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Polo field serves as catalyst for winemaking venture

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A late afternoon breeze rustles the palm fronds towering above the outdoor seating areas of the newly-opened Barrel 1 wine tasting room, a venture borne out of patience and a polo field.

“We spent a lot of time to get where we’re at,” said co-owner Audrey Cassidy.

She and her husband, Tom, are entrepreneurs who own a manufacturing company that produces custom drapery hardware. They bought their 17-acre property on Magnolia Avenue in 1999, where Tom, a polo player, developed his personal polo field.

However, when Tom got injured and had to give up the sport, he was left with nine acres of grass to maintain.

They first tried almonds, planting 400 trees, but found there was no place in San Diego County to process them. So they turned to grapes.

The couple planted a block of Merlot vines in 2001 and gradually added other varieties of grapes over the years. They remained patient, letting the vines mature.

“We just bided our time and waited,” Tom said.

In 2010 they made their first wine, although Audrey said they gave most of it away. They continued to read up on winemaking and produced more, methodically planning to create a wine tasting room once they had enough stock.

“My whole goal waiting to open...was waiting for our wine to be ready,” said Audrey. “I only want to sell our product.”

When they scheduled a soft opening on April 11, Audrey said Tom pulled her aside beforehand and said he didn’t want her to be disappointed if no one showed up. It was quite the opposite.

“I was so busy that first day I couldn’t take a break,” Audrey said.

Most of the customers that day were local and their comments were very positive, she added.

“We’ve been busy pretty much every weekend,” said Audrey, estimating at least 24 customers a day.

Open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the tasting room offers a patio with views of the vineyards and rock-studded hills in the background. Patrons have their seating choices of cushioned patio furniture around a Tuscan-styled fireplace, at tables shaded by umbrellas or at the wood bar adjacent to their wine operations building.

Their signature wine is their estate reserve Black Widow Merlot. They also have Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Spanish Blush and Muscat. Next year they will add a Viognier.

Tom noted that the vineyards and winemaking business blends well with the Tuscan Italian design of their house that is visible from the tasting room patio. Hawks fly around the property and the refreshing late afternoon breeze comes through nearly every day, he said.

“It’s beautiful here,” said the Massachusetts native who moved to Ramona from Solana Beach. “It’s never too hot and it’s never too cold. It’s just beautiful.”

Their grapes grow very well, he said, because the property has volcanic soil. Rising behind their property to the east are ancient volcanoes, Tom said, showing a map of a geological survey. He also noted they use drip irrigation and no fertilizer, pesticides or fungicides.

“Good wine comes from good grapes,” he said.

Working with the Cassidys as winemaker is Robert Garland, Tom’s father.

Despite the planting of over 3,000 vines, the polo field is not entirely gone and Tom still has two horses.

“I’m down to one football field of grass,” said Tom.

That comes in handy for their 13-year-old son Jake who plays Pop Warner football. The Cassidys also have a 10-year-old daughter, Arabella.

For more information on Barrel 1 Winery at 1007 Magnolia Ave., visit www.barrel1.com.

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