San Diego Reader

• Winery | Julian

Orfila Vineyard - Julian

• 447 Highway 78, Julian, CA 92038 | Directions
• 760-765-0102 | Website

When Charlie Froelich and Mickey Fredman set out to break into the San Diego wine-production business — not that there was too much business to break into back in the '70s — they went about it exactly backwards: they planted a vineyard. Backwards because, before you go bringing tender grapes into the world, you need to make sure you have a home for them. (Being tender, they don't stand much of a chance if they don't get taken in and turned into shelvable product — er, wine.) And when you plant a vineyard, you can pretty much count on bringing grapes into the world.

Froelich and Fredman persevered, however, and the venture eventually became San Pasqual winery, which in turn eventually became Orfila Vineyards. ... +more