Witch Creek Winery is a popular winery located in Carlsbad, California. It is known for its high-quality wines and picturesque setting. The winery offers a unique and enjoyable wine tasting experience for visitors. Witch Creek Winery is nestled in the heart of Carlsbad Village, just a few blocks from the Pacific Ocean. The winery's location provides a beautiful backdrop for wine lovers to relax and unwind. With its charming outdoor patio and cozy indoor seating area, Witch Creek Winery offers a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere for its guests.
New owners plan upgrades for Witch Creek Winery
Witch Creek Winery, which has occupied prime retail space in Carlsbad Village for 20 years, is about to get a major makeover.
Late last year, its majority owners sold the business to retire. The new owners — two Carlsbad couples — announced plans Friday to upgrade the building at 2906 Carlsbad Blvd., expand its amenities and add a second wine label to the mix.
By spring, the 4,000-square-foot warehouse will become Sleeping Tiger Winery by Witch Creek Winery. The new name — which will also adorn a new line of wines — was inspired by “Catnap,” the mural painted by artist Michael Summers on the winery’s north exterior wall in 2013. The striking painting depicts a sleeping tiger covered in dripping paint.
AdvertisementThe winery was purchased in November by Skip and Maureen Coomber and Mayur Pavagadhi and his partner Dru White. Pavagadhi owns three restaurants in Carlsbad Village (Paon Restaurant & Wine Bar, 83 Degrees and Barrio) and White is an interior decorator who has designed all of his restaurant projects.
Skip Coomber is an attorney and investor. He and his wife also run Coomber Family Wines and Terravant Wine Company, which produces high-end wines distributed to restaurants in San Diego and Orange Counties, as well as Utah and Kansas.
Skip Coomber said that while many changes are planned, Witch Creek Winery — which has nearly 800 Cellar Club members — will remain central to the business’ mission.
“We are excited to build upon the rich legacy and solid business of Witch Creek,” he said.
Witch Creek Winery was founded in 1993 by David and Kathy Wodehouse, who named the business for the Ramona area where they bought some of their first grapes. They opened a tasting room in Julian and set up the wine-making operation in an Escondido industrial building. Then in 1996, they moved the business to Carlsbad Village. David’s brother, Rich Koziell, came in a a partner and they sold small shares of the business to other investors. The brothers decided to sell the business after Kathy died from cancer a few years ago.
Winemaker Ryan Scott, who joined Witch Creek three years ago, said it’s the oldest urban winery in Southern California and the fifth oldest in the state.
Witch Creek produces about 4,000 cases of wines each year, made with more than 20 varietal grapes from around the state. The winery produces unfiltered red blends, single varietal reds, white wines and sweet and dessert wines, many with feline-inspired names like Cool Cat, Cat’s Pajamas and Catatonic.
“I would describe our wines as more complex on the palate and made in the Croatian, Old World style. We’re known for good blends,” Scott said.
He said the new Sleeping Tiger wines, which will begin production in two to three months, will be “pristinely clear and clean on the palate” and will make use of the many hard-to-find wine grapes that Coomber has access to through his winery.
Beginning this month, the warehouse filled with more than 300 barrels will begin its transformation. The business will remain open during construction. White said the revamp will transform the winery from rustic to elegant, with huge crystal chandeliers, an antique Italian breakfront and a turn-of-the-century player piano, industrial lighting and a new muted color scheme.
The wine tasting bar will be moved to the north side of the building and a 22-seat private dining room will be built on the south end for club members and private events. The barrel storage area will be reorganized to allow seating areas for private parties for up to 250 people. A small kitchen will be built in the back for preparing charcuterie, cheese plates and other light food items to accompany at least two wine tasting lists each day designed by master sommelier Gino Campbell.
A storage yard on the south side of the building has been cleared and paved for rustic patio seating and two outdoor fire pits. And the building’s bland white facade will be revamped to give it more curb appeal, with new paint, signage, lighting and a wood-faced overhang that will shield the building’s interior from the late-afternoon sun, White said.
While cats, both wild and domestic, inspire the wines, the new owners of Witch Creek are dog-lovers, so the business is now dog-friendly.
Pavagadhi and White own a Maltipoo named Te Amo and the Coombers own Marvin, a rescue Lab mix, and Maggie, a personality-plus English bulldog who showed up Friday in a pink tutu with a skateboard she enjoys riding around the building.
After the concrete was poured for the patio, Maggie was allowed to run around on the drying foundation so her now-enshrined paw prints would cement the winery’s reputation as a place where dogs are welcome. Coomber said the partners plan to host many events for local animal welfare organizations.
Eventually, Coomber said the new tasting room may carry some of his Coomber Family Wines. But Pavagadhi said his restaurants cannot serve Witch Creek wines because state law prohibits the cross enterprise.
Witch Creek Winery
Our cellar offers a generous range of single-varietal wines, as well as several traditional and unique blends. Our Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Super Tuscans and Bordeaux blends are just a few of our award-winning offerings. Additionally, we are proud to be one of the few domestic producers of some more unique and obscure varietals, such as Nebbiolo, Teroldego, Aglianico and Montepulciano. Witch Creek wines are available exclusively through our tasting rooms, the cellar club and our on-line wine shop. We invite you to come visit us and let our friendly and knowledgeable staff show you how an intense passion for the craft translates into a beautiful glass of wine!
Location Description
Also visit us at our Julian Tasting room
2000 Main St Suite 106
Julian, CA 92036
Features
- Witch creek winery features two California tasting rooms, one in the historic gold-mining town of Julian and the first ever beach winery in Carlsbad.
Additional Information
- Meeting / Conference Facilities:
- Caves:
- Wedding Facilities:
- Picnic Facilities:
- Dog Friendly:
- Winery Tours:
- Wine Tasting:
- Art or Architecture:
- Organic / Biodynamic:
- Awards:
- Wine Club:
- Lodging / Bed & Breakfast:
Average Bottle Price
Winemaker
Ryan Scott
Scotty came to Witch Creek Winery in early 2011, starting as an intern before apprenticing and becoming our Cellar Master, and later our Assistant Winemaker. In the summer of 2013 he took over as Winemaker.
Scotty received his Certificate in Wine Technology from Mira Costa College. He continues to build his skill set by attending various seminars, tastings and as well as connecting with and learning from others in the industry. However, at his core he prefers to learn in a hands-on manner.
Learning to make wine at Witch Creek, a facility with an average of 18-plus varietals, has given him a great aptitude for blending wines. Scotty continues to develop and refine this skill with the help of Dave Wodehouse, our original Winemaker and Founder.
Several of the wines he has worked on and blended have received medals in the San Francisco Chronicle and the Orange County Fair. This includes our 2010 Teroldego, which took Gold at the Chronicle. He looks forward to continuing this trend. However, his goal has always been for you, our customers and cellar club members, to enjoy the wine.
History
For twenty years, we have honed the focus of our winery on producing a wide variety of outstanding, award-winning red wines. We place emphasis on quality over quantity and take pride in producing small-lot, handcrafted wines using traditional winemaking techniques.
Founded in 1993 by Dave and Kathy Wodehouse, Witch Creek Winery began as a small country winery in the hills of Ramona, California, adopting our namesake from the area of Witch Creek, where we got some of our first grapes. We then enjoyed a small stay in Escondido for a couple years. In 1996, we moved production to our current home by the beach in sunny, beautiful Carlsbad Village.
The Team
Courtney Lattimer - General Manager
Courtney started at Witch Creek in November of 2012. She came from 5 years in the event planning industry, along with ten years in the craft beer industry, working as a bartender and sales rep for various local breweries in the area. She quickly grew her knowledge of wine, learning the ropes from Scotty and the seasoned veterans. Now, as a knowledgeable wine connoisseur, Courtney holds the place of General Manager. She enjoys hosting fun events for the winery along with expanding relationships with our local businesses.
Kerry Michalewicz - Tasting Room Manager
Kerry comes from a small history of wine making, here at Witch Creek. Her sister Krista was the assistant wine maker back in 2011. Kerry worked in the tasting room a few years ago and returned to be a part of our team once again! Kerry plays a big role here at the winery with the knowledge her sister has instilled in her, along with her impeccable customer service skills. It would be hard to leave Witch Creek unhappy with Kerry as your host!
Parker Lindow - Warehouse Manager, Tasting Room Associate
Parker is new to Witch Creek, but not to the beer & wine industry. After working for Thorton Winery in Temecula, CA and Thirsty Bear Brewing Co. in San Francisco, CA, Parker has garnered exceptional experience in an ever-changing industry. We are now the lucky recipients of his team work dedication, wine knowledge, and amazing customer service skills. Parker takes every task to heart and is always a pleasure to work with. We don’t know what we’d do without our Parker!!
Mary Foye - Tasting Room Associate
Mary came to us from Sacramento California, where she worked at Heringer Vineyards, one of our main sources for quality wine grapes. Given her previous experience with Heringer Vineyards, Mary felt right at home here at Witch Creek. Mary has become a great asset to our tasting room, over the past year and a half, and has established great relationships with our members and customers.
Denise LeBlanc - Tasting Room Associate
Denise started at Witch Creek in May of 2014. She came from Trader Joe's where she worked for 5 years, heavy in customer service. Denise has a huge passion for wine and increases her knowledge daily. She is always a friendly face to see behind the counter. Even though she has only been here a short time, Denise has already made a name of herself with our Club Members.
Dana Tuohy - Tasting Room Associate
With a multitude of food & wine industry experience, Dana is an invaluable asset to the company. Her quick wit and level head counter even the most difficult of dilemmas. We are very grateful for Dana's dedication to the winery and her presence here is favored by all!
Practices & Techniques
Original winemaker, founder and owner, Dave Wodehouse cultivated a passion for combining tradition and creativity in our wines. Our current winemaker, Ryan Scott (‘Scotty’), enthusiastically explores this ideal through a commitment to heritage, innovative thinking and a determined zeal for creating great wines. Our cellar offers a generous range of single-varietal wines, as well as several traditional and unique blends. Our Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Super Tuscans and Bordeaux blends are just a few of our award-winning offerings. Additionally, we are proud to be one of the few domestic producers of some more unique and obscure varietals, such as Nebbiolo, Teroldego, Aglianico and Montepulciano.
Estate Vineyards / AVA
Camillo Magoni
Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California
Camillo Magoni has a Ph.D. in Enology and brought to Mexico years of experience gained in Italy and other wine regions of Europe. He’s slowly researched Mexico’s potential to grow classic varietals from different global wine growing regions. His vineyards are strategically located in selected micro-climates in Valle de Guadalupe, Valle de San Vicente and Valle de Santo Tomas, San Antonio de las Minas, Tecate and others. Camillo has brought in cuttings, clones and vines from all parts of the world to seek out the best options for creating high quality wine in this
Herring Family Estates
Clarksburg, California
The Heringer Family has always believed in hard work, innovation and resourcefulness. We have always utilized whatever land, crop, or agricultural business opportunities were available to us such that our presence in the industry, the integrity of our family name, and the continuity of the family farm were assured for future generations. This has required major shifts in crop and business focus, but always with the ultimate objective of maximizing quality of crop, service, product and occupation. This has been accomplished through the generations while maintaining relationships of integrity with venders, customers, employees, and family members. They have developed 120 acres of premium wine grapes including varieties such as Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Barbera, Teroldego, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Tempranillo, Chardonnay, Viognier and Muscat Canelli as well as farming many acres of forage and grain crops.
Penman Springs Vineyard
Paso Robles, California
Penman Springs Vineyard is characterized by abundant sunshine and air flow, with warm summer days. breezy afternoons, and cool nights. The soils are thin clay loam with decomposed red granite sub-soils and streaks of limestone. The five trellis systems used are Ballerina, Geneva Double Curtain or GDC, Open Lyre, Smart-Dyson, and the ever popular Standard Vertical Trellis (SVT).
The unique combination of terroir and trellis systems that allow sunlight and air into the canopy results in deeply colored, full bodied wines with rich flavors.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown in warm climates like we have in Paso Robles tend to produce wines with flavors of black currant, cherries and ripe red fruits. Although Cabernet Sauvignon is a vigorous vine that grows quite easily in a variety of different soils, to ripen properly it does require well drained soils such as those found at Penman Springs Vineyard. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grow best when it has plenty of sunshine, and our location and planting have ensured this.
Sierra Oaks Estates Vineyard & Winery
El Dorado, California
Sierra Oaks Estates sits atop a 40-acre parcel in the rolling foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in El Dorado County; the county has been home to vineyards dating back to the gold rush era. The unique combination of soil and climate in Fair Play wine appellation creates the ideal growing environment for rich and complex world-class red wine grapes.
Awards
ACCLAIM FOR MERLOT RESERVE
Vintage 2009:
Silver Medal - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition - 2013
Gold Medal - OCF - 2013
Your Destination Guide to San Diego
Jack-o-lanterns and goblins may only be good for the month of October, but black cats and witch’s hats are stylish year-round at Witch Creek Winery.
The winery is named for a creek that runs through a vineyard in East San Diego, but the grapes used to make Witch Creek’s wines come from throughout California and Mexico. Using these purchased grapes, winemaker Ryan Baker “brews” over 20 different wines with inventive, feline-inspired names like Magnifi Cat and Muscat Love. In addition to the more commonly-seen varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, Baker crafts wines from varietals rarely grown in the United States, such as the Montepulciano grape grown in the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo region of Italy, and the Agliniaco grape that is originally from Greece and now grown in Italy’s Campania and Basilicata regions. Other highlights include the El Dorado Reserve Merlot, recipient of a gold medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and the Clarksburg Heringer Vineyard Petite Sirah and Clarksburg Heringer Primitivo, both winners of silver medals in the same competition.
Witch Creek has two tasting rooms: one in coastal Carlsbad and one in the quaint mining town of Julian. The Carlsbad Village location, just a block from the ocean, is a Spanish-style building amidst a walkway of boutique and specialty shops. Along with samples of Witch Creek wines, it sells wine-related merchandise, including glasses and t-shirts. The Julian tasting room, nestled among pine trees, offers pours by Tammy and Tina (also known as the “good witch” and the “bad witch”) and is decorated with black cat-themed décor.
Wines are available for purchase only at the winery and online; however, the winery also offers a monthly wine club in which wines are shipped directly to your door.
With its charming outdoor patio and cozy indoor seating area, Witch Creek Winery offers a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere for its guests. The winery specializes in producing small-batch, handcrafted wines. They are committed to using only the finest grapes from California vineyards.
Witch Creek Winery offers a wide variety of wines, including reds, whites, and rosés. Visitors can sample a selection of these wines during a tasting session. The wine tasting experience at Witch Creek Winery is not only about the wines but also about the knowledgeable and friendly staff. The winery's staff members are passionate about wine and are always happy to share their expertise with visitors. They provide detailed descriptions of each wine, including its flavor profile and food pairing suggestions. This personalized touch adds to the overall enjoyment of the wine tasting experience. In addition to wine tasting, Witch Creek Winery also offers wine clubs and special events. The winery's wine club provides members with regular shipments of handpicked wines and exclusive discounts on purchases. The winery also hosts events such as release parties and winemaker dinners, allowing visitors to further engage with the world of wine. Overall, Witch Creek Winery is a must-visit destination for wine enthusiasts in Carlsbad. With its stunning location, exceptional wines, and knowledgeable staff, it offers a truly memorable wine tasting experience. Whether you are a wine connoisseur or simply looking to relax and enjoy a glass of wine, Witch Creek Winery is the perfect place to indulge in your passion for wine..
Reviews for "Experience the Art of Winemaking at Witch Creek Winery in Carlsbad"
1. Lisa - 2 stars
I recently visited Witch Creek Winery in Carlsbad and was quite disappointed with my experience. Firstly, the customer service was lacking, as the staff seemed uninterested and unwilling to assist. Additionally, the wines themselves were underwhelming. The reds lacked the depth and complexity I typically look for, while the whites were too acidic and flat. The overall ambiance of the winery was also lacking, with a lackluster decor and a lack of attention to detail. Overall, I would not recommend Witch Creek Winery to fellow wine enthusiasts.
2. Mark - 1 star
My visit to Witch Creek Winery in Carlsbad was a complete letdown. The wines were subpar at best, lacking the depth and complexity that I expect from a winery. The staff seemed disinterested and unenthusiastic about their products, making the experience quite underwhelming. The tasting room was cramped and lacked any real ambiance, and the overall experience left me feeling like I wasted my time and money. I would highly recommend looking for other wineries in the area that offer a better selection and more enjoyable experience.
3. Kelly - 2 stars
I was not impressed with Witch Creek Winery in Carlsbad. The wines I sampled lacked the flavor profiles and complexity that I look for. In addition, the service was lackluster, with the staff appearing disinterested and inattentive. The overall atmosphere of the winery was also underwhelming, lacking the charm and ambiance that you would expect. I would not recommend this winery to those looking for a memorable and enjoyable wine tasting experience.