Mahogany Mountain Vineyard and Winery

Like many winery operations in the Ramona Valley, Mahogany Mountain Vineyard and Winery is a family affair. Kim and Michael Hargett, co-owners, share the job of winemaker. Michael, according to Kim, “does double duty as winegrower.” Michael was out pruning as Kim and I spoke. “He’s very passionate about his vineyards,” Kim said. They are helped on the weekends by their son Geoffrey, who attends chiropractic school in Los Angeles during the week.

Harvests and other tasks involve the extended family and some friends. Kim said Michael comes from a big family, including some 30 cousins, which  is very helpful at harvest time. After all the grapes are harvested, Kim said they hold a harvest party for all the participants. Last year, “we had two or three parties because grapes were ready for harvest at different times of the year.” They believe in giving the grapes all the time they need.

Mahogany Mountain Vineyard's tasting room officially opened for business Nov. 13, 2010. Kim described business to date as “a little better than we expected,” given that the winery is “off the beaten path” on Mussey Grade Road. “We’re not easily seen from (state Route) 67.”

She noted that at least half their visitors have been from the Ramona area.

“Our Mussey Grade Road neighbors have been very supportive,” she said. At the same time, they have welcomed visitors from outside the valley, including other winegrowers from Temecula.

“They were very encouraging,” said Kim.

Mahogany Mountain's philosophy of winemaking, stated on their website, is “to grow grapes and make wines with as little impact on our surroundings as possible and live in harmony with the nature around us.” 

“We don’t believe in using pesticides,” said Kim. “We use water from our own well.”

The Hargetts bought their 43-acre Ramona property in the late 1980s. Kim said she and her husband were “bitten by the wine bug” on a visit to French wine country in the mid-1990s. The owners of small, family-owned wineries were very hospitable.

“I totally fell in love with the scenery and the mystery of making wine,” she said.

On a subsequent visit to Tuscany, they were struck by the similarities of weather and terrain to Ramona.

“My husband said, ‘If they can grow grapes here, I know we can do it in Ramona,’” Kim said.

On returning to the United States they both joined the San Diego Amateur Winemaking Society and came under the tutelage of

The Hargetts started making wine on their property in 1996, using grapes from other local vineyards. The following year, they began planting their own vines. Today they produce exclusively from their own grapes, which include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Mourvedre, Zinfandel, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Muscat Canelli.

Mahogany Mountain’s wines have earned medals each of the last three years from a number of prestigious wine competitions on both coasts. Their Mourvedre won a silver medal at the 2008 National Women's Wine Competition in Sonoma, California, going up against  wineries from across the United States and around the world.  In 2009 their Zinfandel won silver at the Orange County Fair International Wine Competition and  a Bronze in the Southern California Commercial Wine Competition in Temecula. 

Their Zin also garnered a bronze in April 2010 at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition in upstate New York.  Then in July 2010 their Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon each won a bronze at Ramona’s own Lum Eisenman Wine Competition.

The Hargetts stress the handmade nature of their product, using small bin fermentation and cellaring in small oak barrels.

“When you make things in small batches, you can pay more attention to quality,” said Kim.

Mahogany Mountain Vineyard and Winery is at 14905 Mussey Grade Road (actually on Mahogany Ranch Road. Tasting Room hours are 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.