Wining in the OC

Finding the perfect wine is half the fun, yet not always an easy task. Bunny Finkelstein, co-owner of Judd's Hill Winery once said, "Making wine is like having children. You love them all, but boy are they different!"  This is why I love tastings so much. It gives you the opportunity to sample wines without major commitment. This way, you know when you buy a bottle, you're going to love it. The problem- Where do you go to find tasting opportunities? I have three solutions for Southern California locals. 

Laguna Beach is already a major hot spot for southern Californians but very few of my wine loving friends knew the beach city had it's own micro-winery. Laguna Canyon Winery is located at 2133 Laguna Canyon Road and a tasting room is also now open downtown at 380 Glenneyre Street. (check the website for hours)

The tasting room at the Winery is large and quite cozy. They offer a variety of wines from sparkling whites to assertively bold reds. My favorite was the LC Zinfandel, a zesty red with spicy notes of pepper and just a hint of tobacco. If you're a Wyland art fan, you can drink & purchase the Wyland Cellars label here and a percentage of the proceeds will go to the Wyland Foundation. I found the sparkling to be quite pleasant. All in all, I'd say Laguna Canyon Winery is a fun stop on your way to or from the beach.

Another beach favorite is the Cellar San Clemente. Situated right in the middle of downtown on Avenida Del Mar, this wine stop will not only give you primo vino but amazing food pairings as well. I was quite tickled with their spirited sparkling flight which included a bubbly shiraz. The baked egg dish was the perfect companion.  It was  the lavendar ice cream cookie sandwich and the Super Tuscan (from the assertive reds flight) that put this stellar cellar at the top of my "go-to" list. 

To top it off, the Cellar San Clemente is home to this Wine Vault. It was hard to resist the urge to go and crack this baby right open while no one was looking. What a creative and fun idea. And yet, the fun has just begun. The C of SC also hosts a wine camp where you can learn all about wine from growing the grapes to testing your palate. 


Just want to kick back, relax, and enjoy a good bottle of wine? This cozy place with its comfy sofas often has live music to enjoy. It's the perfect place for a social gathering.  Make sure you come hungry & thirsty. You won't want to pass up what this seaside cellar has to offer!




When I found Wineworks for Everyone on my new Iphone App, Cork.kz, I was completely shocked that a wine bar existed so close to my house that I knew nothing about. I had to check it out immediately. "Hidden" right off the 5 fwy at Oso Parkway, wineworks is not only a wine bar & retail wine shop, but a small intimate fine dining experience as well. 


We were immediately greeted by owner, Darren Coyle who made sure our visit was a pleasant one. This place is most definitely a personalized experience. They took the time to cater to our palates and made sure we tasted wines to our liking. I did pay a bit more here for a tasting, but the quality of the wines, & the phenomenal service made it well worth while. 

Now comes the best part. I was fortunate enough to walk in on a special event (which Darren so graciously allowed me to attend without reservations) Meet ONX, a vineyard located in Paso Robles. Eight years new, ONX operates on 30 acres of land housing 13 varieties of grapes from all over the world. They only make blends and out of the four I tasted, there wasn't one I didn't fall in love with. Mad Crush was my favorite, a Grenache Cuvee with a vibrant aroma of cherries, and hints of cocoa. Downright delectable. I wouldn't pass on their Uprising Syrah Cuvee or Brainchild Tempranillo Cuvee either. You may have to search this one out, but all I can say is DO IT. You won't be disappointed.

When I returned to Wineworks to capture photos, I had the pleasure of meeting Jean, Darren's wife who was equally welcoming. I got the inside scoop on their new restaurant next door which I will most certainly be blogging about in the near future. And for the second time, I was lucky enough to be there when yet another small winery off the slopes of Howell Mountain in Napa was visiting & offering up tastings. Ron & Lisa Wicker grew up in Napa Valley and their Cabernet proved to be a pure high quality Cab that we are accustomed to from that region. The difference? Everything that goes into this wine is handmade from the hand sorting of berries to the labels themselves. It's no wonder Ron was selected as Napa Valley grower of the year in 2010. If you want a unique, sophisticated wine experience,
I suggest you check out Wicker Vineyards.


Needless to say, one doesn't have to travel inland or north to taste good wines in California. You may not find vineyards in the back of these wine haunts, but you will find  the passion of any true wine lover and the liquid to back it up. Happy Tasting!!