Costa Azul Winery

“Wine tells the story of a place, but it also tells the story of the person who made it.”

Meet the Owner and Winemaker

Costa Azul is connected to Solterra Winery and owner-winemaker Christopher Van Alyea. His winemaking journey began with a 1999 vintage and included work in Sonoma and San Diego counties, along with viticulture and winemaking studies at UC Davis and Santa Rosa Junior College. He released the first Christopher Cameron Vineyards vintage in 2002 and developed the Costa Azul label in 2006.

The Story Behind the Dream

The Costa Azul name reflects Van Alyea’s desire to make California wine feel at home along the coast. After producing early wines in Sonoma County, he moved production to San Diego County with the 2006 vintage. The Carlsbad tasting room gives Village guests a direct connection to that longer winemaking story and to Solterra’s working winery in nearby Leucadia.

The Winery Story

At Costa Azul, wine is presented as a social experience rather than a formal test of expertise. Tastings, bottles, live music, food vendors, and the option to bring food create an easygoing gathering place. The setting makes locally produced wine approachable for visitors who may be discovering San Diego County winemaking for the first time.

Signature Offerings

The selection changes as new vintages are released, but the experience centers on wines produced through the Solterra and Costa Azul programs. Flights allow guests to compare styles, while glasses and bottles encourage a slower visit. Because current releases vary, guides should describe the experience and confirm individual wines with the tasting-room team.

Behind the Scenes

A tasting room represents years of work that guests do not see: sourcing fruit, monitoring fermentation, blending, aging, bottling, and deciding when a wine is ready to share. Van Alyea’s background across Northern and Southern California helps connect established winemaking practices with a distinctly coastal San Diego setting.

Why We Love Them

Costa Azul adds another dimension to Carlsbad’s culinary identity. It offers an adult tasting experience that pairs naturally with the Village’s restaurants while introducing visitors to a local producer and the craft behind every bottle.

Cherimarie’s Reflection

I love places that make learning feel like hospitality. At Costa Azul, a glass of wine can begin a conversation about grapes, craftsmanship, California, and the people who turn a harvest into something worth sharing.