Burtech Family Vineyard: A Winery with Deep Local Roots

Dominic Burtech, white-haired in a blue polo shirt, walking between rows of grapevines with guests in sun hats following behind him, wine glasses in hand — Owner Dominic Burtech leading the vineyard tour.

One of the coolest things you could possibly do in Encinitas this summer would be to gather up a couple good friends and plan to spend a few hours with Dominic and his family at the Burtech Family Vineyard for a free wine tasting and a vineyard tour.

Yes, Encinitas has a vineyard. It’s a family-owned-and-run vineyard located off Manchester Drive on the family’s eleven-acre Caballos Del Mar horse farm, where in 2019, Dominic Burtech planted over 2,000 vines in fields alongside their home and the horse corrals.

Aerial view of neat rows of green grapevines in a fenced field, a dirt lane cutting diagonally between two blocks of vines and white horse fencing along the edge — A drone’s-eye view of the vines on the Caballos Del Mar horse farm.

The idea of planting some grapes started as a simple project. “With the vineyard,” Dominic reflected, “did I ever think we’d be here today? No. What was I thinking about? ‘I’m going to build a trellis and I’m going to plant vine.’ That was step one. Once I got there, I was like, ‘Oh, my god. I’ve got to get wine in the bottle.’ So I bought fruit. Through that journey, I met good connections and I researched it. When you do something, at least with us, with what we’ve accomplished in life, we’re successful. Our family is very prideful, and we all understand that if we’re going to do this, if we are going to pour something to a friend or to family, you’ve got to be proud of it.”

Five people dressed in white standing in a row in front of the vines, each holding a bottle of Burtech wine, one young woman in a pink wide-brimmed hat holding a bottle of rosé — (L–R) James Valles, Olivia Macdonald, Maile Burtech, Julie Burtech and Dominic Burtech.

Upon your arrival to visit the vineyard, you’ll park in the circular driveway and walk around to the back of the house where you’ll be greeted by Dominic’s daughter Maile Burtech, Olivia Macdonald, the wine director; and then Dominic—who, of course, is the star of the show. You’ll also meet James Valles—a founding partner and Dominic’s best friend from their school and surfing days, as well as Julie, Dominic’s wife and business partner in their many ventures.

Two smiling women in sunglasses and hats seated at a white tasting table, pink rosé in their glasses, a bottle of Maile Rosé and a charcuterie board of fruit, cheese and olives in front of them — The Maile Rosé is Maile’s signature wine, which she personally developed and created. Maile (left) and Olivia (right).

Plan to spend the first hour enjoying being served a selection of Burtech Family Vineyard’s wines along with your delicious charcuterie tray. Then Dominic will take you on a walk through the vineyards and introduce you to his vines. On this tour, you’ll get a good education on the art of planting and caring for vines and grapes. Make sure you bring your full wine glasses with you!

Looking down a row of leafy grapevines on wire trellises, a wooden post in the foreground carrying a Burtech sign naming the Cabernet Sauvignon block — The Cabernet Sauvignon block.

After the tour, it’s time to sit down again and relax, while being served a few more Burtech Family Vineyard wine varieties, while doing a little more snacking. You’ll then have the opportunity to select bottles of your favorite wines from the day’s tasting for purchase to bring home with you.

A long white table under an umbrella crowded with smiling guests in hats and sunglasses, glasses of wine and a vase of white and purple flowers down the middle — Enjoying awesome wine and great food with family and friends.

The current wines were developed and sourced from grapes from different parts of California—the outgrowth of researching many vine and clone varieties to find what would be perfect for planting in Encinitas to produce the best wines.

Encinitas has a long history of farming, ranching, and agriculture, but this vineyard marks a first. This year will be the first vintage of estate wines from the Encinitas vineyard, which will give Burtech Family Vineyards the distinction of being the first winery to produce wines from Encinitas to be sold.

A young woman in a straw hat and sunglasses standing beside a wine barrel topped with six bottles of Burtech wine, holding up a bottle of Maile Rosé, vineyard rows and hills behind her — Maile Burtech holding a bottle of the Maile Rosé, whose development and creation she personally oversaw.

“If you have a dream, have a passion, if you think you want to do something in life, go do it. Research it. Be smart about it. Be passionate about it. Grow it organically. Take a lot of pride in it. The story I want to share is that you can do anything in life. I’m an example of that you can do anything you want. Work hard. Be smart. Do the right things, and believe,” said Dominic. “Believe that you can do it. Nothing’s too big. Nothing’s too small. Even if you think it’s too big, just prop it up and look at what’s the most important thing that you’ve got to do.”

Company founders Dominic and James, along with Dominic’s wife Julie and their children—Dom, Maile, and Ryan—set out with the goal of sharing their love for quality wine with the Encinitas community, which is where the children were raised and where Dominic loved to surf, and are planning to move forward with opening up a tasting room in Downtown Encinitas.

About twenty guests in sun hats and summer clothes posed together on a dirt path in front of the vines and tall eucalyptus trees, a bulldog on a leash at the end of the row — Having fun on the vineyard tour.

Since the Story

Founding partner James Valles pouring at the Encinitas Rotary Club’s Encinitas Wine and Food Festival, Encinitas Ranch Golf Course, June 2024.

Burtech Family Vineyard is a regular vendor at the Encinitas Rotary Club’s annual Encinitas Wine and Food Festival at Encinitas Ranch Golf Course.

As It Ran in Print

The original pages, Encinitas Magazine, August | September 2021, pages 26 to 29. Click any page to see it full size.

Burtech Family Vineyard, A winery with deep local roots, as it ran in Encinitas Magazine, page 26, the headline above clusters of dark grapes hanging on a trellised vine — Page 26.

Page 27 of the story in Encinitas Magazine, Dominic Burtech leading guests through the vines above the opening text — Page 27.

Page 28 of Encinitas Magazine, the five partners and family members holding bottles above two columns of text — Page 28.

Page 29 of Encinitas Magazine, the vineyard tour group photograph above Maile Burtech holding a bottle of Maile Rosé beside a wine barrel — Page 29.

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