Your Best Itinerary for 24 Hours in Temecula Wine Country
What to do, what to order, and the little things that make all the difference.
Welcome to Temecula Valley Wine Country, we’re so glad you’re here! This is your guide to an unforgettable 24 hours in Temecula Valley.
Before you go, grab a SIP Passport HERE, which gets you discounted tastings at 30+ participating wineries on weekdays, including several stops on this very itinerary.
Cheers!
The Temecula Wines Team
A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Go
Two or three wineries per day is the sweet spot: The magic of wine country happens when you slow down enough to really take it in and relax. Give yourself permission to linger.
Remember to Eat: Be sure to eat before drinking. A proper lunch between tastings makes the whole day better. A list of wine country restaurants can be found HERE.
If you fall in love with a winery, ask about their wine club. Many offer great same-day perks when you join, including free tastings, member events, and discounts on bottles. Just take a look at the details before signing up so you know what you’re committing to.
Staying Overnight?: A list of wine country hotels can be found HERE.
DAY ONE
Wine Tasting: Callaway Winery & Vineyard
Callaway Winery is the perfect place to start your visit, because this is where it all began! Callaway opened Temecula’s first tasting room back in 1974.
What to order: The Sangiovese shines here in Temecula, and be sure to ask about their Reserve Chardonnay, which took Double Gold at the OC Fair and deserves way more attention than it gets.
The move: If there’s live music on the patio, grab a bottle instead of doing the tasting and stake out a spot overlooking the vines. Callaway has a gorgeous vineyard view, perfect on a sunny SoCal day.
Grab a Bite at Miramonte Winery Bistro
Miramonte Winery sits on a hill with a breathtaking view. With vineyard rows stretching out below you and the mountains in the background, it’s one of the most beautiful places in wine country. Make your reservation for golden hour, and you’ll see exactly what we mean!
What to drink: Miramonte shines with Rhône-style blends, but be sure to sample their award-winning Touriga Nacional.
Pro Tip: Miramonte often stays open later on weekends for concerts. Be sure to check their events calendar!
Enjoy the Night Life at Peltzer Winery
Here’s a wine country secret: some of the best nights in Temecula happen on a Thursday. Peltzer Winery regularly hosts live concerts and movie nights under the stars, complete with food trucks, award-winning wine, and the kind of easy, everyone’s-welcome energy that’s just really fun to be around.
What makes it special: It’s less tasting room, more backyard party with really great wine.
DAY TWO
Breakfast: Ponte Vineyard Inn Restaurant
Take your time and savor brunch at Ponte Vineyard Inn’s Bouquet Restaurant. Morning light on the vineyard is one of those simple pleasures worth actually sitting with. If the morning is nice (and in
Temecula, it usually is), take your coffee and sit on the terrace. You’ll be surrounded by manicured gardens with vineyard views on one side and a private one-acre pond on the other.
Pro Tip: Order bubbles to go with your California Benedict. Morning mimosas are a wine country necessity.
Wine Tasting: Chapin Family Vineyards
Chapin Family Vineyards is a gem that locals tend to keep quietly to themselves. Chapin offers an intimate, seated tasting experience overlooking their estate vineyard, and the Chapin family is genuinely hands-on in the best possible way. This is a real family winery with real passion behind it, and you
feel that the moment you sit down.
What to order: Be sure to try their Cabernet Sauvignon, it’s the wine that started it all for Steve Chapin.
Book ahead: Chapin requires reservations for seated tastings, especially on weekends.
Final Stop: Lunch at Leoness Cellars
The restaurant at Leoness Cellars has been named Best Winery Restaurant by USA Today’s Reader’s Choice Awards two years running. Once you taste what Executive Chef Johnathan Gelman is creating using classic French techniques applied to modern California cuisine, you’ll understand why!
Think inventive flatbreads, fresh seasonal salads, beautifully executed seafood and pasta, and desserts worth saving room for. All of it is designed to pair perfectly with Leoness’ award-winning wines.
