Truly Fine Wines in San Diego’s Oldest Neighborhood

I grew up in Mission Hills, one of San Diego’s oldest neighborhoods.  When I was a kid I would wake up at 4 am and ride my bike with my friend Manny and deliver newspapers up and down West Lewis Street. We would then, ride up and down Fort Stockton in search of new canyons.  In the afternoon we would visit our favorite stores were Ace Drug Store, Sutter Market,  Ibis Market & my former employer Fiori’s Pizza in search of baseball cards.  In the evening we would ice block down the hills of Presidio Park.  This is not the same neighborhood I remember as a kid. Back then I didn’t realize how much our neighbors liked wine!  I was clueless. When they get together, they like to party.  Every summertime Mission Hills holds concerts in Pioneer Park where the locals share their favorite wines. It is a great time for all.  Now that I am an adult with kids growing up in this neighborhood, I thought I would give back and I found the perfect way to do so.

Last year I held a wine tasting to raise money for the local school, Grant K-8 at a neighbor’s house. Our generous friends the Mexican Vintner Marketing Alliance participated in the first wine tasting campaign and raised over $4,000.   Eight wineries from Napa Valley, all Mexican-American winemakers participated in the event.  The grandfathers of these winemakers worked as grape pickers and today their families own their own wineries.  We had over 70 people in attendance.  Since it was held in a private home we were limited on space.  I had to turn away too many people.

This year I have decided to do another wine tasting, but at the famous and spacious  Mission Hills Nursery. The Mission Hills nursery is San Diego’s oldest garden center founded by Kate Sessions.  Toni and Tiger have kept the nursery active and remains a staple in our community.  Tiger now has a child attending Grant which makes this venue a “no-brainer”.  Toni and Tiger have generously offered their space to support the school.  However, I have decided to keep it local this year.

My friends at Truly Fine Wines, Damon, Sabrina and Brian are going to pour wines from around the world.  Truly Fine Wines is one of SD’s best kept secrets!  They import German wines directly into SD and have a retail shop on Morena Blvd. Their German Wines are sold across the country and have a strong following within the sommelier communities of Chicago, New York and of course, San Diego.  They are one of the few distributors that sell their niche selections on Amazon.  Not only do they specialize in German Wines, but they also have an online store called My Cellar Master where people can buy a virtual sommelier experience.  They work closely with America’s 1st Master Sommelier, Eddie Oesterland, also a SD resident.

Truly Fine Wines will pour wines from the Old World, France, Spain and Italy.  They will also have a table featuring California wines. Their will be another area showing off the wines from South America.  You adventurous types should find the German wine table where they will feature my true love, Riesling along with Pinot Noir and other grapes you probably never have heard of .  Have I ever told you that my desert  island wine is a German Riesling?

Sunday, October 18th 3-5pm I will be hosting the 2nd annual Grant-Mission Hills wine tasting event. Join me for a wine tour around the world with Truly Fine Wines!  Truly Fine Wines has so generously offered to give back to the school 10% for any wine and 20% on any German wine bought.  All wines will be sold by Truly Fine Wines.  I look forward to seeing you there!