15+ Best San Diego Urban Wineries: The Ultimate Guide (2024)
Want to know all the best San Diego urban wineries? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know?
An urban winery is essentially a tasting room in town as opposed to heading out straight to the vineyards miles and miles away.
Though some vineyards are close to town and are considered to be in the urban area.
What makes these tasting rooms intriguing is that you don’t need to drive out to miles of vineyards because they are all within walking distance or a short drive away.
San Diego Urban Wineries is actually an alliance of 13 urban wineries throughout the local area that provide an array of wines crafted on-site with grapes grown sustainably throughout California’s wine country.
Check out our Google Maps guide that has every location listed!
They have recently re-branded to SIP San Diego, so you may see that used interchangeably with San Diego Urban Wineries.
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San Diego Urban Wineries
If you’re looking to check out San Diego urban wineries, you’ll want to start with getting a digital passport for $59.
This gets you one regular wine tasting at 13 wineries throughout the area, including cider and mead tastings too.
Most wineries offers 4-6 wines at each tasting, which usually costs between $10-$15 or more.
Purchasing the passport saves you money on wine tastings after visiting just 3-4 wineries.
The passport is good for 6 months from the date of purchase.
All of the mead, cider, and wine tasting rooms have been part of this alliance at some point or another, but it’s always changing, so check your passport when you go just to be sure.
1. Mission Cellars
Location: 14053 Midland Road, Poway, CA 92064
Mission Cellars has been serving hand-crafted wine in San Diego since 2018.
While they are no longer part of the SIP San Diego passport program, they are still a great place for wine tasting.
2. Raging Cider & Mead Co.
Location: 177 Newport Drive, Unit B, San Marcos, CA 92069
Raging Cider & Mead Co has been around since 2015.
If you’ve never had cider, it’s a great alternative drink for those who have a gluten intolerance or those who don’t like beer.
3. Gianni Buonomo Vintners
Location: 4836 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107
Gianni Buonomo offers wine tasting in Ocean Beach.
They are open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 1 pm – 7 pm.
4. Carruth Cellars
Location: Several locations throughout San Diego
There are at least 3 locations throughout San Diego going up as far North as Oceanside.
5. Koi Zen Cellars
Location: 12225 World Trade Dr, Unit P & Q, San Diego, CA 92128
Koi Zen has been voted San Diego’s best winery from 2017-2022.
6. Negociant Winery
Location: 1263 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Negociant has been around since 2015 and recently moved to Hillcrest’s Uptown District.
7. San Pasqual Winery
Location: Several Locations Throughout San Diego
San Pasqual has 2 La Mesa tasting rooms and a Seaport Village tasting room.
Their wines are hand crafted in small lots with grapes that are locally sourced.
I would recommend visiting the Seaport Village tasting room since there are so many other activities, shops, and restaurants right here like the carousel!
8. Solterra Winery & Kitchen
Location: 934 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Solterra sources their grapes from throughout California and Mexico.
Their winery and tasting room are connected at the same property.
9. Lost Cause Meadery
Location: 8665 Miralani Drive, Unit 100, San Diego, CA 92126 + 5328 Banks St, Unit B, San Diego, CA 92110
Lost Cause Meadery was the world’s most awarded Meadery from 2019-2020.
10. Propaganda Wine Co.
Location: 2129 Industrial Ct, Unit 4, Vista, CA 92081
Propaganda Wine Co is open 7 days a week for wine tastings.
They stay open a little later than most tasting rooms, with hours as late as 8 pm or 10 pm each day.
11. Serpentine Cider
Location: 8665 Miralani Drive, Unit 100, San Diego, CA 92126
Serpentine Cider uses fresh-pressed apple juice, herbs, spices, and real fruit.
They pride themselves on not using any artificial ingredients, conentrates, or extracts.
12. La Fleur’s Winery (PERMANENTLY CLOSED)
Location: 215 S Pacific St, Unit 106, San Marcos, CA 92078
La Fleur’s Winery is also a “Sangria-ria”.
They began making award winning wine back in 2014 with Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
13. Meadiocrity Mead
Location: 1365 Grand Ave, Unit 100, San Marcos, CA 92078
Meadiocrity Mead makes their mead in San Diego, which from raw honey.
While they are no longer part of the SIP San Diego passport program, they are still a great place for mead tasting.
14. Twisted Horn Mead & Cider
Location: 1042 La Mirada Ct, Vista, CA 92081
This mead hall features a variety of drinks like mulled cider, blauhaus mead, solsteinn cider, and more.
While they are no longer part of the SIP San Diego passport program, they are still a great place for mead and cider tasting.
15. Charlie and Echo
Location: 8680 Miralani Dr, Unit 125, San Diego, CA 92126
Charlie and Echo is an urban winery in San Diego that serves natural wines from local vineyards.
16. Grafted Cellars
Location: 2379 La Mirada Dr, Vista, CA 92081
Grafted Cellars is a family owned urban winery tasting room serving wine made from grapes throughout California.
17. Golden Coast Mead
Location: 4089 Oceanside Blvd. Suite H. Oceanside, CA 92056
The mead here is naturally gluten free, preservative free, free of synthetics, and free of added sugars.
Here, the mission is that fermented honey is better for the planet, and for you, while also saving the bees!
While you’re in Oceanside, check out our weekend getaway guide.
Best Places To Stay For A San Diego Wine Trip
Make it a weekend getaway and stay overnight in San Diego so you have more time for wine tasting!
✅ Best Value: La Jolla Shores Hotel
Located in the heart of La Jolla, this beachfront resort offers a great view of the Pacific Ocean and easy access to San Diego’s vibrant nightlife scene.
Guests can take advantage of its outdoor pool, spa services, restaurant and bar, or enjoy a variety of activities including surfing, snorkeling and whale-watching.
👉 Click Here To Book Your La Jolla Shores Hotel Stay Today!
✅ Best Overall: Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines
Situated among lush gardens just steps away from Torrey Pines Beach, the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines offers guests panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and easy access to nearby attractions like SeaWorld San Diego and Balboa Park.
With its modern guest rooms, outdoor pool and spa services, this hotel is a great choice for those looking to experience the best of San Diego.
👉 Click Here To Book Your Stay At Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines Today!
✅ Best Luxury: Coronado Beach Resort
This luxurious resort is located in Coronado Island just minutes away from downtown San Diego.
With its beachfront location, spacious guest rooms and suites, outdoor swimming pool, gym and private beach access, the Coronado Beach Resort offers guests with unparalleled relaxation and one-of-a-kind views of the Pacific Ocean.
👉 Click Here To Book Your Coronado Beach Resort Stay Today!
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting San Diego
These are the most frequently asked questions we see about San Diego and wine tasting around San Diego.
Where Is San Diego?
San Diego is located in the southwest corner of California along the Pacific Ocean.
It shares a border with Mexico and is about two hours south of Los Angeles.
What Is San Diego Known For?
San Diego is known for its laid-back beach vibe, diverse population and year-round sunny weather.
In addition to its beaches, San Diego is also home to a wide variety of attractions that draw tourists from around the world.
Balboa Park offers numerous museums, gardens and cultural attractions; SeaWorld San Diego entertains visitors with thrilling rides and shows; and Historic Old Town features buildings from the early days of California’s statehood.
San Diego’s waterfront area is another must-see destination – where you can enjoy delicious seafood restaurants, trendy bars and clubs, art galleries, and day cruises along the bay.
For more information on choosing the best restaurants, check out these guides:
- The 5 Best Birthday Restaurants in San Diego
- The 11 Best Restaurants in San Diego With A View
- The 13 Best Italian Restaurants in San Diego
- The 15 Best Seafood Restaurants in San Diego
Check out these guides for more things to do in and around San Diego:
- San Diego Weekend Itinerary
- San Diego Zoo and La Jolla Day Trip
- The 21 Best Things To Do In North Park
- The 19 Best Things To Do In Ocean Beach
What is the weather like in San Diego?
San Diego enjoys warm, sunny weather almost year-round.
The average temperature throughout the year is around 65°F.
In summer, temperatures typically stay between 70 to 80°F, while in winter months they usually range from 60 to 70°F.
The city gets very little rainfall and experiences only about 22 days of rain per year.
It’s not uncommon for San Diego to have stretches of several weeks without any precipitation at all.
San Diego also offers plenty of sunshine, with an average of 261 sunny days per year and nearly 11 hours of daylight during the summer months.
But does it ever snow in San Diego?
Read this guide for all the details: Snow in San Diego
When is the best time to visit San Diego?
The best time to visit San Diego is generally around late spring or early autumn.
During these months, temperatures are comfortable and days are sunny, with little rain expected.
In addition, this period offers the fewest crowds as it falls outside San Diego’s peak tourist season.
If you’re visiting in the Fall, check out these guides on fun things to do that are available on this time of year:
- 16 Fun Things To Do In San Diego In September
- 23 Fun Things To Do In San Diego In October
- 15 Fun Things To Do In San Diego In November
Summer (June – August) can also be a great time to visit, but expect higher hotel rates and more crowded beaches due to increased tourism.
Winter (December – February) is usually much quieter in San Diego, however temperatures tend to dip below 60°F (16°C), making outdoor activities more challenging.
Is There A Wine Country Near San Diego?
Yes, there are actually a couple official wine regions just outside of San Diego.
Located about an hour away or so is the Temecula Valley Wine Country.
The valley is home to over 40 award-winning wineries that grow a wide variety of grapes including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Muscat Blanc, Syrah, Petite Sirah and more.
You can take advantage of guided tours through vineyards or go on their own self-guided excursions and explore the area’s beautiful scenery along with plenty of restaurants, tasting rooms and shopping opportunities.
Just South of Temecula, the Ramona Valley Wine Country is another great destination with more than two dozen wineries to explore.
While grapes have been grown here since the early 1800s, it wasn’t incorporated as an official wine region until the past 20 years or so.
Being one of the youngest wine regions, they have surprisingly won a ton of awards for their wines already!
When you’re here, you should take a couple hours to explore the nearby town of Julian, which is a historic gold mining towns that is now known for their apple ciders and apple pies.
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How to Get Around San Diego
San Diego is a very spread out city and offers plenty of options for getting around.
The public transportation system in San Diego consists of buses, trolleys and shuttles that run between the main areas of the city.
The detailed route planner available on the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System website can help you plan your trip.
If you’re looking to explore San Diego’s many attractions, it’s recommended to rent a car or use one of the ride share services such as Uber or Lyft.
You can also get around by bike, but be sure to take advantage of the dedicated bike lanes throughout the city.
For those traveling from further away, there are two airports in San Diego – the San Diego International Airport and the McClellan-Palomar Airport.
The San Diego International airport is located just three miles from downtown, while the smaller McClellan-Palomar Airport is located about 30 miles outside of downtown.
Conclusion: San Diego Urban Wineries
The San Diego Urban Wineries alliance, now known as SIP San Diego offers a great deal on their digital passports to explore all the best wineries from San Diego to Oceanside.
While there are plenty of other tasting rooms that are not included in this bundle, it’s an easy way to plan a trip by just going to each place that is already included.
