I can not recommend Eryn enough. The Wine 101 class is perfect for a birthday, dinner party, or…read moreteam work event. The class was a perfect balance of being fun and informative. It's a great way to bond with your friends while also learning about wine in an easy to understand way. Thank you so much Eryn, can't wait to plan the next event!!

We had so much fun when Eryn hosted the Wine 101 class for our friend's birthday! It was fun and…read moreinformative, yet approachable for those who were not wine drinkers in the group. Eryn was very entertaining and quickly adjusted to the group to play to our level of wine knowledge. You could tell she spent time selecting the wines for us, which was really appreciated. Thank you so much Eryn!! Can't wait for next time!

I'm a beverage geek at heart. Some of my best food and food/travel moments have been when there is…read morea huge educational component to a tasting. However it wasn't until 2020 that I fully embraced my passion in wine - while I have wine tasted in a few places around the world, Paso Robles in particular stressed the importance of education in the wine tasting experience. Many of the tasting room staff and sommeliers have at least a wine certification (usually WSET or CMS) and proudly boast it. So I figured if I'm going to spend quite a bit of time and money on wine, I might as well be an educated consumer in the process. Since I don't work in the industry (I'm actually in healthcare) and I don't want to work in the restaurant biz as a sommelier the Court of Master Sommeliers cert route was a no-go. Plus the CMS route emphasizes self-study and I prefer classroom learning. For a hobbyist who may in the future want to dabble in the industry on the side, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust was the way to go. Being based in SD Wine Smarties with Lindsay was the most practical choice. She offers three levels of the WSET plus the diploma - first level being just a 1-day class followed by the test followed by the 2 and 3 being 4 and 8 1x/weekly classes, respectively, with an in-person as well as an online option. She offers her classes in San Diego as well as Temecula. Having dabbled in wine and tasted wine in parts of CA/Mexico/parts of Europe for at least 5 years my knowledge alone was enough to skip L1 plus for the cost of the class (~$300) I would rather spend on wine club allocations. So I decided to start at L2. If you are not sponsored by your employer the cost is around ~$700 for L2 and ~$1300 for L3 and if you are taking the online portion you'll also have to purchase your wines separately. While you could also skip L2 and go straight to L3 in theory many people have advised to at least take L2 to get used to the WSET testing style and to also get used to the "systematic approach to tasting", which is essential if you want to pass the L3 tasting portion of the exam (L2 is only a 50-question multiple choice exam). Plus Lindsay does have a discount for L3 students who have taken her previously for L2. Lindsay was an awesome instructor who has such passion for wine and has a lot of experience gaining that knowledge from all over the world. She does have a propensity to go slightly off topic to talk about her travels but as a fellow traveler myself I actually enjoyed those anecdotes. But in the end I highly recommend to study off the WSET course material - after all it is the WSET that tests you at the end of the day. Even while handling a full time job and other activities I studied on an average a few hours a week. There was a miscommunication at the end regarding my exam date that I had specifically mentioned a month before in an email starting the class. While the original date wasn't honored she did work with me to schedule an alternate date to take the exam. Turns out that I did pretty well - got a 94% on the L2, which qualifies as a "Pass with Distinction". The best part about taking Lindsay's WSET classes? Getting introduced to wines that I have never heard of or tasted before. I thought I knew a little more about wine than the average consumer but this was before I had ever known about a carménère or tasted a meursault. Because of this class I consider those wines some of my most favorite wines along with the usual Paso or Valle suspects. For this specifically I am super grateful. Looking forward to taking the L3 with Lindsay in 2022 and will update this review as such to detail the L3 experience.

I've studied with Lindsay and taken many of her classes over the last year or two, including WSET 2…read moreand 3. No matter where you are on your journey to learn about wine, Lindsay always makes you feel great about your level of understanding. Lindsay is so encouraging, and her classes are so enjoyable, that you almost don't realize that you've also learned a ton! She has the highest level of certification available (Master of Wine), and within that certification, received the Bollinger Medal, which is awarded to one person each year for excellence in tasting and outstanding achievement! Lindsay is incredibly gifted at understanding wine, and sharing that knowledge. I'm so glad she is in San Diego.

10/10! A jewel in San Diego. We recently had our wedding event hosted here late August. FruitCraft…read moreprovided us everything we needed for the wedding. The place was unique, elegant, and we fell in love with the live hanging plants. Our guests loved the food, the drinks, and the ambiance. The place was very clean and organized when we arrived for setup. The staff were very helpful and welcoming. Alan is amazing! He made sure we got what we wanted for our special day. He did not pressure us to add more to our package. It was a very smooth process. He was very patient and helpful with all the planning that led up to the date. We highly recommend getting the glass package and the champagne tower for your special day. They were a great addition to match the perfectly made drinks and the beautiful venue. Also, FruitCraft is walking distance to bars and clubs to continue the party. We reserved a private section at Gossip Grill post event and it was very close distance. The guests had a great time.

Attended a wedding here this weekend and it was beautiful! Love the outdoor and indoor space. The…read moreplants make it so pretty and even though it's next to a street it didn't seem to be a distraction or a problem. Plenty of space indoors and outdoors. Not sure if the venue provided food but that was amazing as well. Very cool space.

Found this company a couple months ago when inquiring about a wine tour to Valle de Guadalupe…read more Unfortunately, they were booked out but Jane was kind enough to not only connect me with another person in the industry who could offer the tour location we wanted AND offer us a package for a different location. I was truly blown away by her transparency and her communication so I decided to proceed with her company. It was super easy to coordinate the logistics and itinerary. Not only was the itinerary perfectly curated, but she went above and beyond to make my group feel celebrated and appreciated. She congratulated my group on our accomplishments and even got me a cute "bride" headband to celebrate my recent engagement. Very sweet and thoughtful! In addition, safety is clearly a top priority. The date we chose happened to be an extremely hot day and Jane took initiative to rearrange our itinerary to make sure we could still enjoy the day and keep as cool as possible. Lunch was catered from a local farm to table local business and it was absolutely delicious- definitely make sure you have enough appetite to enjoy it! We also paid extra for a wine and cheese pairing and we are SO glad we did. Some things to consider/ tips: 1. Our day started a little rocky due to inevitable traffic and a wrong turn, but Jane quickly resolved the issue with the driver and we had a great time moving forward. If you have the option to board your shuttle early definitely do it. 2. Time at each winery is pretty limited.. you won't have too much time to take all the photos you'd like AND sit and enjoy your tastings per winery visit.. if you're determined to get a good selection of photos bring your glass with you and do your best to keep up with those just tasting. There were a few moments we felt a bit rushed because we wanted to do both. 3. If music selection on your shuttle is important to you, have the person in charge of tunes arrive to the shuttle early to set up the blue tooth. It was trickier to set up than we aniticpated so there was a good 20 minutes of silence and troubleshooting happening as we were on the road Overall, Jane is a SUPERB host and does everything in her power to make sure you have the best experience. If i wasn't moving soon I'd definitely want to book this experience again!

Jane was the PERFECT host for my husband's 28th birthday celebration. She planned our event for 7…read moreof us to have a wine tour bus pick us up from our house and she hosted us at 3 beautiful wineries in the Escondidio/Ramona area. It was an amazing, memorable time we will always remember! I would definitely recommend Jane to anyone looking for a wine tasting excursion in San Diego. She is the best!

Absolutely love this place! The wine is wonderful, but what…read morereally makes this spot special is the community the owner has built. Everyone is welcoming, and the atmosphere feels more like visiting a friend's home than a business. This was my second time here, and I'm already looking forward to the next visit. Great people, great wine--what more could you ask for?

So lovely !! The owners are so nice and friendly…read more The views are great and you can bring your own food !

Such a cute shop! Had a great experience for wine night with friends. The woman helping us was…read morewelcoming and knowledgeable. She recommended a delicious white wine that was also at great value. Ambiance was cozy with indoor and patio seating. I'll definitely be back to pick up the bottle she suggested and enjoy another visit. Highly recommend if you're looking for a spot with excellent wine and even better service!

What a cute little shop! Natural‑wine lovers, this is a must‑visit. Located in Normal Heights, Clos…read moreWine Shop has a great selection of natural wines (plus some vermouth) from all over the world. Many bottles have handwritten notes describing the wine and highlighting whether it's chillable -- super helpful when you're trying to find the right bottle. They also serve wine by the glass, and you can open a bottle in‑shop for a small corkage fee. It would be nice if they offered tastings. I was between two wines from their by‑the‑glass menu and asked to sample both, but the host mentioned they usually don't do samples, which felt a bit unusual compared to other wine bars and shops I've been to. Even so, she was very friendly and attentive, and every staff member we interacted with was knowledgeable and clearly passionate about wine. They also carry a wide selection of canned fish and some snacks you can buy -- such a fun touch. A charming, well‑curated natural wine shop that's definitely worth a visit.

After dinner, we took a stroll along the waterfront and came across the San Pasqual storefront. I…read morewasn't ready to head back to the hotel just yet, so we decided to stop in for a glass of wine and enjoy some time outside watching people pass by while taking in the beautiful waterfront atmosphere. The employee working that evening was friendly and welcoming. After asking about my preferences, she guided me toward a sweet wine that was exactly what I was looking for. I can't recall the name of the wine, but it was crisp, refreshing, and had just the right amount of sweetness. If you're in the area and looking for a relaxing place to unwind with a glass of wine, San Pasqual is definitely worth a stop. The combination of great service, good wine, and a scenic waterfront setting made for a very enjoyable evening.

We came here multiple times on our trip to San Diego. Loved the wine slushy the first night... esp…read moreafter long walks on the Seaport boardwalk. July 4th we enjoyed a sweet passion fruit white watching the fireworks It was perfection!! The owners are so sweet and accommodating! Highly recommend

This place is fantastic! Whether you want to come for a date, with friends, or family - I think…read morethis place is great for all. I love the feeling of unwinding and I don't feel rushed. I'm glad this place gives me the space to do that. I want to go back to try different dishes and wines, browse the shops, and save room for dessert! Perhaps I will come on a Friday since they have a farmer's market that day from 9am-1 pm! I had a date night and went on a Saturday, 2 hours before closing. We ordered Calabrese Pizza, Apple & Gorgonzola Pizza, Parmesan Fries, and Rigatoni & Vodka Sauce Pasta. My goodness, everything was GOOD! The Apple & Gorgonzola Pizza was my favorite, pure perfection of flavors. I know there's always a debate with pineapple on pizza but this apple and gorgonzola makes sense, I don't think anyone would ever question it. The parmesan fries was so yummy as well, you get a HEFTY amount. We actually didn't finish a good amount and took this home along with a few slices of pizza. Pasta was delicious as well, there was leftover pasta sauce that we just scooped up with the crust of the pizza. The ambience - amazing and beautiful. It is pretty spread out. I've only been here a couple times but I was able to find a table both times aside from the good amount of people the times I've came. We sat inside the tasting room and the food came out promptly. I do love that on hot days they will turn their misters on, great touch Way to keep us cool! We decided to do the Traditional Wine Tasting where you get six 1.5 oz pours of your choice for $32. Also, you can get free chocolate to pair with your wine at the dessert shop. Delicious, everything I ordered was what I needed. Everyone here just seems incredibly nice. From the people who took your order at the Kitchen, food runners, pourers, even the lady at the dessert shop (even though we didn't get any dessert lol) was friendly. We wanted to get dessert, but we had 15 minutes left till closing, however she didn't rush us out the outside area. I saw that there was a sugar free pistachio gelato flavor. I love that, seems like it was a hit because it was nearly all out! Next time I do go, I definitely want to try that and their cannolis!!! I love Cannolis. Anyways, back to the wine tasting, I believe her name is Cecilia (?), She was great. Great service along with the other pourer at the counter. I did not catch her name but she has blonde short hair and was very nice and friendly as well! Overall, 10/10, & I will be back very soon.

Taste: 4 Value: 4…read moreService: 5 Been here multiple times. Great place to eat, wine taste or host an event. Wine is good for a local winery. Prices are reasonable. Service is always responsive and helpful. They regularly have events or markets on the weekend, so check out their website for the latest details!

Carruth Cellars is one of our favorite stops on Cedros! The atmosphere is exactly what you want…read morefrom a Solana Beach wine spot; relaxed, welcoming, and just as enjoyable on the patio as it is inside. We loved sipping on the 2024 Pinot Noir Rosé (definitely order a glass if it's available!) while taking in all the beautiful local coastal artwork displayed throughout the tasting room. It's such a fun way to discover local artists while enjoying great wine. Whether you're celebrating a win at work, enjoying a friends or date night and winding down after shopping on Cedros, Carruth Cellars is always a great choice. We'll definitely be back! Ferry/Jones/Bohnsack Team

Went to a special event last night with a dj and free photo booth. You had to purchase a ticket to…read morejoin the event and we were able to get ours the day before the event. We had the rose and thoroughly enjoyed the dj. We will definitely come back to try the other wines in their outdoor patio.

Tonight I was looking for a place just to get a single glass of wine. I drove around for a while…read moreand finally came upon a place I've seen for years that have never actually gone inside and that was the Meritage wine market. I walked in holding a piece of homemade sourdough bread, I recently purchased, hoping that wasn't rude but the lady who waited on me, Julie was fabulous. She chatted with me and offered me the perfect wine, which was just what I wanted then she gave me a little splash of something else before I left. The ambience was very casual. Three other moms were there chatting and gathering I felt very comfortable by myself. I eventually got the Bill not feeling rushed at all and was shocked when it was eight dollars. There wasn't a place for the tip and Julie told me they did not do tipping in return for the wonderful time. I had there I promised I would write a review and tell others that if you want a casual place to meet some friends, have a glass of wine and not feel pressured to buy anything. This is your place. It's near Champaign bakery in pancake House. If you're into food sometimes though you just want a single glass of wine... Or maybe two.

Super helpful. I had very specific varietals/regions in mind. They assisted me in finding those as…read morewell recommending similar wines. Great options. Highly recommend