As the only certified sustainable winery in San Diego, Ramona Ranch Winery takes sustainability seriously.
Wife-and-husband-duo Teri Kerns and Micole Moore started out making bathtub wine for fun. They had no idea their hobby would flourish into a sprawling ten-acre estate that produces award-winning wine — and would eventually become the only certified sustainable winery in San Diego.
At Ramona Ranch Winery, the picturesque views, homey feel, and smiling faces initially draw you onto the property, which houses Teri and Micole’s personal home, the vineyards, a tasting room, and more than thirty animals.
What you can’t immediately see is the immense work that goes into making hand-crafted wine that’s good for people and the environment. The “certified sustainable” designation requires passing a rigorous annual audit in sixteen areas, including soil management, pest management, wine quality, water conservation and quality, air quality, energy efficiency, biodiversity, and more.
“It’s more expensive and more work to meet these sustainability standards, but you really can taste the difference in hand-crafted wine,” says Teri.
On the grounds, you will find owl habitats, raptor perches, and insectary zones to attract beneficial insects for crop protection. The winery has taken these steps and more to minimize its impact on the environment. Only natural fertilizers and pest control methods are used to maintain healthy and thriving vines, and all harvesting is done by hand to preserve the vineyard’s delicate ecosystem. The entire operation is powered by solar panels, a wind turbine, and Tesla batteries.
In addition to wildlife, Teri and Micole share the property with four dogs, three barn cats, two house cats, two ponies (Thelma and Louise), one horse (Blue), one steer, one goat (Einstein) and seventeen chickens. The couple built their home and planted the vines themselves in 2005, and when they did, they made sure to preserve the native plants and only used half of the ten-acre property to maintain a healthy bird population.
Beyond their environmental commitments, Teri and Micole are dedicated to remaining deeply involved in the Ramona community. Micole is on the board of the Ramona Community Foundation and Teri serves on the boards for the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association and the San Diego Women Wine Alliance. They work with other local wineries for bulk ordering of bottles and wine glasses, and they partner with other local businesses to hold regular events in the winery. You might catch a local musician performing or a flower arranging class hosted by local female farmers. They also host events to teach patrons about various native animals and the important role they play in the ecosystem.
We’re passionate about sustainability, so we weave it into our everyday life and business.
–Teri Kerns
Teri and Micole plan several trips a year and invite wine club members to join them. They have stayed in eco-huts in San Ignacio and went wine tasting in Guadalupe Valley. Next, they will be exploring the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and embarking on a wine lovers river cruise through Provence, France.
“We do what we love,” Teri explains. “We love wine, so we started a winery. We’re passionate about sustainability, so we weave it into our everyday life and business. We love to travel, so we do it often and we take our wine club members to share these experiences with us.”
Ramona Ranch Winery is a model of sustainability in the wine industry. “This is a safe place,” says Teri. “Safe for animals. Safe for the environment. Safe for people.”
Ramona Ranch Winery, 23578 Highway 78, Ramona. Open 11 am–6 pm Friday through Sunday for outdoor wine tasting.
