

By Miriam Raftery
December 6, 2018 (Ramona) – Savor the season along the Holiday Wine Trail in Ramona, which this year features 18 different wineries.
The event continues the next two Saturdays and Sundays, December 8-9 and 15-16. Some wineries are offering “extras” including live music, arts and crafts for sale, spiced mulled wine and even an appearance by Santa –in a wine cave!
I hit the trail last weekend, stopping by several locations along the tour, each offering a unique and special experience.
We started with Schwaesdall Winery, which has the oldest vines in Ramona and some satisfying vintages as well as options to savor a glass of port or mulled wine. Johnny and Shirley Schwaesdall are the gracious host and hostess, Johnny sporting a Santa hat.
We picked up our souvenir glasses at Reds, Whites, and Blues, a delightful bar in Ramona’s oldest commercial building, serving up local brews as well as wines. Just watch for the patriotic bunting along Main Street, and check out the historic murals on the building's side. They make a delicious, fruity sangria among other libations.
From there we headed to Lenora Winery, which has a tasting room in a house with covered veranda-style porch. Our favorite discovery was a Golden Angelica Chardonnay, a dessert-like wine with a rich, butterscotch flavor. We took home a bottle for ourselves, and a gift for a family member.
As the sun set over the horizon, we cuddled up around a cozy fire pit on the patio at Vineyard Grant James, enjoyed a hot mulled wine, chocolates and spiced nuts, also making some new friends. The winery also had live music, along with jewelry and other gift items for sale by local artisans.
Sevreal local restaurants also offer discounts for Holiday Wine Tour participants, if you wish to enjoy dinner in Ramona before heading home after enjoying the Holiday Wine Trail stops.
Get tickets and a full schedule at : http://www.ramonavalleyvineyards.com/hwt/
Participating Wineries:
Beach House Winery
Correcaminos Vineyard
Castelli Family Vineyards
Crystal Hill Vineyard
Hatfield Creek Vineyards & Winery
La Finquita Winery & Vineyard
Lenora Winery
Milagro Winery
Mahogany Mountain Vineyard and Winery
Pamo Valley Winery Tasting Room
Poppaea Vineyard
Principe di Tricase Winery
Ramona Ranch Winery
Schwaesdall Winery
Speckle Rock Vineyards
Turtle Rock Ridge Vineyard Winery
Vineyard Grant James
Woof'n Rose Winery
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