San Diego’s Finest Wineries and Breweries
Thanks to its Mediterranean climate and fertile soil, Southern California is a fantastic place to grow hops, barley, and grapes — making it one of the country’s most promising regions for brewing beer and distilling wines. It’s led to two amazing festivals — San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, and San Diego Beer Week — that celebrate the region’s excellent beverage-crafting traditions. If you’re planning a tour of the best San Diego wineries and breweries, then take a look at our favorites below.
Upcoming Wine & Beer Festivals
San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival (November 11-14)
This iconic event features a full schedule of programming, with domestic and international wineries, craft beer and spirits, local culinary legends, celebrity visits, and a Grand Tasting Finale on the Embarcadero. Events are held at various locations throughout the city, so check the website for specific details.
San Diego Beer Week (November 5-14)
Hosted by San Diego Brewers Guild, San Diego Beer Week is a 10-day celebration that features brews from 150 independent craft breweries in San Diego County. While beer is the star of the show, you’ll also find plenty of food and entertainment to pair with your pints. Events are held at various locations throughout the city, so check the website for specific details.
Wineries
Gianni Buonomo Vintners (5 miles from the hotel)
Just minutes from downtown, Gianno Buonomo focuses on wines that reflect the terroir of San Diego — fresh, earthy, and so smooth you can actually taste the sunshine. The many medals their wines have taken home in specialty competitions reflect this dedication. Their tasting room is open five days a week, and the proximity to central San Diego makes it all too easy to stop by for a visit.
4836 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107
Carruth Cellars (8.4 Miles Away)
Carruth’s holistic approach to winemaking sees not just a deep range of styles, but also a broad commitment to community. As such, their regularly-released “Pay it Forward” wines are exceptional bottles that also see a portion of proceeds donated to local charitable organizations.
2215 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
Photo credit: @carruthcellars
Bernardo Winery (28 miles away)
Bernardo is one of the oldest vineyards in the region, producing exquisite vintages since 1889. Since then, Bernardo’s Syrahs, Zinfandels, Chardonnays, and other varieties have won multiple awards. You can sample them yourself by making a reservation for one of their tastings.
13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte, San Diego, CA 92128
Photo credit: @thegoodallgroup
La Finquita Winery and Vineyard (40.9 miles away)
La Finquita (“The Little Farm”) sits on eight acres of some of the best grape-growing land in Southern California. They offer tours and tastings, as well as bottles of their whimsically named wines (such as the “Puppy Kisses” white blend). Their “Barrel-Kissed” wines are finished in seasoned casks that impart complex, delicious notes.
23123 Vista Ramona Rd, Ramona, CA 92065
Photo credit: @lafinquitawinery
Milagro Winery (48 miles away)
This Ramona Valley vineyard sees winemaking as an art, and their vintages reflect that passion. Set in a stunning valley with rich earth and the perfect interplay of sun and shadow, Milagro hosts regular tastings and events, and also has a gift shop filled with carefully-aged bottles ready to go.
18750 Littlepage Rd, Ramona, CA 92065
Breweries
Kilowatt Brewing (5.1 miles from the hotel)
Handcrafted, small-batch beers are the name of the game at Kilowatt. The master brewers at this eclectic neighborhood beer palace continually tweak their recipes for optimal color, flavor, bouquet, and balance. This commitment to experimentation means the beer list is always brimming with fantastic flavors.
1875 Cable St, San Diego, CA 92107
Photo credit: @kilowattbeer
Modern Times Beer (5.3 miles away)
Despite having only opened its doors for the first time in 2013, Modern Times has swiftly become one of San Diego’s preeminent beer hotspots. With a long, rotating list of hazy IPAs, fruit beers, goses, and even hard seltzers, Modern Times offers a little something for everyone. Stop in for a flight!
3725 Greenwood St, San Diego, CA 92110
Latchkey Brewing Company (7.1 miles away)
As you may guess from the tongue-in-cheek name (borne of the co-founders having grown up as unsupervised kids with a penchant for getting into trouble), Latchkey Brewing doesn’t take itself particularly seriously. The beer, however? That, they do. And you can taste it for yourself in the brewery’s taproom.
1795 Hancock St, San Diego, CA 92110
Photo credit: @latchkeybrewing
Thorn Brewing (8 miles away)
As one of San Diego’s youngest craft breweries (first opening its doors in 2017), Thorn has already carved out a respectable niche among the county’s most successful sources of world-class beer. Thorn has grown its distribution throughout the region from this 30-barrel brewhouse and tasting room.
4026 Hawk St A, San Diego, CA 92103
Mikkeller (9.5 miles away)
Mikkeller may be kicking out exceptional beers right here in San Diego, but the brewing traditions it brings to the area find deep roots in European styles and techniques. The charming tasting room in Little Italy fits in perfectly with the neighborhood’s reputation for top-tier hangouts with truly gourmet food.
2021 India St, San Diego, CA 92101
Photo credit: @mikkellerlittleitaly
Book Your Brewery Tour
Treat yourself to a tour of the best San Diego wineries and breweries, and base yourself at Pacific Terrace, located right on the beach. Take a look at our special offers and start planning your stay.