Weekend At A Winery: Where Wine Pairs With Classic Cars

ESCONDIDO, CA — With its ideal, grape-growing climate, San Diego County is home to more than 150 wineries, according to the latest stats from the San Diego County Vintners Association. And that number is expected to rise, according to the trade group.

As winery day-trippers clearly have options aplenty, we'll fill you in on one worth a stop — particularly for admirers of classic automobiles and all things vintage — the Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum, tucked away in North County's Escondido.

Deer Park, family-owned for 50 years and the fifth oldest winery in the S.D. region, is not only home to vineyards, a tasting room and gift shop. It also includes an impressive, three-building assembly of cars from 1880s' carriages to 1970s' muscle cars.

"It's a century of Americana," said John Hall, manager of the winery's tasting and gift-shop facilities.

The 110-car collection is a life-long endeavor of Deer Park owner, Clark Knapp, Hall said.

Museum visitors can swoon over the Studebakers, Packards, Pierce Arrow, the three-wheeled Messershmitz, the "Mad Man Muntz" mobile, the ill-fated "toilet seat" Edsel, "Unsafe at Any Speed" Corvair and the Parnelli Jones Indy 500 race car.

Also on site are throwback-era appliances, Barbie dolls, radios and TVs, Coca-Cola memorabilia and phonographs (AKA "record players" back in the oldie days).

And— oh! — lest we forget ... the wine. Deer Park produces such award-winning varietals as Merlots, Sangioveses and dinner-style reds. The tasting room is open at 10 am. Thursdays through Sundays. From the gift shop, visitors can pick up wine, plus deli-style, picnic spreads to enjoy on the patio.

Despite recent setbacks due to coronavirus-related woes, San Diego wineries remain optimistic on growth potential, according to a trade official.

"Even with challenges from the pandemic, we saw innovative sales strategies among local wineries such as curbside pickup and outside service reservations – demonstrating the innovation and incredible resilience of our winery members in the face of unprecedented times,” said San Diego County Vintners Association President Ed Embly, owner of Hungry Hawk Vineyards in Escondido. “We continue to see the number of wineries grow in the county and a bright future for the industry in our region.”

Our highlighted Deer Park Winery is at 29013 Champagne Blvd., Escondido. Follow this link for hours and details. Museum admission is $10, with discounts for military and vets, plus kids 9 and younger admitted free.

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