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Grape to Glass at Koi Zen: A San Diego Urban Winery By Noreen Kompanik Photos by Lyudmila Zotova
“W
ine and friends are a great blend,” Ernest Hemingway once observed, Darius and Lisa Miller, owners of Koi Zen Cellars urban winery, are passionate about their wines and couldn’t agree more. Ten months ago, the couple decided to follow their shared dream to be in the wine industry. Too many stress-filled years in the high-tech computer industry, coupled with a serious medical scare, convinced the Millers “the time is now.” They opened Koi Zen Cellars, the name inspired by the 2,500-gallon, five-foot
deep koi pond built in the couple’s backyard, where they love to meditate and unwind after a busy day. Already experimenting with winemaking for personal consumption, Darius took several oenology classes through UC Davis. The Millers toyed with the idea of buying a vineyard but, as Lisa explained, the concept of an urban winery became more and more fascinating. “We love where we live and thought it would be wonderful to bring the winery to the neighborhood in a relaxed community setting.”
Koi Zen’s tasting room reflects the comfortable intimacy of a neighborhood speakeasy, only here the beverage is legal. In addition to the wine bar tasting area, patrons can relax on the everpopular wraparound sofa seating. Lisa’s impressive collection of her own wine photography decorates the walls. Standing in the barrel room, hands outstretched with a proud smile on his face, Darius proclaims “this is where all the magic happens.” In their first year of operation, grapes were meticulously selected by Darius from five different May-June 2016
edible San Diego
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