We like coming to the Temecula Valley wine country. In many ways it reminds us of Santa Barbara, or Santa Ynez, just twenty or so years younger. Up in Santa Barbara, Fess Parker used his Daniel Boone Disney money in the 50's to buy up acreage. See the movie Sideways for more on this. Here in Temecula, you had Vincenzo Cilurzo (another Hollywood refugee), whose weekday job was that as a Light Director for Merv Griffin, see IMdB. Vincenzo and his wife Audrey planted 40 acres and that are considered Temecula's first vines in 1968, then along came Ely Callaway, then Joe Hart and the rest is history. We have visited over a dozen plus vineyards in Temecula and they're all a lot of fun. Each offers up a little history and a taste of their best for a few bucks. The wineries we continue to return to are Callaway, Wilson, Wiens, Hart, Ponte and South Coast. If you find one you like, I would recommend joining their wine club. Many of the wines aren't sold in discount stores. We would also suggest trying some the restaurants attached to the Winery, like Meritage at Callaway. As a postscript, Vincenzo & Audrey Cilurzo sold their winery in 2004 to Imre & Gizella Czirakis and they renamed it Bella Vista. Vincenzo died last year, but the family stayed in the Temecula area. Enjoy! read more

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T he valley has grown in leaps and bounds. E legant and quaint. M aking wine locally! E ducation available by friendly staff. C onveniently, located in Southern California. U nbelievable hot air hot air balloons... L ovely backroads from Rancho California Road. A perfect way to spend an afternoon. V ineyard tours and tastings. A tour bus will stop at several vineyards. L ive for food too? L ots of restaurant choices in the valley E ntertainment offererd at many properties. Y ou have some pet friendly options too! W edding sites galore! I nns for romantic getaways. N ice picnic spots. E vents are happening all the time! C harcutetires pair well. O utings on the weekend U YE's have occurred. N othing like wine country out your back door! T ry something new... R hone varietals grow well here. Y ou will discover something you love! #TemeculaAVA #SouthernCaliforniaWineCountry #iHeartTemecula read more

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This is a great area for growing grapes and making wine! The Temecula Valley vines have grown and matured to a point that I feel comfortable saying we are the new Nappa! The reds have arrived and can compete with most California wines. The winery's here are beautiful and have become the hot spot for weddings and so picturesque! I am so fortunate to live five minutes away from 50 wineries. read more

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Temecula Valley Wine Country is a certified AVA with over 50 wineries. Everyone talks about Napa but this is a destination spot that is only an hour from almost any direction. The wineries are from very simple (Red Barn) to grand ( South Coast , Weins ...). The whites are good and the reds are from good to outstanding. Each winery has it's own charm. Some places to visit are Wilson Creek, Lorimar, Monte De Oro, Cougar & Renzoni. read more

Temecula Valley Wine Country - Wineries Near Me - Temecula, California

What has 35,000 rolling acres of vineyards, more Pinterest Brides per square foot than anywhere else on earth, and rhymes with "I want a scraggly Vine Monkey"? If you answered "Temecula Valley Wine Country", you are either a good guesser, a 2-time returning Pinterest Bride, or you Googled: "rhymes with 'I want a scraggly Vine Monkey'". This Pinterest Paradise is less than an hour's drive from anywhere in San Diego County. It begins with a five-mile stretch eastbound on Rancho California Road before circling back to the freeway by way of De Portola Road/SR79. Most of the impressive estates feature Tuscan or Spanish-inspired motifs that blend seamlessly into the terroir. If you call in sick and visit during the week, you're guaranteed an easy parking spot and VIP service at the bar. I'm not going to review all 30 Temecula Valley Wineries, or all 35,000 acres. That would just give us both a headache. But I would pin the following on my Pinterest Board (used only for rhetorical purposes-- I am a man so therefore have no genetic inclination to have a Pinterest Board...): South Coast Winery Resort & Spa has an energetic tasting room, award-winning restaurant, and a full resort and spa. Here, you'll see why they're multiple winners of the California State Winery of the Year award - for the Cabs, Syrahs and Merlots... as well as some refreshing sparkling wines. A ginormous tasting room anchors the Ponte Vineyard and Inn. The property boasts a four-diamond boutique hotel with not just one-- but two award-winning restaurants. You'll find special events here during the holidays. Pinterest Bride faves are the Moscato and Malbec. Leoness Vineyard translates to "village of dreams", and resembles a serene, quaint village set in the hills of wine country. You can't go wrong choosing the Viognier, Syrah, or Cabernet Sauvignon. The Restaurant features a made-from-scratch menu served al fresco. Try the perfectly paired Charcuterie Board. Robert Renzoni Vineyards and Winery is a newer addition to the area. They produce estate grown Italian varietals from a grandiose Tuscan style villa. Get the Old Vine Zinfandel or Sangiovese. And don't leave without a jar of Mama Rosa's Marinara Sauce. Your Pinterest Bride will thank you... read more

We live in Huntington Beach and drive through Temecula almost every week on our way to our place in the Desert. We have enjoyed several of the wineries, from Shadow Mountain to Wiens to our latest visit, Palumbo Family Vineyards. Here is a short video of our trip there last week: https://youtu.be/LD8hOeP1tWM Super approachable owners. Wine only--this place is not a theme park. They specialize in red wines. Top of the line. read more

Temecula Valley Wine Country is one of my happy places. I remember when my parents first moved to Temecula about 20 years ago, when my siblings and I were either teenagers or young adults. At that age, we didn't see the potential and couldn't understand why they would want to leave the OC to live out in the middle of nowhere. At the time, there were only a few wineries, lots of horses, and Pechanga was just a trailer. Needless to say, parents know best and now I have a second home in a beautiful place. Lucky me! Now home to over 40 wineries, several breweries, and lots and lots of delicious places to stuff your face, Temecula has become a SoCal hotspot. While most first timers tend to visit the wine trail along Rancho California, I prefer the Deportola Trail. In fact, we like it so much that we got married at one of the wineries 14 years ago! The Deportola Trail has always been pretty lowkey, but is now growing significantly with many of the wineries upgrading their tasting rooms to keep up with the other side of town. One even has a wine cave built inside of a mountain! There are so many wineries to choose from and it's hard to decide which is our favorite. Every winery has something different and unique to offer. Because my dad is one of the longest wine pourers in Temecula Valley, we have been to most of them. If you're a first timer, you'll definitely want to check out Wilson Creek. Make sure to try their almond champagne or ask for an Angel Kiss. If you're looking for a delicious snack to go with your wine, Maurice Car'rie Vineyard has baked sourdough bread with brie cheese that is to die for! Looking for lunch? The deli at Cougar has amazing sandwiches, charcuterie boards, and pizza with spectacular views overlooking the valley. Or you can grab some delicious pizza at Robert Renzoni Vineyards. Lorimar Vineyards has also stepped up their game by adding the Pairings Food Truck where they now serve gourmet burgers and more. Looking for something a little more upscale for a special occasion? Check out The Pinnacle Restaurant at Falkner, The Restaurant at Ponte, or the Creekside Grill at Wilson Creek. You can even pack a picnic lunch to take with you to some of the wineries. Just call in advance as some have changed to a no outside food policy. Most wineries also offer live entertainment on the weekends. As for the wines, again, there are so many to choose from and everyone has their favorites but here are a few of mine: Lorimar, Danza del Sol, Hart Winery, and Wiens Family Cellars. Finally, if you have time, make sure to check out Old Town Temecula. Some type of event is sure to be going on and you'll feel like you took a step back in time to the Old West. There are a few tasting rooms here as well as many great shops and restaurants. Some suggestions are The Gambling Cowboy for a delicious steak, Crush and Brew to try some more local wines and craft beer, Mad Madeline's to try what some say is the best burger in the area, Olivedipity for specialty olive oils, and Old Town Spice and Tea Merchants to pick up specialty spices and teas to bring home. A local farmer's market even takes place on the weekends. It's nearly impossible to list all the wonderful things that Temecula Valley has to offer. Whatever you decide to do, there's no way not to enjoy a day spent here. Now go and have fun! read more

Temecula Valley Wine Country - Love our trips to Temecula Valley Wine Country! - Wineries Near Me - Temecula, California

Been coming here for years and it's steady growing from the 79 South to Lake Skinner. Wine country is probably the number one attraction in Temecula with Pechanga gaining ground. You need to have a designated driver when coming out here because either the Sheriff, CHP or Temecula police will pull you over real quick. Wine country is such a nice place to do wine tastings, eat at great restaurants, have a wedding or just stay at a Bed and Breakfast. If you want to avoid the crowds definitely come during the week. Some of my favorite wineries are Ponte, Wilson's and my favorite is South Coast. If you forget anything else just remember to Uber or have a DD. read more

It's about an hours drive from San Diego. We like that it isn't far from the city. We enjoy the wineries and the mountains around Temecula.