J. Brix Wines Opens Tasting Room in San Marcos | Eater San Diego
"Founded 15 years ago by co-winemakers Emily Towe and Jody Brix Towe—who started the company in their garage and grew into a facility in Escondido—this local wine producer has opened its first tasting room in San Marcos as part of North City, sharing the development with Buona Forchetta, Draft Republic, Maya’s Cookies, and Wynston’s Ice Cream. Known for low-intervention wines, including the popular Cobolorum Riesling Pét-Nat, the producer sources varieties from California vineyards, including Santa Barbara and San Diego County. The tasting room (an 890-square-foot space last held by Newtopia Cyder) will feature a selection of wine on tap—“from Skin-Contact Pinot Gris to Carbonic Merlot” available by the glass or carafe—along with wine flights and bottles available to-go or to sip on-site for a $15 corkage. Other beverages include cold brew coffee from Carlsbad’s Steady State Coffee and non-alcoholic options like a Prosecco-style sparkling wine. Operating Tuesday through Sunday, the tasting room allows guests to bring in food from North City neighbors while also stocking wine-friendly snacks such as tinned seafood, organic sourdough crackers, garlic-stuffed olives, and Marcona almonds, with plans to offer packaged cheese and charcuterie in the future. The space will also host regular art-and-wine workshops, with ticket prices that include a glass of wine and all class supplies. The winery tells Eater that it’s currently moving its headquarters into a new space in the Carlsbad Gateway Center; that facility will be focused on wine production for now but may be used for special events down the line." - Candice Woo
How Coronavirus Is Hurting Independent Winemakers | Eater
"A small family winery in Escondido, California run by a husband-and-wife duo who handle winemaking, marketing and fulfillment themselves (their about page even lists kids and the family dog). The brand historically ships to many states — noting orders to 14 states with seven recently put on hold — and has experienced a sharp, stressful shift in demand; in response it has seen direct-to-consumer sales spike three to four times and describes the sudden disruption as ‘whiplash.’" - Jordan Michelman