Toasting San Diego's Urban Wineries
When Charlie & Echo celebrates its grand opening Saturday, the new urban winery will be planting a flag in territory known more for hoppy IPAs than sparkling viognier.
Charlie & Echo's 1,900-square-foot facility off Miramar Road — which has been dubbed Beeramar Road — is symbolic of the quietly, yet steadily, emerging urban winery scene across San Diego County.
From Carlsbad to Carmel Mountain, Little Italy to La Mesa, Ocean Beach to Escondido and, yes, Miramar, wineries are cropping up faster than you can say fermentation. They're in industrial-style warehouses and strip mall storefronts, chic boutiques and tourist hubs.
The diversity of the region's evolving oeno-landscape will be on display beginning June 1, with the kick-off of San Diego Urban Wine Week.