Charlie and Jess Koehler, proprietors of La Finquita Winery and Vineyard, cite the fervor of fellow vintners in the Ramona region and what they dub as “the modern allure of viticulture” as their motivation to delve into the winemaking industry.

Over time, Jess Koehler shares, La Finquita has cultivated a dedicated fanbase of recurrent patrons and wine club members, successfully marketing around eight to ten wine varieties, contingent upon the current culinary offering.

Approximately a year ago, the Koehlers, both grappling with distinct auto-immune health problems, declared their intent to shutter their tasting room. With the impending December 17 shutdown, the couple takes a moment to look back on their journey within the sector and to ponder on what the future may bring.

Charlie Koehler, a full-time IT employee who spends his days traversing the country for his profession, articulates that the occupation served as a welcome respite from the rigor of the corporate environment for him.

“I was on the road for eight weeks straight October through November,” he said. “I’ve been to 119 different hotels this year.”

Working the vineyard gave Koehler a break, and being able to take phone calls while out in the field was a highlight for him. Soon after the winery was started and work picked up, Jess Koehler took on more and more work around the winery, at 23123 Vista Ramona Road.

“A lot of the responsibility and day-to-day shifted to me, rather than both of us,” she said.

“Our whole goal was to do it together,” her husband said.

Wine played a significant role in the relationship of the couple, as shared by Jess Koehler. Being together, especially during their wine experiences, was crucial for them.

On their six months anniversary of being together in 2008, Charlie Koehler took Jess to Julian for an apple picking experience. They attempted to visit one of the wineries in Julian, however, it was so crowded that they didn’t get a chance to even step inside. It was Jess’s first time for a wine tasting.

Instead, they chose to visit the Schwaesdall Winery in Ramona, where they enjoyed a private tour and barrel tasting.

“We spent a major chunk of the day there, about three to four hours, and made really good friends with the owners,” shared Jess Koehler.

Several months later that same year, they were both offered a job at Schwaesdall. When Charlie Koehler proposed to Jess, he had two etched bottles of the tawny port the couple had tried during their first visit at Schwaesdall, made for the occasion.

This tawny port is made in a large tank at Schwaesdall, to which more wine is added to each year to build more flavor, Charlie Koehler said. A labor of love.

“It’s just kind of been throughout our relationship falling in love with each other and the world of wine,” Jess Koehler said.

Koehler said the couple has been dealing with significant health issues and decided to wrap up the La Finquita chapter to focus on health and family.

She mentioned that their fondness for the winery and their interaction with the clients remains strong. That’s why they’re sustaining the wine club. Additionally, La Finquita will keep on supplying other stores and restaurants, according to Charlie Koehler, even expanding their wholesale distribution to places as distant as Hillcrest.

Although the pair no longer produces wine, they still possess about 60 barrels and approximately 2,000 cases of wine. The wine and slush clubs will still operate for the forthcoming year, Jess Koehler assured, and they are welcoming new entrants.

“If the weather is extraordinarily pleasant, we’re considering setting up some spontaneous opening hours,” she expressed.

They announced that these openings would be accessible to all, however, the dates are yet to be determined.

Charlie Koehler announced plans to spend the next year determining their future course of action.

“We’re not removing any vines, we can still continue production,” he explained. “The key is figuring out just how much we want to produce and what the demand might be for the new style we’re planning to sell.”

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