Central Coast Winery Transplanting Tasting Room to Little Italy

Joining the ever-growing food and drink landscape of Little Italy is a well-established winery that intends to bring a taste of the Central Coast to San Diego. Founded in 2005, Pali Wine Company is known for its single-vineyard and AVA-specific Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from California and Oregon and its spin-off label, Tower 15 Winery, which focuses on Bordeaux and Rhone wines from the Paso Robles area. Available nationally in 38 states, including locally at George's at the Cove and the 3rd Corner, the Santa Barbara County winery will be opening a new tasting room at 2130 India Street by early September.

Location Matters' Marc Karren represented the tenant and landlord in the transaction, and tells Eater that Pali should be a great addition to a neighborhood's thriving wine and beer-tasting options, which range from San Diego Cellars' urban winery to Bottlecraft's bar and bottle shop and Ballast Point Brewing's Little Italy brewpub.

Pali Wine Co.'s Stacey Rosser says the Lompoc-based winery opened a second tasting room in downtown Santa Barbara's "Funk Zone" area to much success in 2012; in Little Italy, the company sees a similar community and demographic mix of locals and tourists. Pali plans to do an extensive remodel of the 1,600-square-foot space, formerly a retail shop, which will hold a large tasting bar, a lounge and a variety of seating options. They'll pour their entire portfolio, including wine on tap, and offer growler fills; Rosser says they may even do a special San Diego bottling using local grapes. A food component is still being defined, but it should encompass a variety of locally-made, wine-friendly snacks.