Ramona Wines Heading for RB Tastings Festival

It’s a busy time for  Ramona Valley vintners because it’s crush season. While they’re working on harvesting the latest crop, they have to work simultaneously on selling the wine made from previous crops. On top of that is marketing.

As I’ve learned more about this community of small, family  businesses, with many of the proprietors also working “day jobs,” I’ve found myself flashing back  to memories of the small family business I grew up in—my parents’ flower shop. Some still-vivid memories: helping trim the thorns off 600 or so rose stems in preparation for Valentines Day; aunts, uncles, cousins and friends pitching in to answer phones, wrap arrangements or make deliveries for Christmas or Mother’s Day. For many years I couldn’t look at a poinsettia plant without the unsettling feeling I’d have to wrap it up and deliver it somewhere.

So I could relate when Carolyn Harris, co-owner of Chuparosa Winery, referred to crush time as “a zoo,” but I could also relate when she explained how she and her husband, and co-owner, Andy would be taking the time to pour their wine and the wines of other Ramona wineries at the RB Tastings Festival on Oct. 2.

The festival will be at Bernardo Winery, which is a co-sponsor along with Belmont Village Senior Living and a number of other local businesses. It will benefit the Rancho Bernardo Historical Society, which operates a museum at the winery.

In addition to wine tasting, there'll be beer tasting, food, music and art. The festival will run from noon to 4 p.m. See the website at www.rbtastings.com  .

When Harris heard from festival promoters, she started calling her fellow vintners. They all faced the same quandary.

“This is Sunday afternoon during crush,” said Harris. “So all these wineries are torn between having to work on the crush, staff their tasting rooms or go to events to promote their business.”

Because Chuparosa hasn’t opened a tasting room yet, the Harrises offered to represent those vintners who can’t go.

“We are really looking forward to introducing our neighbors down the hill to what we have here,” Harris said.

At publication time six, Ramona Valley Vineyard Associaton members had committed to participate in the festival: Chuparosa Winery, Cordiano Winery, Edwards Vineyard & Cellars, Kohill Winery, Pyramid Vineyards & Winery, and Salerno Winery.

“It’s always good to get out and let people know what’s right in their backyard, so to speak,” said Beth Edwards, co-owner of Edwards Vineyard & Cellars.

“It’s close by and we know those folks,” said Salerno Winery co-owner Rose Salerno, speaking of Bernardo Winery and its longtime owners, the Rizzos. Herman Salerno, Rose’s husband and co-owner of Salerno, worked as a winemaking consultant with Bernardo Winery owner Ross Rizzo, Sr. for 10 years. “So there’s a connection,” she said.

“(Andy and I) can each pour three different wineries,” Harris said. She said some other vintners might become available nearer event time to come help. “We try to cover for one another and do everything we possibly can.”