Tasty's Blog

Here in San Diego, we love to celebrate just about anything: ComicCon celebrates movies, comics and science fiction; BRO-AM Beach Fest celebrates community through surf contests and a killer free concert at the beach; and this week we’re celebrating the numerous Urban Wineries in San Diego during San Diego Urban Wine Week. If you haven’t heard the term before – an Urban Winery is a winery where they make wine, but not where they grow the grapes. Many Urban Wineries have wonderful tasting rooms where you can enjoy tastings, and our San Diego Urban Wineries can be found in cute little beach towns, tucked away in the countryside and within the heart of the thriving city. If you are interested in exploring some of San Diego’s fantastic Urban Wineries (and we highly recommend that you do – it’s an experience you’ll never forget), join us on…

Memorial Day is almost here! We love this day because it’s a way to remember those who gave their life for the United States armed forces.  It’s a solemn day, but that solemnity is tempered by celebrations: after all, it’s also the first official day of summer! Memorial Day is a day of togetherness, of friends and family, and of barbecues.  It’s also a day that’s traditionally full of beer – the best thing to drink with those backyard burgers and new memories you’re creating together is a growler of great beer.  And now you can enjoy your beer and wine and also honor the troops! You can buy your beer from veteran-owned craft breweries!  If you’re looking to expand your palate, here’s a handy starter guide from CraftBeer.com.  If all you need is a bottle opener, a local company called…

We love supporting our local community events, and are often asked to attend Wine, Beer and Food events and delight guests with our offerings. On June 2, Balboa Park will be hosting its first annual wine festival called, The Vine Affair. With a backdrop of San Diego’s premier museum galleries of fine art, science and history, this…

Happy Mother’s day, from San Diego Beer, Wine & Spirits Tours! We raise our wine glass to all the women in our lives who have made us stronger and better people. We know them and many of Thank you or always being there for us. Mother’s day is a special day that requires many unique and…

Are you in the RED or in the BLACK? Every year, at about this time, I hear a sizeable, collaborative groan from the general populous regarding Tax Time. Doing your taxes doesn’t have to get you down – Just add Wine.  You may not create the best return, but you’ll have fun! And if a refund isn’t in your future…don’t worry, be happy: Throughout the month of April, we’re touring San Diego’s best urban wineries and vineyards. There’s no better way to get relief from tax season than to spend an afternoon with us. It’s EZ!  Just call or click to book online (see below to choose your tour). Cheers!    

We have seen 2017 from the New Year all the way into springtime, and with all the rain we’ve been seeing thanks to a friendly El Niño, this is a particularly hale and hearty spring. The air smells like orange blossoms and our lawns are a little (well, a lot) greener than they were this time…

Whether it’s your Irish Roots, Shamrocks, Green Beer or Leprechauns, there are plenty of fun and festive traditions for everyone to enjoy for St. Patricks! Even though Ireland is far away, San Diegans know how to throw a great Irish Ceilidh! Shira Bliss, owner and founder of San Diego, Beer, Wine and Spirits Tours, and born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland says: “You’ll be chuffed to try one of our special St. Patrick’s Brewery or Distillery Tours that we’re running throughout the month of March! The luck of the Irish to you! Sláinte!” What started as a religious feast to celebrate the patron Saint of Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day has morphed in to an international phenomenon of fanfare and celebrations. The most prominent symbol associated with this holiday, the Shamrock, stemmed from the idea that St. Patrick used the…

San Diego Brewery Tours – Enjoy the Warmth of Spring With Us! It’s a great month in San Diego, because not only will we be getting a real spring this year, thanks to some serious rain we’ve been lacking for the past several years, but this is also the month that all the great brewery events…

All Aboard the “Love Train” Looking for a unique way to wow your special someone for Valentines? Hop aboard the Love Train! San Diego Beer, Wine & Spirits Tours invites you and your sweetheart on a romantic Winery Train Tour. Enjoy fine wines, delicious gourmet food and breathtaking coastal scenery on this eco-friendly tour of San Diego’s best urban wineries. By popular demand, for the fifth year in a row, the “Love Train” tour will delight guests with delectable food, tastings at superb local wineries (about 15 tastes!), a wine tasting presentation from your local expert guide, sightseeing and entertaining commentary on San Diego’s rich history. There is also an optional brewery stop on this tour. Make your Valentine’s celebration wonderfully memorable for those you love the most in an environmentally conscious and uniquely San Diegan way. It’s the Smart,…

Wine comes in at the mouth And love comes in at the eye; That’s all we shall know for truth Before we grow old and die. -William Butler Yeats February is such a great month in San Diego.  Not only is it when springtime begins around here, but it’s also the month of love! Valentine’s Day is a tradition that’s been going on for centuries – and probably millennia.  The tradition of Valentine’s Day is murky, but it’s thought to come from a 5th century Roman fertility rite called Lupercalia.  The rites were supposed to honor Faunus, the god of agriculture, and Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome who according to legend were raised by a she-wolf.  The rites consisted of parties and sacrifices, but most importantly, wine. Over time, it became much more about romantic…

In my mid-twenties, I was a regular at a local pub that featured hundreds of beers from different parts of the world – most were in bottles, and many were on tap. The pub had a “members only card” that included each of the beers they offered; and the pub challenged members to drink a beer and tick it off the list. If a member drank 100 different beers, they would be commemorated with a special engraved mug and a plaque on the wall. I don’t know if my plaque still is showcased on the wall of that pub, but I do know that the mug with my name on it still sits in my kitchen cabinet, and is brought out for special occasions. When it comes to types of beer that I tasted, what struck me most were the options…

With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, we thought we’d compile a selection of musings on the effervescent nectar that we love so much. Why not wow your NYE guests with one of these quotes as the evening’s toast? My only regret in life is that I didn’’t drink enough Champagne. John Maynard Keynes…