Temecula, CA - With nearly 50 wineries producing award-winning vintages, Temecula Valley has quietly become a premier wine destination ovewine cr the past five decades. Located in Riverside County just 60 miles from San Diego, Temecula offers a more relaxed wine country experience compared to storied regions like Napa.
Mediterranean varietals like Tempranillo, Sangiovese, and Vermentino thrive in Temecula’s hot days and cool nights. The ocean breeze and elevation changes create ideal growing conditions. Small family vineyards dot the countryside along with several mid-sized operations like Callaway, Leoness, and Wiens Family Cellars.
Wiens Family Cellars features 150 acres of vineyards growing 27 varietals. At Wiens, guests can taste wines on the patio against the scenic backdrop of live music performances. The big reds and white wines have earned Wiens a stellar reputation.
Bottaia Winery provides luxurious Italian-inspired experiences like seated tastings with charcuterie in the barrel room. The Ponte family has farmed this land for decades and opened Bottaia 15 years ago to focus on Italian varietals.
In addition to Tempranillo, Sangiovese and Mediterranean whites, Oak Mountain is known for sparkling wines like Bentley’s Bubbles. Tours of their wine cave give guests a one-of-a-kind underground tasting experience 104 feet below the surface.
Smaller vineyards like Cougar and Briar Rose stand out by growing more obscure grapes. Cougar focuses on Italian varieties like Arneis and Brachetto. Briar Rose produces elegant Tempranillos and Chardonnays in a fairy tale-like cottage.
The Callaway family were early pioneers in Temecula wine with their first vineyard planted in 1969. Today, Callaway continues to make estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Meritage blends. Their on-site restaurant Meritage offers seasonal farm-to-table cuisine perfectly paired with Callaway vintages.
With award-winning wines and stunning scenery, Temecula Valley delivers quality without pretension. The close proximity to major cities also makes it one of California’s most accessible wine country destinations.