Walnut Tree Ranch Vineyard & Winery

Walnut Tree Ranch is Paul and Tammi Hedtke's boutique vineyard and winery on Mesa Grande Road near Santa Ysabel, an hour into San Diego's backcountry at roughly three thousand feet. The estate grows Sangiovese from Grosso clones of the Montalcino region, home of Brunello, plus Zinfandel with old growth Amador County lineage and Cabernet from a top Napa clone, a genuinely unusual plant list for the county.

Visits are by reservation and hosted by winemaker Paul himself: a ninety minute tour and winemaking tutorial that ends with tastings on the patio, in one of the prettiest ranch settings in the county. San Diego County wine runs on small family properties, many open only Friday through Sunday. Confirm current hours, tasting fees and reservation policies with the winery before you go.