Arts & Entertainment

San Pasqual Winery Holds Grand Opening Party for Expansion in La Mesa

The San Pasqual Winery tasting room in La Mesa's Dowtown Village has done so well they needed to bring production closer to town, so now a production and tasting room has opened on Center Street. They held a grand opening party for the new location all weekend long, featuring tastes of their award winning wine and live local music.

"We're excited for the grand opening of our new winery," owner Mike McWilliams said in a news release. "We want to show San Diegans that they don't have to drive all the way to Temecula to enjoy outstanding, locally produced wines. 

The San Pasqual Winery is located at 8140 Center St. Samples of their wines are available Monday to Thursday from noon to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon-5 p.m. For $8.50 you get six tastes of wine, a keepsake glass and $5 off a bottle of wine. The tasting room on La Mesa Boulevard will remain open at the usual hours.

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Performers over the weekend included Mercury Street Blues and the Sock Monkeys on Saturday and the Push Pins and jazz trio Sam Diego on Sunday.

Of the 20 wines available for tasting, my favorite was the Summervine Habanero Passionfruit Wine, which won Best of Show at the 2013 San Diego County Fair. The tart passionfruit finishes with the spicy chile which distracts the senses from the alcohol bite- a dangerous combo!

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The 2009 Santa Barbara Grenache was a crowd favorite amongst the red wines, with a dark, black cherry and leather taste, that taster had a line the whole time.

The 2012 Yolo County "First Blush" Rosé was a tasty sip with an earthy strawberry taste that made for a great light and fresh summer wine.

The new location is near San Pasqual's La Mesa Boulevard tasting room, and the owners say it will allow them to expand production of their vintages, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Grenache.

The winery produces 1,500 cases of wine annually, but they estimate that soon will jump to 2,500 cases of wine, with projections of the total output eventually reaching 5,000 cases.

COMMENT: What's your favorite San Pasqual wine?


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