Open:Â Year Round
Eric Van Drunen has handled the direct winemaking for all vintages, and began using solely natural/minimalist methods (no use of added yeast, sulfites, or other chemicals) in 2011. Vinavanti became the first, and only, Certified Organic winery in San Diego County in 2013. Under the Los Pilares label, his 2013 Grenache/Carignan is described as "an accomplished natural wine that is every bit as explosive as anything in the genre (including Cornelissen)" by Jon Rimmerman of Garagiste, and his 2013 Sparkling Muscat graced the San Francisco Chronicle's Top 100 Wines of 2014, the only San Diego County wine to do so.
In addition to running Vinavanti, Van Drunen was instrumental in the forming of the local business league for urban wineries, San Diego Urban Wineries, and currently serves as President.Â
