Whitehall Lane in San Diego

With most of the country in a cold snap as of late, we thought it would be a good idea to get everyone’s attention on warmer weather. San Diego has been known to have one of the best climates around the country. With an average temperature of 70 degrees and less than 12 inches of rain per year, you can almost count on a warm sunny day to enjoy great food and wine in one of the many great restaurants.

The city’s downtown neighborhood thrives with dining, shopping and cultural activities. The waterfront offers amazing coastal views and days upon days of activities. The Gaslamp District comes alive at night with adult friendly restaurants, bars and nightclubs set amongst the area’s historic Victorian architecture. Let’s take a look at a few of our favorite friends in sunny Southern California.

Pamplemousse Grille

The Pamplemousse grill in beautiful Solana Beach is home to an award winning chef, Jeffrey Strauss, that has brought the talent of a well traveled chef into a friendly neighborhood restaurant. Jeffrey’s tenure in West Virginia, Washington D.C. and New York gave him the keen eye and palate that delivers tasty and creative dishes from Pamplemousse’s kitchen.

They love our Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, and feature it by the glass, which pairs wonderfully with their Braised Short Rib “Osso Bucco” Style. The rich braise of the Brandt Farms beef, savory saffron risotto and tangy gremolata is a perfect counterpart to the ripe red fruits and toasty oak in our Cab.

If you’re traveling soon don’t miss their special menu for restaurant week, January 19th-30th!

Pacifica Del Mar

With the proximity of the ocean seafood is an obvious choice in and around San Diego, and many say that Pacifia Del Mar is one of the best restaurants to explore the bounty of the Pacific. With their venue on the top floor of the Del Mar Plaza, coastal sunsets are the norm for evening diners. The bar also boasts over 200 vodkas from around the world!

Of course you can’t drink vodka all night, right? Luckily they have a great wine list as well. Their California heavy wine list features our Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Since seafood is the name of the game at Pacifica Del Mar, we like to order the Dungeness Crab Cakes and the Steamed Local Mussels with the first bottle, Sauvignon Blanc. Once your appetite is thriving opt for the Miso Marinated Black Cod and the Chardonnay. That’s a feast fit for a king!

Paradise Point Resort and Spa

The Resort and Spa offers many dining options throughout the property, from casual to elegant and everything between. Luckily for their guests, they offer Whitehall Lanes on many of their menus and in the bars as well. Take a look at the photo gallery and imagine yourself enjoying a glass of our wine at one of their many pristine sipping spots.

We like to visit the Barefoot Bar and Grill to enjoy their famous beach front dining. A bottle of our Merlot and a burger hits the spot for lunch any day! If you just can’t seem to get away from the amazing scenery at the resort, swing into Baleen and enjoy the beach front at night in a more upscale environment. Seafood is the feature here and chef Amy DiBiase excels at just about every presentation making any choice you make, the best.

Jake’s Del Mar

There’s no shortage of great beach in San Diego, and Jake’s is one of the best spots to take it in. We enjoy the laid back attitude accompanied by great food that the venue provides. Take a seat at the bar, order up a bottle of our Merlot and a few choices from the small plates menu; Scotch Eggs, Roasted Beet Salad and BBQ Ribs always hit the spot for us.

So, if you’re socked into cold gloomy weather and looking to get away for a bit it’s time to head down to San Diego and make your way up and down the beach with your favorite wine and great eats. See you in the sand!