What: Lush outdoor garden and tasting room run by a local winemaker
Where: 2215 Kettner Boulevard, Little Italy, San Diego. Additional locations in Solana Beach and Carlsbad
Perfect for: A classy group night out, enjoying San Diego’s perfect weather
If there’s anything San Diego knows how to do perfectly, it’s drinking outside, and the Carruth Cellars Wine Garden is one of the most beautiful places to do it. The stunning back patio is full of flowers, lights, and cheery furniture that would instantly put anyone in a good mood. Add in a nice selection of locally made wines and it’s pretty difficult to go wrong.
At the wine garden, Carruth Cellars offers their wines by the glass or bottle, and you can also try a flight if you are feeling adventurous. If you get hungry, they offer cheese and charcuterie pairings. They have happy hour from 4 to 6 PM on weekdays, which is $3 off glasses and $5 off bottles. All of the wines are made in their Solana Beach winery, where they bring in grapes from Northern and Central California and process them. If I’m being completely honest, I don’t remember any wines that really stood out – they were all very satisfying and tasty, but nothing that really broke the mold. If you’re looking for some serious wine snobbery, you might not find it here. However, the wine here is only half the experience – it’s the atmosphere that makes it so special.
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