How to Celebrate Earth Day in Temecula Wine Country
Wine is a product of the earth, and the winegrowers of Temecula take that seriously. Healthy soil, thoughtful farming, and a genuine commitment to the land aren’t just talking points out here; they’re the way a lot of our wineries have chosen to do business.
If you’re the kind of person who wants to understand what’s actually in your glass and how it got there, we’ve got some experiences worth planning your trip around.
Ride Through a Living Vineyard at Wilson Creek
Wilson Creek’s Regenerative Agriculture Tractor Tour is one of those only-here experiences. You’ll hop on a guided tractor ride through their regenerative vineyard blocks, with five wine tastings poured right out in the vines. Along the way, keep an eye out for the sheep doing their job as natural cover crop managers, and the hawks and barn owls keeping the rodent population in check. It’s a working ecosystem, and you’ll taste the difference!
Sip Certified Organic, Sustainable Wines
Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing isn’t a vibe; it’s a third-party-verified certification that requires wineries and vineyards to meet over 200 best practices across farming, water use, energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and land stewardship. An annual audit is required to keep it. It’s one of the more rigorous sustainability certifications in the industry, and five Temecula wineries have earned it: BOTTAIA, Carter Estate, Ponte Winery, Robert Renzoni, and South Coast Winery.
BOTTAIA is a good example of what that commitment looks like in practice. Certified since 2018, they farm with compost, install owl nesting boxes for natural pest control, and practice responsible watering, plowing, and harvesting. As they put it, every experience at the winery is part of a bigger commitment: crafting exceptional wine while caring for the land. That’s not marketing copy, it’s a standard they’re audited against every year.
When you’re choosing where to spend your afternoon, that’s all worth factoring in.
Get Into the Details with a Winemaker
Some of the best hours you can spend in wine country are the ones where someone who actually made the wine is standing in front of you, guiding your tasting. Here are a few standouts:
Baily Winery offers vertical tastings that let you walk through multiple vintages of the same wine, you’ll hear the vintage story and see how the wine has evolved in bottle. Altisima Winery’s Meet the Winemaker experiences go deep on technique and terroir. And Doffo’s Wine Tasting Masterclass with Marcelo is exactly what it sounds like: an hour-plus deep dive with one of the region’s most respected winemakers.
These experiences book fast! Check each winery’s website for current availability.
A Fully Personalized Tasting, on Your Terms
If you want to learn about Temecula wine with an intimate tasting built just for you, Beyond the Sip offers custom wine experiences designed around your palate, your group, and your pace. Betty is a Temecula local who really knows the region and the wines made here. It’s a different model than just showing up to the tasting room, and a great option for a special occasion or a group that wants something more curated.
Head to temeculawines.org/events for a full look at what’s happening across the valley and plan your next visit.
