Our Story

Welcome to San Diego Wine County! Three Hills Winery is just 45 minutes from downtown San Diego and near Mt Woodson and the famous Potato Chip Rock.

Located in the heart of Ramona’s wine-producing AVA, it is recognized for its ideal conditions for producing grapes for making fantastic award-winning wines. Three Hills is a family-owned vineyard and winery where artisan wines are handcrafted by the owners and winemakers, Tobias & Carrie Panek. The property has 9 acres of which three are vineyards with a delightful one-acre lake with abundant shade trees and a serene atmosphere.

We craft 14 different wines including reds, whites, roses, sangria, port, and dessert wines. Four varietals are grown on the property including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel, and its highly acclaimed and unusual varietal Picpoul Blanc, from the Pinet region of France. Other varietals are locally sourced including Merlot, Sangiovese, and Pinot Grigio. All of our wines are produced and bottled on the property.

The wines at Three Hills or, as they say in Italian, Tre Colline, are produced in the Italian style which tends to be lighter, fruit-forward. The wines are aged in lightly toasted French oak barrels from 18 to 30 months, depending on the wine. Their style aims to enhance the flavors of each grape varietal and not overpower the delicate aromas with the more heavily toasted oaks. Their passion for wine and techniques for winemaking were developed over many years while traveling through the various wine regions of Italy.

Currently producing 14 wines with a production of 1,800 gallons or about 10,000 bottles of wine per year, including 4 red varietals, 2 white varietals, 2 rosé, 3 red blends, 2 port-style dessert wines, and one Italian Liqueur.

Tasting Notes

White Wines

Picpoul Blanc - The Lip-Stinger Elegance: This grape from the Pinet region (Languedoc region) of France translates to lip stinger. A lively higher acid wine that gives you just a hint of a tingle on your lips and gums. This wine has a pleasant minerality, with notes of stone fruit and grapefruit. Inspired by the winemaking family in the Pinet region dating back to 1766, our Picpoul Blanc pairs seamlessly with fish, chicken, and a delightful selection of cheeses.

Pinot Grigio - A Symphony of Floral and Fruity Delights:  This smooth drinking white wine is crafted in a light style with low acid and a smooth texture for an easy drinking wine. The wine boasts strong floral and fruit flavors of peach and passion fruit. Our inspiration for this wine, being a red varietal of grape, our Pinot is produced with a slight rose color due to our additional soaking time on the red grape skins prior to pressing. This gives time for additional unique flavor profiles to be pulled from the skins.

Red Wines

Cabernet Sauvignon  - A Classic Staple of Elegance:  This classic is a staple of any winery. Our techniques retain the classic flavors of this exceptional grape. This is a Medium Bodied wine, fruity with a soft finish. Ideal for pairing with steak, French fries, and a variety of red meats, this Cabernet Sauvignon also harmonizes beautifully with grilled vegetables. 

Merlot -  Velvety Smooth and Approachable: Tailored for being mild and pleasant with a medium body and light oak finish. Approachable soft texture and style, velvety and plummy smoothness and a light oak finish. Perfectly approachable, Merlot pairs effortlessly with chicken, light meats, and dishes like Beef Bourguignon.

Zinfandel - Bold and Robust:  Unleash the bold and robust character of Zinfandel, a wine with deeper flavors, medium body, and a medium oak finish. Taste the unique essence of the Zinfandel grape, pairing exquisitely with grilled meats, pasta, and robust vegetarian dishes.

Syrah - Elegance in Boldness:  a wine requiring meticulous care to coax out delightful flavors and aromas while preserving natural elegance. With notes of black cherry, black pepper, blackberry, and plum, it pairs harmoniously with savory meat dishes, grilled vegetables, and hearty vegetarian fare.         

World Peace - Harmony in Every Sip:  Experience unity at your table with World Peace—a delicately balanced red wine blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Full-bodied yet smooth, this delightful blend harmonizes effortlessly with various meat dishes.

Serenity Now - Feisty Elegance in Every Glass:  Elevate your tasting experience with Serenity Now, a feisty red wine blend of Zinfandel and Syrah. This blend, a winery favorite, offers a unique, bold mouthfeel with layered depths of flavors. Crafted with passion, it pairs superbly with a variety of dishes.

Vino Nobile - Super Tuscan-   - This wine was inspired by the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano in Tuscany Italy, The Wine of the Nobles. This is a fusion of the Italian and French grape. Approximately 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet and Merlot. The Sangiovese wine has a long-extended maceration on the skins giving additional color, flavors, and tannins. The wines in this blend are produced and oaked on their own for 18 months, then blended together and aged in French oak for an additional 12 months. Total time in the barrel is 30 months for this wine.

Double Trouble – Port Style Red: Delight in the rich and indulgent Double Trouble—a Port Style Red blend of Zinfandel and Syrah aged for 5 Years in French oak. Perfect for an after-dinner aperitif, it pairs seamlessly with chocolate and rich desserts.