The Dish: Local kombucha brewers, distillers, winemakers unveil new tasting rooms, canned cocktails and more

San Diego is better known as a craft beer mecca, but lately much of the adult drink news in town has been made by the makers of kombucha, canned cocktails, still and sparkling wines and distilleries. Here’s a look at the latest news in this fast-growing market.

The Boochyard at Local Roots Kombucha in Vista.

(Kyle Cannon)

Local Roots Kombucha

In March, North County cousins Ryan White and Joe Carmichael opened The Boochyard, a tap room in Vista for their 5-year-old company, Local Roots Hard Kombucha. Another Local Roots tasting room will open July 1 near the Carruth Cellars winery on South Cedros Avenue in Solana Beach.

The new 7,500-square-foot Vista tasting room is in the same business park location at the company’s brewery.

Delayed by two years because of the pandemic, the Boochyard has 40 rotating flavors of hard and non-alcoholic kombucha on tap, including Cali Mule, Blood Orange Mimosa, Strawberry Mojito, Purple Haze, Island Vibes, Mai Tai, and a specialty Hop ‘N Citrus collaboration with Second Chance Brew Co. Take-home cans and growlers are also available. The Boochyard also has an onsite kitchen serving a sustainable menu of appetizers and entrees.

The Boochyard is at 1430 Vantage Court, Suite 101, in Vista. Hours are 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, noon to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 9 p.m. Sundays. Beginning June 18, the company will launch a summer concert series at its Vista location.

Local Roots is also the exclusive kombucha of the San Diego County Fairgrounds and the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach.

Visit localrootskombucha.com.

A selection of San Diego-made Melograno Cocktails.

(Melograno Cocktails)

Couple launches Melograno Cocktails

Husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Reza and Shiva Mortazavi of San Marcos have launched a new ready-to-drink canned cocktail brand that celebrates different international flavors and designs.

The brand had its official launch May 13, with four flavors: Pomegranate Cosmopolitan, made from a Persian recipe; Orange Blossom Martini, with fragrant Asian flavors; and two Mexican/Latin American flavors, Melon Margarita and Cucumber Lime Mojito. The can designs were inspired by international textiles from Iran, Asia, West Africa and Europe.

The 12-ounce cocktails are sold in a variety 12-pack priced from $16 to $18 at specialty grocers and liquor stores. They’re also sold at bars and restaurants. San Diego is the first market for Melograno Cocktail sales. Next up will be Las Vegas. For details, visit melogranococktails.com.

Coda Wines launches club

San Diego’s Coda Wines, which is a direct-to-consumer Prosecco distributor, has marked its first birthday this spring by launching a wine club. Customers can now buy a quarterly subscription to receive special deals on a curated selection of wines.

The company was founded in spring 2021 by San Diego business owners Jacques Spitzer, Adam Wagner and the local wine importer Quigley Fine Wines. Coda has its own Prosecco label of Coda Classic and Coda Gold varieties, made from Italian dry-farmed grapes. The wine club will allow members access to a hand-picked list of red and white wines. For details, visit drinkcoda.com.

The San Diego Padres limited-edition can for Cutwater Spirits Vodka Mule.

( Cutwater Spirits)

Cutwater Spirits at Petco Park

San Diego-based Cutwater Spirits, a canned cocktail brand with more than 20 varieties, is an official sponsor for the San Diego Padres’ 2022 season.

Cutwater canned and bottled spirits are being sold this season at locations throughout Petco Park, including The Still, a Cutwater-branded area on the Terrace Level along the third baseline, and Power Alley on the Mezzanine level beneath the right-field grandstand. As part of its sponsorship, Cutwater has released a limited-edition Padres can for its Vodka Mule and Paloma cocktails. For details, visit cutwaterspirits.com.

Twin Oaks winery opens new tasting room

Twin Oaks Valley Room has relocated its tasting room to a new location in Escondido.

Originally established in San Marcos in 2001, the winery was purchased in 2013 by Mark and Kathryn Gray, who recently moved their tasting operation to a new location in downtown Escondido at 141 E. Grand Ave. The Grays specialize in making old world wines with San Diego County-grown grapes. The new location’s hours are 3 to 7 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays and 3 to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Visit twinoaksvalleywinery.com.

Kragen writes about restaurants and bars for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Email her at pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com.