoke to Ackley March 11. He said he had wines from four Ramona Valley vintners in stock: Chuparosa, Edwards, Woof ‘n Rose and Hawk Watch.

“I try to stock four to six of them at a time, depending on availability,” he said.

You can add another San Diego County restaurant to the list of those serving Ramona Valley wines. , a Vietnamese restaurant which opened a few months ago in Rancho Bernardo, includes four Mahogany Mountain wines on its winelist. Owner Kim Pham said she believes in supporting local winemakers. She also passed on specific praise of Mahogany Mountain’s wines.

“A lot of people who  come in order them and like them,” Pham told me.

I can personally vouch for one new patron, my wife Peggy. We went to lunch in honor of my birthday on March 16, and Peg ordered Mahogany Mountain’s 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon to go with her beef bowl. The winery’s website characterizes this wine as “balanced with soft tannins and supple finish,” an assessment with which Peg heartily agrees.