Agricultural Products in California

They make their own wines but don't have a vineyard. Locally bought grapes are made into wines in San Diego. The tasting room in La Mesa brings the wine country into the city.

Acorn Winery, in the Russian River Valley region just south of Healdsburg, is run by winemaker Bill Nachbaur and his wife, Betsy. They launched production at the 32-acre vineyard, originally planted in 1890 with Zinfandel grapes, in 1994.

They use what is called "field-blending" of intermixed and co-fermented grape varieties, instead of separate processing of single varietals. This produces a unique type of wine that is served in many Sonoma County restaurants.

Open by appointment only, Acorn Winery produces about 3,000 cases of wine annually, and the Nachbaurs describe their operation as "hands-on, small-scale and sustainable."

CoolHaus specializes in custom ice cream sandwiches. Cookie options include chocolate chip, double chocolate, oatmeal, peanut butter, s'more, vegan chocolate truffle, red velvet, and hotcake cookie. Ice cream flavors include baked apple, blackberry ginger sorbet, gingerbread, molten chocolate cake, pumpkin pie, strawberry mojito sorbet, and Tahitian vanilla. All flavors can be mixed and matched.

This Winchell's in the large shopping center on Fair Oaks just north of the 110 is spacious and well shaded from the glaring afternoon or morning sun. It's a good place to enjoy a sweet treat and coffee before hitting the road for work. Night owls will love the 24-hour schedule.

Winchell's is a local Los Angeles business turned big. It's now the largest West Coast donut chain, with almost 200 stores in 12 states and three foreign countries.