Paws, Roses and Ramona Wine: Meet Woof’n Rose Winery
With a name inspired by a love of dogs and roses, Woof’n Rose Winery offers visitors a taste of Ramona’s wine country and the family behind every bottle.
For the Kahle family, winemaking is more than a business. It’s a family tradition rooted in Ramona, where Woof’n Rose Winery and Vineyard has been producing locally grown red wines since 1995.
Located at 17073 Garjan Lane, Woof’n Rose is one of the oldest vineyards in the Ramona Valley. The five-acre property includes approximately three to three-and-a-half acres of vineyard, where the family grows red wine grapes and produces wines made entirely from Ramona Valley grapes.
“It’s a Mom and Pop shop,” said co-owner Marilyn Kahle. “You are talking to half our employees.”
Marilyn and her husband, Stephen Kahle, run the winery together, with help from their three sons, Travis, Ehren and Zane, and their families. Stephen manages the winery’s website, works in the vineyard, makes the wine and leads tastings. Marilyn also works in the vineyard and helps operate the tasting room and organize the winery’s participation in charity events.
Their sons pitch in whenever they can, balancing their own families and lives in Washington, Escondido and Ramona. The next generation is involved, too, with the Kahles’ grandchildren joining in when possible.
The winery’s name reflects Marilyn’s longtime love of dogs and the roses growing on the property. Before entering the wine business, Marilyn worked for Ramona Unified School District and was known for her affection for dogs. She collected dog calendars and was nicknamed “Woofy.”
“So technically I am the woof,” Marilyn said with a laugh.
Dogs remain part of the family’s life at the vineyard. Their Labrador recently celebrated her 16th birthday, a milestone Marilyn says they feel fortunate to share with their beloved pet. The family also has a five-and-a-half-year-old terrier mix.
Unlike wineries that produce a variety of red and white wines, Woof’n Rose focuses exclusively on red wines made from red grapes grown in the region.
“All our wines are 100-percent Ramona Valley,” Marilyn said. “It’s about as Ramona as you can get.”
The Kahles welcome visitors to their tasting veranda on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The winery is also open by appointment during the week, giving visitors an opportunity to experience local winemaking without traveling far from home.
Marilyn said she enjoys participating in community events and introducing people to the wines produced right here in Ramona. Although the region has an established wine industry, she believes many San Diego residents have yet to discover it.
“A big thing that San Diego doesn’t know is the wine industry we have here in Ramona,” she said. “People don’t need to drive. We have it right here in our backyard.”
The winery has welcomed visitors from around the world, including Canada, Mexico, India, Pakistan, South America, Russia and Japan.
“The world knows about Ramona, but San Diego does not,” Marilyn said.
Residents will have an opportunity to learn more about Woof’n Rose and sample its wines during the upcoming Meet the Winemaker event at the Par Lounge and Deck on October 28 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The evening will feature live music by Travis Billy Ross, along with four wines poured by Marilyn.
The featured selections are the 2021 Estate Grenache Noir, 2021 Estate Montepulciano, 2019 Estate Happy Trails and 2019 Estate Cabernet Franc Reserve.
For the Kahle family, the event is another opportunity to share the wines they produce, connect with the community and showcase one of Ramona’s homegrown businesses.
Woof’n Rose Winery and Vineyard is located at 17073 Garjan Lane in Ramona. For more information or to arrange a weekday appointment, call 760-788-4818. The tasting veranda is open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
