Lovely winery tucked into the hill right as you enter Highland Valley. The owner Ray was incredibly sweet and took his time telling us their story. We did a tasting on their gorgeous patio and enjoyed the view. Ended up taking home a bottle to enjoy later, too! Adding this spot to our list of favorites for when we are in the area, for sure. read more

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Highland Valley Vineyards is the kind of hidden gem you almost don't want to share but it's too good to keep quiet. This spot is where the wine, the views, and the vibe all line up perfectly. The scenery is stunning, the energy is laid-back but elevated, and the wine? Absolute knockout. We came for a tasting and left as wine club members without even hesitating. A big part of the magic is Ray, the owner. He's not just pouring wine--he's pouring his heart into every glass. You can tell he genuinely loves what he does, and it makes the whole experience feel special. Highland Valley has that sweet spot mix of intimate, welcoming, and seriously impressive. It's the kind of place that makes wine lovers geek out, while also being the perfect backdrop if you just want to sip, relax, and soak in the views. Honestly, you'll want to tell all your friends about it because that's how good it is. read more

Highland Valley Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Escondido, California

Highland Valley Vineyards is what happens when a small winery punches way above its weight class. Like, Valle and Napa are cute or whatever but this spot? This is where the real wine magic happens. The views? Unreal. The vibes? Immaculate. The wine? So good we did a tasting and ended up joining the wine club faster than you can say "just one more pour." And let's talk about Ray the owner, host, unofficial mayor of Esco, and your personal paparazzi if you flash a smile. This man LOVES what he does, and it shows in every glass. He'll walk you through the wines, make you laugh, and maybe even snap your next profile pic if you ask nicely. It's intimate, it's fun, and every bottle hits. Whether you're a wine nerd or just in it for the scenery and a buzz, Highland Valley is that under-the-radar spot you'll want to gatekeep but won't, because you'll be too busy telling everyone how cool it is. read more

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Love this winery! The owner is friendly, attentive and makes you feel he's glad you're there. Our wine was delicious and you can bring your own snacks. The view of the valley is beautiful. Will be returning! read more

Highland Valley Vineyards - View from our table. - Wineries Near Me - Escondido, California

Such a nice place to stop in and have a toast. The views are so great and the owner came out to do our tasting. This place is very small but the quality is perfect. read more

The road up to the winery is a little tricky, but once you've made it- you won't want to leave! The views are beautiful as you look out from the outdoor seating area. They allow you to split your tasting which is very appreciated! We enjoyed a tasting then each got a glass of our favorites.... And bought a couple of bottles - if you do a tasting then buy a bottle they do take a small discount off the price of the bottle :) Will definitely be back next time we're out looking for a winery :) read more

Highland Valley Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Escondido, California

I wish I had discovered this amazingly unassuming vineyard/winery 7 years sooner! The hubby and I moved to North San Diego county in 2016. We did what all new people to the area do, we headed for Temecula because that was and is the big "wine country" of the area. There was nothing in Temecula that was worth a second glance and so we looked inward to our local wineries. We did find a couple of gems, but somehow managed to miss this particular spot on our hunt for excellence. Last Sunday the hubby and I were feeling adventurous and decided to venture out from our usual vineyards. We took a detour up Bandy Canyon Road where there are a half dozen wineries to enjoy. We pulled into Highland Valley Vineyard around lunchtime to a quiet parking lot. We got out of our SUV and were greeted by the most cheerful and accommodating mother/daughter team on Earth! The tasting room is tiny, but they have a spacious deck with umbrellaed tables out in the warm breeze that flows through the San Pasquel valley. So sitting is not an issue! They were welcoming, cheerful, knowledgeable, and experts in the area. We got the ubiquitous wine flight of six tastings. I have to admit that I do not care for whites as a whole but the white they were pouring was pleasantly dry and would pair well with an abundance of foods (I'm a chef, so I'm always thinking food: sue me!). The ladies behind the bar engaged us in conversation, and were so interesting and funny, we'd come back just for their presence! But the wines were also so amazing we'd come for them alone too. Honestly, if you are exploring the North San Diego wine scene, this should be one of your first stops. I highly recommend! read more

Little gem of a winery tucked away in Highland Valley. Plenty of parking. All seating is on the patio, featuring red chairs and black umbrellas and a great view. The owner who was serving is welcoming and friendly. You can bring your own picnic, which we did, along with purchasing wine. For the price of two glasses of wine, we thought we might as well buy a bottle. We've been making our way through the wineries in the Highland Valley area and are glad we paid this one a visit. Note: It's on Bandy Canyon, so you will have to turn off the main Highland Valley Rd to get there. One-person restroom available. read more

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This small winery is amazing. Great wine (loved the Merlot!) great view and great staff. Tina and her daughter were pouring and were so knowledgeable and friendly. We will be back for sure read more

Highland Valley Vineyards - The view - Wineries Near Me - Escondido, California

Cannot say enough about this micro winery nestled on top of a bluff overlooking a beautifully serene agricultural preserve. Ray and Jeannine were the most welcoming owners I have ever encountered. Ray shakes your hand upon arrival and you truly feel like a guest who's not only business but presence is appreciated there. The hospitality is unmatched. This place feels like home. They have truly built a beautiful community here. We had the Syrah and Clairette Blanche and bought both bottles after! So unique and delicious. If you're looking for a quiet, relaxing and one of a kind winery with truly authentic wines look no further than Highland Valley Vineyards! read more

Highland Valley Vineyards - View - Wineries Near Me - Escondido, California

This was our second stop on the winery tour I took a couple months ago. Jeannine O'Brien and Ray Schnorr, the owners and winemakers welcomed us when we got off the shuttle. This mico winery is perched on the edge of Highland Valley, overlooking San Pasqual Valley. There is even a small bench to enjoy the beautiful view with your glass of wine with, but also plenty of seating on the patio as well. They have a dog, which "guards" the vineyards and someone even did a fantastic drawing of him, which is displayed inside the store. I was able to enjoy a delicious lunch while the owners shared stories with us. Their wines won many awards throughout the years, and their medals are neatly displayed behind the counter on top of the wines. I was able to try the 2015 Syrah, 2015 Merlot, 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2015 Petite Syrah, and 2015 Craftsman Cuvee III on my visit that day. My favorite had to be the Petite Syrah! It had a lot of tannins and had a lingering finish. It had a lot of character and was very distinct from all the others I tried. This is the great place to spend the afternoon with friends and would like to check out one of their events someday. read more

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A boutique winery with the best reds in the valley, coupled with a fantastic view and always friendly service.

Beautiful winery with sweeping views of the valley! We met Ray, the owner, & he was so friendly! He informed us about his vineyard, surrounding wineries, & more. We each got a glass of a white & red & both were wonderful. I recommend getting a white, because it was refreshing for the hot summer day! read more

Ray was a spectacular host. Highland is an amazing setting, matched by amazing wine. We loved the Barbera and Kay Syrah Sirah...the story of each was even better. We've been members of multiple wineries in SD and Temecula, Highland Valley is one of the very best. Kenny n Mel read more

Nice outdoor venue for wine-tasting. They are following COVID protocols and you can safety socially-distance. Wiines are delicious and beautiful views. read more

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What a great little winery! They have the best view of the valley too! I love all of their wines and the menu has a great description of each as well as what food pairs well with them. I have been here a handful of times and love bringing people here that haven't been. Ray and his wife run a great winery here! We did the tasting as we couldn't decide on just one wine. A couple of the girls got a full glass after the tasting too. I can't wait to return! read more

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This winery is a great find!! It's a small boutique winery that produces a good wine. There is a lovely view of the valley below. You can sit outside and bring your own lunch to enjoy while sipping their delicious wines. Staff is friendly and personable. Skip Temecula. This is the place to go! read more

What a wonderful hidden gem. Great views and great wine! Wasn't busy. Owner was so friendly and really knowledgable about the area. He told us all about the architecture and fires in the area. He had the winery built to resemble historic craftsman homes in San Diego which was cool. Definitely coming back! read more

Live in San Diego, always go to Napa and Paso Robles for wine tasting, it's time to look for wineries or vineyards within San Diego for wine tasting. Having done some research online, I finally picked this one. It is a pretty small vineyard located in Escondido that grows estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petite Verdot, while outsourcing other varietals like Barbera, Sauvignon Blanc, Tempranillo, Syrah, etc. For wine tasting, it offers a flight of 6 wines - 1 white and 5 reds of 2019 vintage at $18 per person. The white was a Sauvignon Blanc. It's quite o.k. but could be better if it's served cooler. Not oaky, relatively dry, medium body, nice aroma. The reds were Barbera,Tempranillo, Syrah, Zinfandel, and a right bank Bordeaux style blend dominated by estate Merlot. It's a surprise to find Barbera red in San Diego winery, and it was quite well made! Nice and fresh red fruit aroma, medium body, soft tannins, medium acidity, medium after taste. Great to find nice Barbera in San Diego county! Tempranillo and Syrah were o.k. Zinfandel was a bit too sweet but not bad. The Bordeaux style blend, which I had high expectation, lacks the characteristics of Merlot blend, it's medium-bodied, and the finish was a bit short. Overall the wines were quite o.k. for such a small winery, particularly for such an interesting wide varietal of grapes. In fact, it's better than a lot of the much bigger wineries in Paso Robles. The vineyard is located on top of the Highland Valley with a nice & open view. Ray, the owner's super friendly. You are encouraged to bring your own food there to enjoy & pair with the wines. There's not a time limit for each "section" of wine tasting! Your can be there as long as you want! We ordered a few bottles of wine after tasting the flight to enjoy the lovely afternoon there! Highly recommend this vineyard if you live in San Diego, don't want to go all the way to Paso or Napa, and are interested in tasting different varietals of grapes. read more

Highland Valley Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Escondido, California

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One of the best wineries in Escondido. I went last Saturday and the service was amazing and the view was beautiful. The wine was OMG delicious. Full body reds you can tell it was made to perfection. So smooth and bold. There wasn't a full menu but they did offer snacks. They also had it by the bottles or glass no tastings due to covid-19. Their vineyard is not as luxury as other tasting rooms but the wine is better than a lot of those over priced tasting rooms. read more

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Wow...this is the place to see the sun set in RB with some great wine! Ray and Jeannine were our hosts last week. Our group of 11 people loved everything. They also made suggestions and provided photos that made it easy for us to promote our adventure. read more

$18 for 7 wines plus a piece of chocolate! Beautiful views and incredible service. Would absolutely come back!

The bad news is that the tasting flight started with an unremarkable sav blanc and ended with a unbalanced, flat port. The good news is that all the reds were well made and tasty. I particularly liked the syrah and super Piedmont. This winery makes consistently solid red wines and has the best view in Highland Valley. A winning combination that is highly recommended. read more

I am commenting I response to the reviewer that said Covid protocols were not followed at the Christmas Market. I attended the market and disagree. It was never crowded, temperatures were taken before anyone was allowed to enter. I never saw anyone without a mask. I'm not sure this reviewer actually attended the same market. read more

Yummy wines, beautiful views and wonderful hosts. We found this gem via their sign on Pomerado Road, and will definitely visit again. read more

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On a recent trip from Ormond Beach, Florida to Ocean Beach, California, we visited several wineries in Escondido. Much to our delight, we visited Highland Valley. We were pleasantly surprised not only by the delightful wine that we thoroughly enjoyed but also by the breathtaking view and the warm hospitality of the owners, Jeannine and Ray and their sweet boy, Nate! We will definitely revisit Highland Valley on our next trip! Thank you, Jeannine, Ray and Nate for sharing your lovely wine and view with us and for making us feel so welcome. read more

Small boutique winery with great service, amazing BIG REDS and beautiful views. Generous pours of the Barbera, Merlot, Syrah and petite Syrah. They were all so good we couldn't decide on one, so we took home a bottle of each :). Can't wait to come back! read more

Highland Valley Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Escondido, California

As Southern California is shutting down once again due to COVID-19 I am frustrated by people and business owners who can't follow simple public health advice. I stopped by two weeks ago during a farmers market/holiday bazar. Vendors/customers/employees walking around maskless. There was even someone playing guitar and singing with no mask on. This selfish, behavior is unacceptable 8 months into a pandemic, when so many other businesses are struggling to stay open and strictly enforcing public health directives in order to do so. I will not be back. read more

Great meaty reds. Wonderful surprise. Reds are meaty and delicious. You need to visit. read more

Highland Valley Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Escondido, California

Recently attended a tasting here with a group of friends for a birthday. Not only is the winery beautiful, the ladies who serviced us were an absolute joy. So nice, knowledgeable, and helpful. Our group got a bit tipsy during the tasting and the ladies were gracious to share oyster crackers and water before we drove to the next winery. We enjoy girl's time on their beautiful 'patio' over looking the canyon and the nearby real estate. If you are a lover of dry, non-sweet wines this is the place for you. You will love every selection you taste! read more

This is one of the sweetest places on Earth - and I've been to dozens of wineries all over the world. The views are amazing, the breeze is magic and the people are fantastic. Be sure to make your way here and stop for a tasting. It'll be worth your while and you'll be back! read more

Shared a wine tasting (5 pours) with my wife several weekends ago, but we both felt the wines were just "okay". Wines are very subjective, so you should try for yourself. Unfortunately, the day we were there, the owners were gone and they had two friends pouring. They were very nice, but not the most knowledgeable about the wines. The view is spectacular and it's a great location to sit out on the patio and enjoy a glass of wine and some munchies. read more

My husband and I were here a couple of weeks ago and found this Winery. It was Fabulous. We bought 6 bottles of wine and then brought our friends back this last weekend and we all bought wine and enjoyed our views and good times. read more

This place is so cute. When we went it was empty. Their Costa Azul wine is delicious. Very pretty view ,

As mentioned, a real hidden gem in the San Pasqual Valley! Even though Ray and Jeannine weren't there at the time, their close friends who poured for us were just as passionate about the wine as when first experienced with Ray months before at a wine and food festivtal. True dedication to wine care and the creation of great wines of character. All of their efforts shine brightly.....a labor of love! Ray....if you're reading this now, you totally knocked your 2013 Syrah out of the park!! It's everything a Syrah should be.....dark fruit, earthbound, cedar and cigar box notes. I'm in love!! No wonder you won Double Gold at Indy. Keep 'em coming! Let me know when you need help out on the crush pad at harvest, pruning or help at an event. A huge fan! Dave Daly climb_on_dude@yahoo.com read more

An amazing winery in a stunning location. The winery's selection of red wines are all delicious. The views from the patio are amazing, and the owners Ray and Jeannine are both extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Definitely a must-visit among the San Diego-area wineries. read more

Highland Valley Vineyards - The impressive views from the winery patio. - Wineries Near Me - Escondido, California

I just celebrated my birthday there and all I can say was that it was so much fun! I emailed Jeannine to book my party of 10 plus 2 extra and she was able to accommodate all of us! She is passionate about what she does and it showed! She shared great info and the wine was delicious! The view here was amazing! We brought items for a picnic while we had our wine tasting. It was harvest season so we were able to witness grapes getting pressed. A very unique and special experience! Loved it here and I'll be coming back!! read more

Wow! The owners were just the nicest people you will ever meet. They will take the time to tell you the history of the land, their passion for wine making, and their inspiration for their labels. Their wine was delicious and the view was breath taking. read more

Highland Valley Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Escondido, California

Amazing family owned vineyard! Owner was making wine with his own grapes during our visit. Amazing couple and pet dog Nate! Best view in the Highland Valley and all Escondido area vineyards! read more

Highland Valley Vineyards - Patio view - Wineries Near Me - Escondido, California

We had a prefect experience at this vineyard. We just happened upon it after completing a 5 mile hike which was part of the 2020-2021 San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy Coast to Crest Trail Challenge of Bandy Canyon which started at the Ysabel Creek Road Staging Area. The proprietor, Ray, could not have been more kind or gracious. There is a beautiful view from the tasting area and across the street is a stunning Norm Applebaum house. The vineyard sold a charcuterie plate with meat, cheese, figs and nuts that was perfect for two to share while drinking a glass of wine. We tasted the reds and bought 2 bottles to take home. In addition, the bathroom was so clean and fresh with single use hand towels for drying your hands. It was a delightful, unexpected find, and so refreshing after our hike. read more