A Hidden Vine on the Lake wine shop at Lake Mission Viejo is one of my favorite destinations, even though I am not much of a drinker. Three reasons (other than the obvious robust selection of wines) for this are:

1. Great atmosphere. Their covered back patio overlooks the lake with its electric boats cruising by, sailboats tacking back-and-forth, and an overall sense of peace and tranquility. It is a laid back spot to escape the hustle and bustle of life for a minute.
2. They have yummy food. As most of you know by now, my stomach dictates a lot of my destinations. This spot offers freshly made sandwiches along with flat breads, cheese plates, meat plates, and assorted snacks that pair well with wine AND they are reasonably priced (bonus points: when my husband and I were last there, the owner gave us an extra flat bread because we had to wait a little long as he said the first one he made was not “perfect enough” to present — love it!).
3. One of the owners is a hockey fan. The original owner was a big hockey fan which reeled my husband in right away (hockey is like air to my husband – a necessity). The shop was passed on to another hockey guy when the original owner had to sell it because of too many difficult memories of his wife who sadly died (the two had opened the shop together). All three of the owners, however, are extremely nice and knowledgeable about their product.

                                               (view from back patio)

They also host ‘Friday Night Wine Tasting Sessions’ which spotlight top wines from various regions that are then discussed in-depth by a wine specialist. These events require you buy a ticket in advance and include a tasting of six wines paired with tasty cheeses and charcuteries. The evening fun is topped off with a chocolate treat.

A Hidden Vine on the Lake is located at 27772 Vista del Lago, Suite B-15, Mission Viejo, California 92692.

Get yourself over to this gem and let me know what you think of it.