Fiery sunset over the vineyard at Hill Top Winery in Valley Center, California

Valley Center · California

Stone, fire & wine
music as the sun sets.

Chef Pablo Ranea cooks Argentina over open flame. Empanadas, asado, and wine by the glass, on a hilltop of vines above Valley Center.

Reserve a table → Live music Saturdays
4.5★ on Google Open Thursday – Sunday 30801 Valley Center Rd

Meet the chefs

Chef Pablo Ranea holding a glass of red wine at Hill Top Winery

Argentine cuisine

Argentine fire, on the Hill Top.

Asado, empanadas & dulce de leche. Refined.

Pablo Ranea carries Mendoza with him: a chef who cooks with smoke and embers, then plates with a quiet, exacting hand. Salsa criolla and llajua, grilled octopus, handmade orecchiette, Uruguayan skirt steak. Argentine soul, Valley Center roots.

Live-fire asado Handmade empanadas Dulce de leche Sunday brunch
Reserve a table Follow @pabloranea

From the chef · @pabloranea

See the feed →
Pablo Ranea, a Michelin moment
Sambayón dessert by Pablo Ranea
Dulce de leche
Grilled mollejas over fire
Golden-hour plating
A Pablo Ranea pop-up in New York
Chirimoya fruit
Cooking in California
From Pablo Ranea's kitchen

Guest reviews

Five stars, again and again.

4.5 ★★★★★★★★★★ Read on Google →

★★★★★

Lovely winery with a fantastic view and an impressive gastropub menu. Very unstuffy staff and service. We loved the empanadas, and the seasoned butter served with the bread was fantastic. The pairing with such an amazing sunset view reminds you that some outings are about the experience. Beautiful building, heaters and blankets on the patio, and dog friendly.

Shannon Lee Blas-Blair · Google

★★★★★

Had dinner at Hill Top tonight. Great outdoor space, live music, sample wines. The chef came out, explained the dishes and even offered samples of homemade ice cream. The sisters who own the winery were there to meet, greet and join you on the dance floor.

Cindy Peters · Google

★★★★★

We came for the first time for Valentine's Day. The food was delicious and the wine, we have no words other than extraordinary. My husband doesn't normally like white wine, and we ended up taking a bottle home. It was unlike any white we've ever had. We can't wait to come back!

Iris Mendez · Google

★★★★★

Had such an amazing time at this winery. The food was incredible. Those Argentine empanadas (beef, chorizo and veggie) were out of this world, and the Uruguayan skirt steak was unreal. Can't wait to go back and try more from the menu.

Alejandro Cohen · Google

★★★★★

Went to enjoy some wine and food with the family and Hill Top did not disappoint. I would definitely recommend going back and trying a flight. The charcuterie board and hummus were great.

Paul Fornaciari · Google

★★★★★

Gorgeous, and such a unique view of Valley Center. I did not get a chance to try the menu this evening, but that gives me a perfect excuse to come back.

Maira Resendiz · Google

Wine & tasting

The perfect pairing with your meal.

Made in Valley Center: reds with sun in them, whites with air. Sit for a flight beside the fire, or take a bottle home.

Reserve a tasting →
A flight of Hill Top wine against the vineyard sunset
A flight, as the sun sets
Hill Top Winery bottles

Reds

  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Merlot
  • Ranch House Red Signature blend
  • Sangiovese
  • Syrah
  • Tempranillo
  • Zinfandel

Whites & Rosés

  • Chardonnay
  • Viognier
  • Pinot Gris
  • Grenache Rosé
  • Tempranillo Rosé
Oak barrels in the Hill Top cellar
Aged in oak
Grapes on the vine
From the vine
Hill Top tasting glasses at golden hour
Poured at golden hour
The Hill Top cellar, barrels and tanks
In the cellar

Wine club

Join the cellar.

Two ways in: one bottle a month, or a quarterly case with the keys to everything. Skip, pause, or cancel anytime.

Most popular
Black Estate Wine Club
$220/ quarter

Four bottles a quarter, and the keys to everything.

  • ◆ 4 bottles per quarter
  • ◆ 20% off everything
  • ◆ Access to signature & limited bottlings
  • ◆ 2 complimentary tastings or 2 glasses monthly
  • ◆ Free shipping up to $20
  • ◆ Invitations to winemaker dinners, concerts & private events
Join the Black Estate
Hill Top Social Club
$50/ month

One bottle of your choice, every month.

  • ◆ 1 bottle of your choice monthly
  • ◆ 10% off all wine & food
  • ◆ Winery pickup
  • ◆ Skip, pause, or cancel anytime
Join the Social Club

Live music

Music as the sun sets.

Every Saturday, the light turns amber and a band sets up on the Hill Top. Pour a glass, hold your table, and stay for the whole set.

♪ Saturdays · 4:30 – 7:30 PM

Sam Onzo performing at Hill Top Winery

Sat · Jul 4

Sam Onzo

Ukulele-playing singer-songwriter from San Diego County, covering top-40 favorites with a splash of rock and reggae, plus his own originals and live looping.

4:30 – 7:30 PM · Hill Top Patio

Free with table Reserve
Johnny Boots performing at Hill Top Winery

Sat · Jul 11

Johnny Boots

A hard-working, big-sounding power trio playing driving, blues-infused rock. Johnny blends the intensity of SRV with singer-songwriter ballads and electrified Delta blues into his own “Bootsy-fied” sound.

4:30 – 7:30 PM · Hill Top Patio

Free with table Reserve
Jeff Brinkman performing at Hill Top Winery

Sat · Jul 18

Jeff Brinkman

Singer-songwriter weaving soulful renditions of popular and classic covers with two-plus albums of originals. A semi-finalist on Season 3 of FOX's The X Factor, top 10 in his age group.

4:30 – 7:30 PM · Hill Top Patio

Free with table Reserve
John Patrick performing at Hill Top Winery

Sat · Jul 25

John Patrick

A soulful blend of Motown grooves, classic rock and yacht rock, including pop favorites with just a touch of country charm.

4:30 – 7:30 PM · Hill Top Patio

Free with table Reserve
A couple at their Hill Top Winery wedding in the vineyard
A wedding reception under string lights at dusk on the Hill Top patio
A vineyard wedding ceremony at Hill Top Winery

Private events & weddings

Your night, by firelight.

Vineyard rows, open flame, and a band as the sky goes amber. We host weddings, milestone celebrations, and private gatherings built around fire, wine, and music at sunset.

◆ Hill Top vineyard setting, ceremony to last pour

◆ Hill Top wines and live-fire asado catering

◆ Live music and firelight as the sun sets

Plan your event →

Special events

One-night-only on the Hill Top.

Movie nights, comedy, and seasonal one-offs. A rotating calendar of reasons to come back to the Hill Top. Here's what's coming up.

Film · Free

Movie Night Under the Stars

Featuring Independence Day (1996). Bring a blanket, settle onto the hay bales, and watch on the big screen as the sun drops behind the vines. Snack bar and wine by the glass on hand.

◆ Thursday, July 2 · 8:00–10:00 PM · No RSVP

Comedy Night at Hill Top Winery, a vintage microphone under string lights at dusk Announcing soon

Comedy

Comedy Night

Live stand-up under the string lights, glass of red in hand. We're lining up the comics now. Dates and lineup drop here first.

◆ Lineup announcing soon

Sunset dinner at a long communal table in the vineyard
hilltop.winery Sunset over the vineyard, and a table that runs till the light goes. A show all its own.
Chef Pablo Ranea and a cook in the Hill Top vineyard
hilltop.winery Chef Pablo and the team, out between the rows. Argentine fire, California fruit.
Brioche French toast with dulce de leche and pistachio
hilltop.winery Brioche French toast, dulce de leche, pistachio, berries. Brunch hits different up here.
July live music schedule at Hill Top Winery
hilltop.winery Live music every Saturday in July, 4:30 to 7:30. Pull up a chair.
Movie Night under the stars flyer, July 2
hilltop.winery Movie Night under the stars, Thursday July 2. Bring a blanket and a bottle.
House-made dulce de leche dessert with berries
hilltop.winery House dulce de leche, the flavor we carry like a flag. Straight from Argentina.
Sunday Brunch at Hill Top Winery
hilltop.winery Sunday Brunch is open at 10. Good wine, great food, incredible views.
Eric playing live this Friday at Hill Top Winery
hilltop.winery Eric, playing and singing this Friday, 4:30 to 7:30. See you there.
Hill Top Winery bridal tour and wedding venue
hilltop.winery Weddings on the hill. A pond, a barn, and the whole valley open. Say yes here.

Visit

Find us on the Hill Top.

Hours
Thursday11 AM – 8 PM
Friday11 AM – 8 PM
Saturday11 AM – 8 PM
Sunday10 AM – 6 PM · Brunch from open
Mon – WedClosed

Kitchen closes 7:30 PM Thu–Sat, 5:30 PM Sun.

Address
30801 Valley Center Road
Valley Center, CA 92082
Call
(760) 913-1013  ·  reservations
Reserve a table Get directions

Good to know

Frequently asked.

Where is Hill Top Winery?

Hill Top Winery sits on a vineyard hilltop at 30801 Valley Center Road, Valley Center, CA 92082, in North County San Diego, about 45 minutes from downtown San Diego and a short drive from Escondido.

What kind of food does Hill Top serve?

Live-fire Argentine cooking by Chef Pablo Ranea of Mendoza: handmade empanadas, provoleta, grilled octopus, Uruguayan skirt steak, Argentinian ribeye, and dulce de leche, with chimichurri and salsa criolla on the table.

When is the live music?

Live music plays every Saturday from 4:30 to 7:30 PM on the patio, as the sun sets.

Do you take reservations?

Yes. You can reserve a table online, or call us at (760) 913-1013.

Are you open for brunch?

Yes, Hill Top serves brunch on Sundays. The winery and kitchen are open Thursday through Sunday.

Can I host a wedding or private event?

Yes. Hill Top hosts weddings, private parties, and occasional pop-up dinners on the vineyard. Plan yours through the events page or by calling the winery.