Vineyard Grant James

VINEYARD GRANT JAMES HOSTS “DOG DAYS OF SUMMER” PAW-TY JULY 31-AUG. 1

East County News Service

July 29, 2021 (Ramona) – Vineyard Grant James in Ramona invites you and your dog to celebrate “Dog Days of Summer” with a “paw-ty” on July 31 and August 1.


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RAMONA WINERIES OPEN FOR OUTDOOR TASTINGS AND CURBSIDE PICKUP, STRUGGLE AMID PANDEMIC DISPARITIES

By Angela Kurysh

 

February 24, 2021 (Ramona) -- Virtual happy hours are among the innovations that wineries like Vineyard Grant James have rolled out during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has severely impacted the Ramona wine region in San Diego’s East County. 

With San Diego being in the state’s tier 1, or purple tier, businesses are currently being allowed to slowly re-open while following strict guidelines. Currently, wineries that serve food are allowed to offer outdoor tastings with social distancing, as well as takeout or curbside pickup, but not indoor service.

 

Susanne Sapier, owner of Vineyard Grant James in Ramona, California, and President of the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association, said, “I mean, you're open you're closed, you're open you're closed, so that's a really hard way to run a business.” 

 

Early in the pandemic, restaurants were allowed to operate while wineries were shut down which makes owners like Sapier question fairness of the rules. Now both can be open outdoors, but many restaurants are serving customers illegally indoors.  Sapier has been forced to choose to fully open to make a profit and risk the reputation of the business or follow the mandate and suffer financially. 


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LOCAL RANCHERS AND FARMERS GROW NEW BUSINESS MODELS DURING PANDEMIC

By Miriam Raftery

Updated May 14, 2020

April 26, 2020 (San Diego’s East County) – “Zoom our Zoo is an online, real-time animal show tailored for your audience,” a message at the Oasis Camel Dairy website reads. Owners of the Ramona-based family ranch, like many local ventures that rely on agritourism, face high costs to feed and care for their camels, exotic performing birds, racing turkeys and other animals without public events during the COVID-19 pandemic. So now they are offering interactive programs online to liven up corporate events or entertain kids with virtual birthday parties featuring “camel capers and parrot pranks” through Zoom – for a fee.


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ZINFANDEL MONTH TASTINGS AT VINEYARD GRANT JAMES

 

East County News Service

November 3, 2017 (Ramona) — November is National Zinfandel Month. Vineyard Grant James in Ramona invites you to celebrate these special red wines on November 18 and 19.  Winemaker Susanne Sapier will be giving Zinfandel talks at 1, 3 and 5 p.m.


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DOG DAYS OF SUMMER: BRING YOUR DOG TO THESE RAMONA WINERIES AUGUST 5-6

 

East County News Service

August 1, 2017 (Ramona) – The Ramona Valley Vineyards Association presents the Dog Days of Summer. You’re invited to bring your dog to 10 participating wineries on August 5 or 6 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. to get a treat for your furry friends and maybe even win prizes.

For a list of participating wineries, see http://www.ramonavalleyvineyards.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/dog_days....

Some wineries are also offering specials for both owners and dogs. At Vineyard Grant James, for instance, you’ll receive 50% off all glasses of wine or sangria, plus goodie bags and popsicles for your furry friends.  There will also be contests for best tail wagger, best kisser, best bark, best trick, and a grand prize for best dressed.


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TRAVEL + LEISURE CHOOSES RAMONA WINERY VINEYARD GRANT JAMES AS #2 WINERY IN U.S. TO VISIT

 

Source:  Ramona Valley Vineyard Association

June 22, 2017 (Ramona) --Travel + Leisure, a leading travel publication, recently named Vineyard Grant James, located in San Diego County’s Ramona Valley wine region, the number two winery in the United States in its list of “a few select vineyards around the country that go above and beyond to astound visitors.”


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SANGRIA CONTEST: SAVORING THE START OF A “SUMMER OF WINE” IN RAMONA

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Jacques Sapier serves up a glass of peach and cherry sangria

 

May 28, 2017 (Ramona) – What better way to start off summertime than sipping sangrias on a stone patio in the noontime sun?  At Vineyard Grant James, a sangria contest  began Friday and continues through Monday for Memorial Day reason. 

Savor three tasty options – peach cherry, lemonade or a red wine and jalapeño based sangria—and then vote for your favorite.  Glimpsing the jarful of ballots, the votes appeared split between all three of these creative choices, which went well with a delightful  locally made cheese that we savored as well.


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RAMONA’S WINEMAKING COMES OF AGE

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Mark and Miriam Raftery

Photos, left:  Bill Schweitzer, Ramona Valley Vineyards Association cofounder and past president at Highland  Hills Winery; Pamo Valley Tasting Room on Holiday Wine Tour

January 8, 2017 (Ramona) –“2016 is going to be our greatest vintage so far. Everybody says it came in perfect,” says Bill Schweitzer, cofounder of the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association (RVVA) in 2002,  and a driving force in attaining an American Viticulture Area (AVA) designation for Ramona back in 2006.  That’s due to the ideal combination of heat, rains and drought years—as well as years of efforts by local vintners now savoring the fruits of their labors.

Sipping wine on the sunny patio at Highland Valley Winery during the Holiday Wine Trail event in December, he reflected that back in 2001,  Ramona had just one winery (Schwaesdall) and 20 vineyards growing grapes.  Today, there are at least 29 wineries in Ramona, soon to be 35, and 150 vineyards.


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THANKS TO ALL WHO MADE OUR "MOUNTAIN MAGIC" EVENT A SUCCESS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 29, 2016 (Ramona) -- East County Magazine extends our hearty thanks to all who sponsored and attended our "Magic Mountain"benefit event at Vineyard Grant James in Ramona!  We raised over $1,200 from the event, helping us keep you safe and informed.

We extend our special thanks to our major sponsors:


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JOIN EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE FOR “MOUNTAIN MAGIC” APRIL 16 IN RAMONA--WINE, CHEESE & CHOCOLATE TASTING, MMMM!!

 

 

East County News Service

April 2, 2016  (Ramona) – East County Magazine subscribers are invited to join us to savor “Mountain Magic” at the beautiful Vineyard Grant James (25260  Old Julian Highway) in the heart of Ramona's wine region on Saturday April 16 from 1-4 p.m.  (Not yet a subscriber? Join free.)

This very special afternoon will include wonderful wine-tasting, savoring Cheeses from the Cave gourmet cheeses, fresh fruits, chocolates crafted by master chocolate-maker GB Treats  and other delectable delights, plus live music by the award-winning Baja Blues Brothers and a wealth of prizes!

Drawing and silent auction prizes include mountain getaway vacation, wine lovers’ baskets,  gardener’s gifts,  hand-crafted pottery, yoga, personal training, Santee Lakes family fun pack, Mountain Hempire gift basket, bookstore gift certificate, music CDs, coffee lovers basket, and more!


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VINEYARD GRANT JAMES IN RAMONA DRAWS RAVE REVIEWS

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

February 11, 2016 (Ramona) -- Savoring an afternoon of superb wine tasting at Vineyard Grant James in Ramona, it’s not hard to realize  why this family-owned winery has been drawing rave reviews on Yelp.  The place has ranked five stars—the top rating, with 64 reviews. 

The wines are complex and satisfying.  Owners/hosts Jacques and Susanne Sapier are warm and welcoming.  A stone patio with views of the sun setting over nearby mountains provides an idyllic setting.  Live music by a Dave Billock and his local band, plus delicious locally-made cheeses, round out a palette-pleasing experience.


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VINEYARD GRANT JAMES ANNOUNCE EVENT SERIES IN RAMONA

 

East County News

April 19, 2015 (Ramona) –Vineyard Grant James in Ramona announces a series of events. Whether your tastes run to a winemakers’ dinner to a mother’s day weekend with flowers and chocolates for Mom, you’ll find plenty to savor. The winery also offers a yoga and writing regreat, gourmet foodie potluck, a fundraiser for Ramona high school and a summer of sangria kick-off at the winery, as well as several events off-site.  In addition, Grant James has live music every Sunday afternoon.

For a full list of events and details, click read more and scroll down.


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HOLIDAY WINE TRAIL: RAMONA EAST END LOOP DEC. 13-14

 

November 8, 2014 (Ramona) – ‘Tis the season to be merry along the Holiday Wine Trail, featuring wineries on the Ramona East End Loop.   You can take the tour December 13 or 14 from 12-5 p.m.


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VALENTINE'S DAY WEEKEND OF WINE PAIRINGS IN RAMONA

 

February 10, 2014 (Ramona) – Ramona vintners invite you to visit Ramona's Wine Country for Valentine's Day Weekend (Friday - Sunday), and enjoy Ramona's East End Winery Loop, a scenic drive connecting three local wineries, Ramona Ranch, Vineyard Grant James, and Turtle Rock Ridge.   Each winery will be providing a special pairing in honor of Valentine's Day all weekend.


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