Raise Your Glass to International Wine Day

May 25 is International Wine Day, and San Diego is home to dozens of unique and quirky wineries. Below is a list of some of the most unique and interesting places in San Diego to celebrate this fun holiday.   San Pasqual Winery: Just steps away from the San Diego Bay, San Pasqual Winery & Tasting Room at Seaport Village is the perfect place to sip local wines and enjoy a view of the harbor. Nestled in scenic Seaport Village, this spot is ideal for cooling down with a glass of vino. A highlight is their 2014 Tempranillo with grapes from Clarksburg. For Guadalupe Valle fans, a Nebbiolo offers grapes from the region. Those who like a sweeter wine should not miss the three Passion Fruit wine options. Even better, a frozen Passion Fruit Freeze is refreshing on a hot San Diego day! Solterra Winery & Kitchen: Blend your own wines at this beachfront winery. Experts give you all the tools you need to create a wine that will exactly fit your unique palette. You can take home a bottle of your newly invented wine the same day! Negociant: North Park Urban Winery: All wine is made on-site at Negotiant Winery with grapes from around California. Conveniently located in North Park, Negociant is the perfect place to get a taste of San Diego wines without leaving the city.   Uptown Tavern: Uptown Tavern in Hillcrest is serving $5 wines by the glass! Get your vino vibration on with a Malbec, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay or others – all wines will be priced at $5 all day. Miss B’s Coconut Club: If celebrating in Mission Beach, head into Miss B’s Coconut Club for half off all bottles and glasses of wine. From 5 p.m. to close, guests can savor each sip while people watching from the lively patio. Bracero Cocina de Raiz: Celebrate Wine Day during Bracero Cocina de Raiz’s final act before re-opening as Romesco! On May 25th, bartenders are serving three special varietals: Sauvignon Blanc Monte Xanic from Valle de Guadeloupe, a Mourvedre Petit Verdot and a Santo Tomas Barbera. Each glass will be $2 off during happy hour.  The Fish Shop: If you like knocking back oysters with your wine, grab your favorite bottle and head to The Fish Shop Encinitas or Pacific Beach Fish Shop. Enjoy $1 oysters on Thursdays and a laid back atmosphere.  Fig Tree Café: Fig Tree Café Liberty Station will be celebrating National Wine Day with ½ off all bottles of wine, all night! Enjoy Fig Tree’s wine-centric ambiance, with the indoor bar flanked by rustic wine barrels and funny ‘inspirational’ wine quotes as décor around the bar. Enjoy being outdoorsy, aka drinking outside? Fig Tree’s patio is the perfect place for a romantic meal for two under the bistro lights. REVOLT WINE CO. at 710 Beach Club: Beginning at 8 p.m., emerging bands Faulkner and WildEyes will meet and greet fans, locals and press before hitting the stage with a live performance as onlookers sip their array of wine samples from REVOLT WINE CO.’s collection. REVOLT WINE CO. operates out of San Diego and produces its wines in Napa. It is more than just a wine label, it is a brand that details the unique connections and culture that drinking wine with others creates and connects that with music to add a special experience.  Tickets are $10 per person and includes a VIP experience with complimentary wine tastings and a meet and greet with both bands. Space is limited.   Et Voila: Et Voilà’s brilliant menu is a canvas to be painted with reds and whites. Traverse the far reaches of France through Et Voilà’s curated wine list, with a wide variety of different bottles and wines by the glass. Choose from an abundance of French wines, where notes of elegance and appreciation for the finer things  capture the sophistication of the French themselves.   Osetra: When guests walk in the door they are awestruck by the showcase three-story wine tower which houses Osetra’sr award-winning selection of wines. Here your wine is quite literally, “Touched by an angel.”  Throughout your dining experience you will see Osetra’s “Wine Angels” floating around the tower to retrieve your wine.  The New Yorker: Marco Geffroy, owner of The New Yorker, has recently created his own wine that he now sells at the restaurant. The Village at Pacific Highlands Ranch: If you’re in Carmel Valley, celebrate Wine Day at The Village at Pacific Highlands Ranch! If you’re in the mood for Italian, try Dolce at the Highlands. Dolce’s outstanding menu of farm-to-table seasonal California/Italian cuisine in the relaxed, elegant dining room or alfresco on the patio. The full bar with a world-class wine list, boasts over 200 bottle selections. Mid-day Merriment -3-6pm daily – A happier happy hour, specials include $5 glasses of wine (select red, white and bubbly), cocktail specials, craft beers and savory appetizers.
There is plenty of vino in the village!  Crudo’s  Mediterranean/Japanese inspired cuisine will pair perfectly with any of their delicious wines. Crudo prides itself in using authentic yet delightful ingredients with simple presentations. While the presentations may be simple, the wine list is elegant and sophisticated. Sip your vino of choice while soaking up the sun on Crudo’s outdoor patio. Decoy Dockside Dining: the luxe lodge inspired restaurant at Lakehouse Hotel & Resort in San Diego’s North County, will continue its Walkabout Wine Dinner Series on Thursday, May 25  with Stags Leap Winery and  Mike Malcolm, Vintrepreneur from Treasury Estate. Diners will enjoy a three-course gourmet meal and have the opportunity to explore the menu one-on-one with Chef Warner. The sommelier who attends each dinner will visit guests’ tables throughout the night to provide tasting notes and answer any questions about the wine pairings.