Sunshine Mountain Vineyard wins first prize for “San Diego’s Best 2011” in the San Diego County Winery category by the San Diego Union Tribune

SAN DIEGO, September 1, 2011 – Sunshine Mountain Vineyard, an award-winning, locally-owned winery and vineyard in San Diego county, has been voted for the first place prize in the San Diego Union Tribune’s “Best of San Diego 2011” reader poll for the San Diego County Winery category.

This year more than 2,500 San Diego businesses were nominated for the San Diego’s Best award.  On the official website for the award, (http://www.signonsandiego.com/bestof/) the Union Tribune offered a salute to the San Diego businesses that won the award, of which there were 185 total, for the exemplary model they set.

“To all who voted, we thank you for sharing your indispensable opinion,” said the paper, “To the winners, we salute you on the exemplary service/product/business model/overall good cheer that got you here.”

The final results tally for San Diego County Winery category came in as follows:

1. Sunshine Mountain Winery And Vineyard

2. Orfila Vineyards And Winery
3. Bernardo Winery
4. Witch Creek Winery
5. The Blue Door Winery
6. Palumbo Family Winery
7. Triple B Winery

Sunshine Mountain Vineyard, which took second place in the “Best of San Diego” for 2010, knocked off Wilson Creek Winery for the top position. This is the second year since the inception of the “San Diego County Winery” category, and the sixth year for the San Diego’s best award in general.

With this most recent award, Sunshine Mountain Vineyard has managed to transcend its humble beginnings to garner wide acclaim and praise from both the local San Diego and national communities as the vineyard approaches its tenth-year in operation. In addition, Sunshine Mountain’s wine was the recipient of two related awards in 2011 from the Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition and the San Diego International Wine Competition, respectively.

Claire Kruger, co-owner of Sunshine Mountain Vineyard, believes her winery was recognized by Union Tribune readers due to the intimate nature of Sunshine Mountain’s culture, where visitors are made to feel like they are part of the wine making tradition and family themselves.

“We are honored to receive this recognition, and want to thank you, our friends who took the time to cast their vote and let the world know about Sunshine Mountain Vineyard,” Kruger said via Sunshine Mountain Vineyard’s Facebook page.

Congratulations to Sunshine Mountain Vineyard for winning first place for the San Diego County Winery category, as well as the 185 other San Diego businesses who won their respective categories of “San Diego’s Best” for 2011!

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About Sunshine Mountain Vineyard:

Sunshine Mountain Vineyard is located in gentle hills above the community of San Marcos, California. A pristine site, roughly halfway between San Diego to the south and Temecula to the north, is situated about 15 miles inland on the relatively undeveloped fringes of San Marcos proper.  The Vineyard’s tranquil setting and tiered layout result in captivating views, secluded event spaces and, above all, truly fantastic wines.

The key to Sunshine Mountain Vineyard’s wines is the thoughtful orientation of the vineyard’s vines and the exceptional characteristics of the vineyard’s location.  The south-facing slopes ensure exposure to the just the right dose of early-morning sun, and each afternoon a fresh ocean breeze wafts in from the Pacific, cooling the grapes to stabilize the flavor compounds within.  These conditions result in a collection of wines that is renowned throughout Southern California.

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About the San Diego Union Tribune:

The San Diego Union Tribune was founded on October 10, 1968 under the name “San Diego Union.” Acquired by Copley Press in 1928, the San Diego Union was merged with the Evening Tribune in 1992. The newspaper, the largest in San Diego, has a daily circulation of 300,000. The San Diego Union Tribune has won four Pulitzer Prizes for excellence in journalism.