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Ramona Valley wine comes of age

By Erin Blakemore

January 30, 2006

San Diego--San Diego County wineries are celebrating a major victory this month with a glass of vino—and they have the federal government's blessing. The valley's recent designation as an official American Viticultural Area means real recognition of the area's wines, making rural Ramona part of an upper-crust tradition of winemaking.

There are only three viticultural areas in Southern California, so the designation is big news for area wineries, which are now able to designate their wine as specifically "Ramona Valley" wine. Sound trifling? Think again—specific designation means that the valley can begin to carve out a profitable and unique niche in the wine market. The Federal Taxation and Trade Bureau's appellation may sound a bit dry, but it means a lot to local vintners, who hope that Ramona can become a name as famous as the Napa or Sonoma Valleys in Northern California.

The “Ramona Valley” label provides more than a business boost for the Valley's 20 commercial vineyards and nine wineries—it means a serious confidence boost as well. A unique appellation legitimizes the area's claims to wines of unique flavor and character and, according to Harris, will reinvigorate grape growers and winemakers to break into the high-end wine market.

The region is home to several small wineries, including the Lenora Winery, Mahogany Mountain Winery and Schwaesdall Winery. Since they're located in a brand-new viticultural area, Ramona vintners can take advantage of the latest technology to create a cutting-edge wine that will get noticed.

But let's get down to the nitty-gritty--it may now have a name, but why should San Diegans drink Ramona Valley wine instead of Two Buck Chuck?

The answer is simple, says Harris. "Ramona Valley wines are reflective of the soil San Diegans walk on daily," she says, citing the French concept of "terroir," which refers to the unique flavor of a region's wine. "Our wines let San Diegans connect with the area and taste the climate and soils in a glass of wine. It's a very intriguing concept."

If you're intrigued, try a taste of San Diego. Look for Ramona Valley wines (now clearly labeled) at a shop near you, or take a day trip to the Valley to see what local winemaking is all about. Most Ramona wineries are open to the public on weekends.

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Erin M. Blakemore is a freelance writer and San Diego ex-patriot. You can read more about her writing--and exploits as a roller derby queen for the Denver Roller Dolls--at http://erinbee.xenius.org