Events & Happenings

December Winery Events

Holiday shopping nights, Santa visits, tree lighting events and special holiday meals; you’ll find it all in Temecula Valley Wine Country!  We raise a glass of cheer and wish you all a very happy holiday season!

Baily Vineyard & Winery

Sangiovese Saturdays at Carol’s
Saturdays in December; / 11:30a-3:00p / Live music, mulled wine, cheese fondue, 1/2 price Sangiovese

Dog Day Sundays
Every Sunday / 11:30a-2:30p / Bring your well-mannered pooch to lunch!  Live acoustic entertainment.

Estate Club Private Wine Tasting
Thursday-Sunday / 11:00a-2:30p / Tours and vertical tasting of library Meritage.  Sit down with bread and cheese plate; $30 (Reservations required 24 hours in advance) Bar Tasting; $20.  Call for reservations: 951-972-9768.

Shakespeare in the Vines presents “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some!)”
December 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 and 13 / 7:00p / Seating begins at 5:30p if dining, 6:00p if just attending the show.  Dinner will be served on Friday and Saturday night performances only.  There is a matinee performance on Sunday, December 7th at 3:00p.  Dining reservations must be made through Carol’s Restaurant at 951-676-9243 / Dinner $25 per person, plus tax and gratuity.  For more information, visit www.bailywinery.com

Briar Rose Winery

Sip Into Sunset
Friday, December 5 / 5:30p-9:00 / Experience amazing sunsets and live music by Buzz Campbell while enjoying fabulous food and wine.  Food items available for purchase.  Call 951-308-1098 to make reservations.  Seating is limited.

Callaway Vineyard & Winery

Prime Rib Fridays
Every Friday at Meritage from 5pm-8:00pm in the main dining room.  Enjoy a three-course Prime Rib dinner for $35 per person!  Choose from soup and salad, a scrumptious Prime rib entree and finish with a house made Crème Brulee for two!  A special wine discount of 20% off Callaway wines by the bottle is available throughout the evening.  Vini Contreas performs live in the main dining room every Friday beginning at 6pm and continuing throughout the evening.  Reservations are not required.  No cover.  Cannot be combined with any other offers, including wine club member discounts.

Happiest Hours
Grab your friends and join us for a marvelous time!  Friday and Sunday from 3:00p-6:00p in the lounge at Meritage at Callaway.  20% all tapas, $2 off wine by the glass, 20% off bottles of Callaway wines and available domestic, import and craft beers.

Sangria Sundays at Meritage at Callaway
Every Sunday at Meritage at Callaway from 4pm-8pm in the main dining room.  Enjoy sipping on our very own Watermelon Sangria while soaking in the sunset vineyard views.  Live music from local musicians begins at 6pm.  No cover charge and no reservations required.

Open Mic Night and Art Show
Featuring Henna tattoos and digital artwork
Thursday, December 4/ 6:00p-9:00p/ at the Lounge at Meritage at Callaway / A creative life needs to be lived out in the OPEN; heard and shared with others.  Join us for an evening of tapas, wine & creative collaboration.  Call 951-587-8889 or e-mail stefano_butto@callawaywinery.com for more information.

Santa Sunday & Barrel Tree Lighting
Sunday, December 7 / 3:00p-5:00p / Join us as we light our Barrel Tree and celebrate the holiday season.  Santa will be here to take photos with the family.  Wine tasting for the adults and hot cocoa & cookies for the children will be available; and the gift shop will be open for all to shop.  No reservations required.

Holiday Shopping Night at Callaway Winery
Wednesday, December 10 / 5:00p-8:00p / Sip and shop at Callaway during the only late night shopping night.  Mingle with friends, wine taste and shop for unique wine themed gifts!  Get recipes for holiday treats and entertaining ideas to help celebrate the holidays with ease.

Cougar Vineyard & Winery

Wine Down Friday
Open late Friday, December 12th.  With live music from 5:00p-8:00p.  Listen to Will Sumner’s smooth jazz.  Paid wine tasting until 6:00p, then wine by the glass and bottle sales for the remainder of the evening.

Europa Village

Live Music
Fridays from 5:30p-8:30p and Sundays from 1:00p-4:00p / December 5 – Dustin Jake / December 7 – James Wells / December 12 – Danielle Taylor / December 14 – Kelly Moore / December 21 – Bryan McManus/ December 28 – Jason Guffey

Falkner Winery

Holiday Party at Pinnacle Restaurant
Friday, December 12 / 6:00p/ $15 cover charge (includes a glass of wine).  Small bites, $5-$7, DJ & Dancing

Christmas Luncheon in the Barrel Room
Saturday, December 13/ 12:00p-4:00p / $30+ tax

Wine Appreciation Class
Saturday, December 20 / 10:00a-12:30 / $45 per person

Leoness Cellars

Extended Shopping Hours
Friday, December 5, 12 and 19 / 6:00p-8:00p
Enjoy extended shopping hours in our tasting room during the first three Fridays in December.  In celebrating our 10th Anniversary, we will feature special wine packages and gift item promotions during extended shopping hours.

Annual Winemaker Dinner
Thursday, December 11 / 6:00p-9:00p / $125+ tax, per person / $115+ tax, per person wine club members / Featuring The Restaurant Chef Daragh Matheson, Banquet Chef Michael Cragg and Winemaker Tim Kramer / 8-Course Wine Paired Dinner and live entertainment from musician Jason Weber.

Live Music
Fridays 5:00p-8:00p in the Restaurant at Leoness / Sundays 1:00p-4:00p on the patio.

Winter VIP Tour and Tasting
Tour of winemaking facility and wine tasting / 90 minutes / $40 per person / RSVP at hosts@leonesscellars.com or 951-302-7601 ext. 204

Lorimar Winery

Epicurean Demo; Soup du Jour
Wednesday, December 3 / 4:00p-6:00p / $25+ tax, per person / $20+ tax per person, wine club / Join Chef Patrick as he takes you through an entertaining and interactive demo preparing Soup du Jour and pairing his delicious homemade soups with Lorimar wine.  Tickets available online at www.lorimarwinery.com

Menorah Lighting & Chanukah Celebration
Tuesday, December 16 / 6:00p / No cost to attend.

Ugly Sweater Holiday Party
Thursday, December 18 / 6:00p / Join Lorimar for a holiday party to remember!  Wear the ugliest sweater you can find to enter the contest for a prize!  No cost to attend.

Movie in the Vines
Monday, December 29 / 5:30p / Featuring: When Harry Met Sally  $1 Admission – Includes small bag of popcorn!  Wine Bar and Concession stand will open at 6 pm. Bring your own beach chair or blanket!

Live Music
Fridays & Saturdays 6p-9p / Sundays 2p-5p

Mount Palomar Winery

Bottles “n” Brushes Painting Class with Wine
December 3, 9, 14, 18, 22 / 11:00a-2:00p / December 14th class is from 12:30p-3:30p / $45 per person – includes a glass of wine!  (Discount given for multiple guests) / To sign up or for more information, please contact Dorothy Hawthorne at 951-302-3088 or doughawthorne@verizon.net.

Oak Mountain Winery

Live Music in the Pavilion
Every Saturday and Sunday in December / 1:00p-5:00p

Oak Mountain Winery University

Bubbles 101 – We want to burst your bubble with our champagne class / Oak Mountain Winery’s Sparkling Wine Class will have you taste three of our handcrafted sparkling wines made and bottled here in Temecula. Australian Quickspin Casinos here: https://onlinecasinos-australia.com/quickspin/  You will be served 3 of our sparkling wines paired with artisanal cheeses.  Learn fun facts you always wanted to know about sparkling wines and champagne.

Blending Reds – Create, bottle and label your very own blend / In our Blending Class, you get to be the Winemaker!  You will be supplied with three of Oak Mountain’s red wines, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, tasting notes, a measuring flask and pipette, three wine glasses for sampling your creation and a “cheat sheet” provided by our own winemaker to help you with the process.  You will have the option to bottle your custom blend of wine for an additional $29.  We will then pop in a cork and add a personalized label and you’ll take home wonderful memories – as well as a one-of-a-kind bottle of wine.

Wine Tasting for Dummies 101 / Our beginners class for Wine Tasters.  This is a good class to take if this is your first visit to a winery and want to know the basics of wine tasting.  You will taste three wines paired with delicious gourmet cheeses and dark chocolate toffee.  You will also get to sample eight of our infused Avocado Oils and Balsamic Vinegars that are only available at Oak Mt. Winery.

Rhone Wine Class 201 / Our second, more advanced class after taking Wine Tasting 101 is our Rhone Wine Tasting Class 201.  Learn how these grapes are grown here in the valley and how wine is made, while tasting varietals from different areas in the Rhone region of France.  Just like the 101 class, you’ll get 3 wine tastings and 8 tastings of Avocado Oil and Balsamic Vinegars.

Bordeaux Wine Class 201 / You will learn how these grapes are grown and how they are harvested and processed, while tasting Oak Mountain wines from different areas in the Bordeaux region of France.  Just like the 101 class, you will get 3 wine tastings and 8 tastings of Avocado Oil and Balsamic Vinegars.  We recommend that you have taken our Wine Tasting 101 class prior to this course.

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

“Temecula Chilled”
December 1-31st / The talented chefs at the Vineyard Rose Restaurant have put their toques together and have created this stunning appetizer for December.  Offered up as the “Temecula Chilled” appetizer for both lunch & dinner, this special is sure to please: Crab Stuffed Deviled Eggs, Chilled Poached Prawns, Sriracha Cocktail Sauce.

Marvelous Mondays
Every Monday 5:30-9:00p / Enjoy half-priced bottles of award winning selected wines with the purchase of two entrees.

Happy Hours at Vineyard Rose Restaurant
Monday-Friday 3:00p-5:30p / Join us in the Vineyard Rose Lounge for reduced priced selected appetizers, award winning select glasses of South Coast wines and local drafts.  PLUS corkage fees are waived for any South Coast Winery wine bottles brought in to the Vineyard Rose Restaurant and consumed while dining on Wednesdays too!   Visit www.WineResort.com to view menus and find out more.

Wine Down Wednesdays at Vineyard Rose Restaurant
5:30-9:30p / Fine wines, delicious food and live music between the hours of 5:30p to 9:30p. Call 951.587.9463

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa’s Vintage Vantage Menu
Monday-Thursday 11:30a -3:00p / Specially priced $9.99 lunches at the Vineyard Rose Restaurant for those aged 55 and over. Call 951-587-9463 x 2 for more information or reservations.

CranBeauty at GrapeSeed Spa
Indulge in a 50 minute Cranberry Facial and protect your beautiful skin with the anti-aging properties of antioxidants.  Experience the glow of revived and rehydrated skin.  Deliciously priced, this beauty indulgence is yours for just $89 – only through December.  Call 951-587-9463 ext. 3515 to book today!

Christmas Carolers
Be sure to visit us Friday through Sunday evenings through December 21st and enjoy strolling Christmas Carolers dressed up in Vintage attire at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa.  5:30 to 9 PM. Free to public.

Temecula “Chilled” – Holiday Shopping in Wine Country
Wednesday, December 10 / 5:00p-8:00p / The gift shop at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa is extending their hours for late night holiday shopping.

Christmas Dinner at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa’s Vineyard Rose Restaurant
Wednesday, December 24 and Thursday, December 25 / 5:30p-9:30p/ Reserve your place today for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the Vineyard Rose restaurant. We’ve decked our halls and our elves are ready to cater to your every need while you and yours delight in our chefs’ culinary creations designed to delight and dazzle.

“All that Glitters” New Year’s Eve Celebration at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa
Wednesday, December 31/ 7:00p-12:30a / Enjoy a delectable five-course dinner and bottle of award winning select South Coast Wine.  Includes a South Coast Sparkling Wine Toast and Balloon Drop at Midnight.  Just $165 per guest plus tax and gratuity.  Special room packages also available at an additional rate, based on availability.  Reservations are A MUST, so call today:  951-587-9463.

 

October Winery Events

The long, exhausting days of harvest have almost come to a close and cooler days are signaling the start of fall here in Temecula Valley Wine Country. Our wineries are getting into the swing of the holiday season hosting a myriad of events such as “Haunted Wine Tours”, “Scary Movies in the Vines” and fall cooking classes. Check out our winery events calendar and plan to visit us soon!

Baily Vineyard & Winery

Sangria Saturdays at Carol’s
Saturdays in October/ 11:30a-3:00p / Live music

Dog Day Sundays
Every Sunday / 11:30a-2:30p / Bring your well-mannered pooch to lunch! Live acoustic entertainment.

Estate Club Private Wine Tasting
Thursday-Sunday / 11:00a-2:30p / Tours and vertical tasting of library Boudreaux reds. Call for reservations: 951-972-9768.

Briar Rose Winery

Sip Into Sunset
Friday, October 3 / 5:30p-9:00 / Experience amazing sunsets and live music by Buzz Campbell while enjoying fabulous food and wine. Food items available for purchase. Call 951-308-1098 to make reservations. Seating is limited.

Callaway Vineyard & Winery

Prime Rib Fridays
Every Friday at Meritage from 5pm-8:00pm  Enjoy a three-course Prime Rib dinner for $35 per person! Enjoy live music. Reservations are not required.

Sangria Sundays at Meritage at Callaway
Every Sunday at Meritage at Callaway from 4pm-8pm. Enjoy sipping on our very own Watermelon Sangria while soaking in the sunset vineyard views. Live music from local musicians begins at 6pm. No reservations required.

Danza del Sol Winery

Live Music On the Patio
Saturdays in October – October 4 – Vini Contreas / October 11 – StereoFlux / October 18 – Racheal Stark / October 25 – Michael SG

Food Truck Friday & DANZA de la MUERT’E Halloween Party
Friday, October 31 / $12 per Wine Club member / $15 General Public / $8 Inter-winery / Two food trucks – Devilicious & Underdogs from 5:00p-9:00p / Live Music – OFFICIAL BIZ – 9:45p / Costume contest / Must be 21 years of age.

Doffo Winery

Wine Wednesday
Every Wednesday in October / 10:00a-5:00p / Doffo Winery will be offering a “winemakers selection” red wine from our tasting room for $25 per bottle.  Buy a bottle and enjoy on our tasting room patio or buy a case at this discounted price!

Art Classes
Wednesday, October 8 / Sunday, October 26 / 11:00a-2:00p / $55 per person / $45 per person, Wine Club Members
Bring out your creative side while enjoying boutique wines!  The class is taught by one of Temecula Valley’s top art instructors.  No art experience is necessary to participate and you will leave with a lovely wine country themed painting created by you! Includes a glass of wine and hors d’oeuvres.

Falkner Winery

Sunday Concerts & BBQ
Every Sunday in October from 12:00p-3:00p. Sangria, BBQ & dancing. No reservations necessary.

Frangipani Estate Winery

Dia De Paella
Saturday, October 11 / 11:00a-5:00p / $70 per person (tickets must be ordered by October 8th). Call 951-699-8845 for tickets.
A festival day filled with eight competing restaurants in a Paella Cookout paired with Don Frangipani’s hand-selected wine varietals. Dance to the sounds of Latin music among the Tuscan views of the Estate throughout the day. Ten local vendors will provide hand-crafted clothing, jewelry, baked goods, gourmet sausage, art and more…..

Leoness Cellars

Live Music
Fridays 5:00p-8:00p in the Restaurant at Leoness
Sundays 1:00p-4:00p on the patio

Harvest Vineyard Tour and Tasting
Tour of winemaking facility and wine tasting / 90 minutes / $40 per person / RSVP at hosts@leonesscellars.com or 951-302-7601 xt. 204

Lorimar Winery

Pasta & Sauce – Epicurean Demonstration
Wednesday, October 1 / 4:00p-6:00p / $25 per person (+tax) / $20 per person (+tax), Wine Club Members)
An entertaining and interactive cooking demo preparing homemade pasta and sauce and pairing it with Lorimar Wine! Admission entitles you to tastings of all demoed food, wine pairings and a recipe card for you to take home. Purchase tickets online here, in the tasting room, by email at events@lorimarywinery.com or by phone at 951-694-6699 ext. 4

Live Music
Fridays & Saturdays 6p-9p / Sundays 2p-5p / October 3 – The Stingers / October 4 – Master Splinter and the Shredders / October 5 – Jimmy Imperial / October 10 – Bill Magee / October 11 – Oceans of Sand / October 12 – Danielle Taylor / October 17 – Guilty Conscience / October 18 – Mrs. Jones Revenge / October 19 – Mark Renk / October 24 – Kanan Road Band / October 25- Lifetime Rocker / October 26 – Michael LeClerc

Spooky Family Fun in Wine Country
Friday, October 24 / 5:00p-8:00p / Carve your own pumpkin for a chance to win some GREAT prizes! We provide the pumpkins & the tools! Costumes encouraged!

Scary Movie in the Vines
Monday, October 27 / Featuring: Your Vote!! (What is your favorite scary movie? Vote on Lorimar Winery’s Facebook page by the end of September) / $1 Admission – Includes small bag of popcorn! Wine Bar and Concession stand will open at 6 pm. Film begins at Sunset on the Barrel Room Lawn! Bring your own beach chair or blanket!

Halloween Party ~ Night of the Living Wine-O’s
Friday, October 31 / 7:00p-11:00p
Wine specials, karaoke, live music and more! $10 cover at the door (gets you a glass of Spooky Sangria). Food will be available for purchase. Dress to Thrill! Complete for best costume & wine great prizes!! See you there…..if you dare!

Oak Mountain Winery

Live Music in the Pavilion
Every Saturday and Sunday in October / 1:00p-5:00p

Oak Mountain Winery University

Bubbles 101 – We want to burst your bubble with our champagne class / Oak Mountain Winery’s Sparkling Wine Class will have you taste three of our handcrafted sparkling wines made and bottled here in Temecula. You will be served 3 of our sparkling wines paired with artisanal cheeses. Learn fun facts you always wanted to know about sparkling wines and champagne.

Blending Reds – Create, bottle and label your very own blend / In our Blending Class, you get to be the Winemaker! You will be supplied with three of Oak Mountain’s red wines, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, tasting notes, a measuring flask and pipette, three wine glasses for sampling your creation and a “cheat sheet” provided by our own winemaker to help you with the process. You will have the option to bottle your custom blend of wine for an additional $29. We will then pop in a cork and add a personalized label and you’ll take home wonderful memories – as well as a one-of-a-kind bottle of wine.

Wine Tasting for Dummies 101 / Our beginners class for Wine Tasters. This is a good class to take if this is your first visit to a winery and want to know the basics of wine tasting. You will taste three wines paired with delicious gourmet cheeses and dark chocolate toffee. You will also get to sample eight of our infused Avocado Oils and Balsamic Vinegars that are only available at Oak Mt. Winery.

Rhone Wine Class 201 / Our second, more advanced class after taking Wine Tasting 101 is our Rhone Wine Tasting Class 201. Learn how these grapes are grown here in the valley and how wine is made, while tasting varietals from different areas in the Rhone region of France. Just like the 101 class, you’ll get 3 wine tastings and 8 tastings of Avocado Oil and Balsamic Vinegars.

Bordeaux Wine Class 201 / You will learn how these grapes are grown and how they are harvested and processed, while tasting Oak Mountain wines from different areas in the Bordeaux region of France. Just like the 101 class, you will get 3 wine tastings and 8 tastings of Avocado Oil and Balsamic Vinegars. We recommend that you have taken our Wine Tasting 101 class prior to this course.

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

Wine & Dine Chef’s Table at the Vineyard Rose Restaurant
For those who truly love to dine, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa’s culinary team offers a front row seat into their world with a special “Chef’s Table Dinner”. The Vineyard Rose Chefs create a custom five-course menu just for you. Our expert Winemakers then pair each course with our award winning wines to heighten the dining experience to another level. Whether it’s a special celebration or an intimate affair, our Chef’s Table dinner for 2 to 8 guests will define the art of fine cuisine with a memorable evening of food and wine for only $135 per person. Call 951-491-8077 to reserve your table today.

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa’s Divas in D’Vines
We’re making football Sundays a day for the ladies. Join us every Sunday during football season from 12noon to 3pm in the Vineyard Rose Restaurant. Enjoy half priced mimosas, sangria and our signature Spumante Diamante. Reservations Recommended. Call 951-587-9463 x 2

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa’s Vintage Vantage Menu
Monday-Thursday 11:30a -3:00p / Specially priced $9.99 lunches at the Vineyard Rose Restaurant for those aged 55 and over. Call 951-587-9463 x 2 for more information or reservations.

Marvelous Mondays – Mondays just got better at South Coast Winery’s Vineyard Rose Restaurant between the hours of 5:30pm to 9pm each week. Enjoy half-priced bottles of select featured wines with the purchase of 2 entrees. Call 951.587.9463 today or visit here.

Haunted Wine Tours
Available October 25-31 /4:00p / $50 per person / Space is limited to 24 guests per tour.  Reservations are required by calling 951-587-9463. /  Enjoy a behind the scenes Wine Tour with a spooky twist.  Get up close and personal with the “ghouls and goblins” of harvests past.  Our winemakers have gone mad, and this walking tour starts out in the vineyards, then proceeds into the haunted halls of the winery; however, one never knows who or what will appear before you to serve up the wines and just how it will be delivered. The tour concludes in the winery’s cellar for more haunted happenings and a chilling wine-FLIGHT and light-BITE pairing. Wooded fired hot tubs and outdoor saunas link

Wilson Creek Winery

Live entertainment
12:00p-4:00p / October 4 – JD Priest / October 5 – Mark Norris / October 11 – Smoothie Jones / October 12 – Buzz Campbell / October 18 – Vini Contreras / October 19 – Michael Le Clerc / October 25- JD Priest / October 26 – Astra Kelly

Sip, Savor & Stomp – Harvest Celebration
Friday, October 3 / 6:00p-9:00p / $90 per person / $70 per person, Wine Club / $80 per person, Friends of Wine Club / Enjoy a hayride and shuttle to and from Merlot Mesa where you will wine and unwind among the lush Merlot vines during a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception. Following the gathering, we will be grape stomping, savoring a farm fresh harvest buffet dinner and enjoying live music. Pick your date but don’t delay. Reservations are limited. Purchase your tickets here

Sip, Savor & Stomp – Harvest Celebration
Friday, October 24 / 6:00p-9:00p / $90 per person / $70 per person, Wine Club / $80 per person, Friends of Wine Club / Enjoy a hayride and shuttle to and from Merlot Mesa where you will wine and unwind among the lush Merlot vines during a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception. Following the gathering, we will be grape stomping, savoring a farm fresh harvest buffet dinner and enjoying live music. Pick your date but don’t delay. Reservations are limited. Purchase your tickets here

Temecula Valley Eateries Strut Their Stuff at CRUSH 2014

We know you’ve got a crush on Temecula Valley wines, but how about all the good eats that are available in and around our wine country?

Guests to the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association’s 5th Annual CRUSH – A Wine and Culinary Extravaganza – held at Wiens Family Cellars this coming Saturday, September 13, 2014, will be able to partake in some fabulous foods to accompany a tasting of almost 100 award-winning Temecula Valley wines.

Do classic Chicken Caprese sandwiches sound yummy? Sangio’s Deli at Cougar Winery will be serving them! How about Tuscan Braised Chicken Osso Bucco from Vineyard Rose at South Coast Winery? Bruschetta Murrieta from The Mill in Murrieta? Or how about some Shrimp and Grits from the folks at Cork Fire Kitchen at Temecula Creek Inn?

Heart of House Catering is serving up Prime Rib, La Bella Vita is offering a trio of goodies and Temecula Olive Oil Company will be offering a lovely array of oils and vinegars. Baily’s Old Town is serving open-face Sloppy Joe’s, Meritage at Callaway has a duo of Chicken Pate and Veal Truffle Sausage. The Pinnacle at Falkner is serving their famous Mediterranean Orzo Pasta with Grilled Octopus, MDO Bistro’s offering is Pulled Pork Tacos and Temecula Catering has prepared a Smoked Salmon Mousse in Squid Ink.

Bushfire Grill and Crow’s Pass Farms will be firing up their grills – and for dessert, there’s a “hole” lotta yum from Nothing Bundt Cakes, fabulous sorbets from Nice, Ice, Baby! and a sweet surprise that includes Cinsault Port from the Restaurant at Leoness.

Our host winery, Wiens Family Cellars is pairing their wines with Vineyard Gourmet Catering, who is serving up a couple of winery favorites: a Smoked Salmon Roulade and Prime Flank Steak with Potato and Peppers.

Come join in on the fun! Limited tickets are still available.

September Winery Events

Nothing screams “Harvest Time!” more than a good old-fashioned grape stomp! September is always a busy time in Temecula Valley Wine Country; besides celebrating California Wine Month with the SIP Passport and annual CRUSH event, our wineries have a few celebrations of their own up their sleeves. You won’t want to miss all the excitement; plan your visit today! Here are just a few of the events happening.

Baily Vineyard & Winery

Sangiovese Saturdays at Carol’s
Saturdays in September /11:30a-3:00p
Live music, 1/2 price bottles of Sangiovese, food pairing featuring their new “Sangiovese Burger”.  Sangiovese Sangria by the glass of carafe. Buy a “Sangiovese Saturday” t-shirt, wear it when you come back and get a free glass of Sangiovese.

Dog Day Sundays
Every Sunday /11:30a-2:30p
Bring your well-mannered pooch to lunch!  Live acoustic entertainment.

Estate Club Private Wine Tasting
Thursday-Sunday / 11:00a-2:30p /
$20 per person; $10 per person for wine club
A preview of Baily’s outstanding 2011 Bordeaux Varietals at their exclusive production facility and Estate Tasting Room.  Experience a private winery tour, get a glimpse of the 2014 harvest activities and special case pricing available (mix and match!)  Call for reservations: 951-972-9768.

Briar Rose Winery

Sip Into Sunset
Friday, September 5 / 5:30p-9:00p
Live music by Buzz Campbell and fabulous food and wine.  Call 951-308-1098 to make reservations.  Seating is limited.

Callaway Vineyard & Winery

Prime Rib Fridays
Every Friday at Meritage from 5pm-8:00pm
Three-course Prime Rib dinner for $35 per person!  Special wine discount of 20% off Callaway wines by the bottle. Live music beginning at 6pm Reservations are not required.

Sangria Sundays at Meritage at Callaway
Every Sunday from 4pm-8pm  Watermelon Sangria and live music from. No cover charge and no reservations required.

Danza del Sol Winery

Live Music on the Patio
Saturdays in September / 1:00p-5:00p / September 6 – Samantha Schultz / September 13 – Samantha Schultz / September 20 – JD Priest / September 27 – Steroflux

Sip & Swirl – On Canvas Paint Class
Sunday, September 21 / 1:00p-4:30p / $60 per class, non member / $54 per class, Wine Club Member (all tickets are subject to 8% sales tax)

Get Sauced
Sunday, September 28 / 3:00p-5:30p / Cooking demo, class, & small plates.  Wine pairings and recipes to take home / $55 per person / $$49.50 per person, wine club (all tickets are subject to 8% sales tax).  Call Kelly at 951-302-6363 ext. 26 for reservations.

Doffo Winery

Wine Wednesdays
10:00a-5:00p
Every Wednesday through 2014 Doffo Winery will be offering a “winemakers selection” red wine from the tasting room for $25 per bottle (or a case at this per bottle price)

Art Class
Wednesday, September 10 / Sunday, September 28 /  11:00a-2:00p
$55 per person / $45 per person, wine club members
No art experience necessary to participate and you will leave with a lovely wine country themed painting, created by you and ready to frame!  Price includes all painting supplies, step by step instruction, a glass of Doffo wine and hors d’oeuvres (authentic empanadas available for purchase)

Falkner Winery

Sunday Concerts & BBQ
Every Sunday in September from 12:00p-3:00p.
Sangria, BBQ & dancing. No reservations necessary

Wine Appreciation Class
Saturday, September 20 / 10:00a-12:30p/ $20-$70
This class is designed for all ages and levels of wine knowledge.  Individuals can expect to learn about wine tasting, wine production, wine & food pairing and wine quality determination.

Leoness Cellars

Live Music
Every Friday in the Restaurant / 5:00p-8:00p
Every Saturday in the Barrel Room / 1:30p-4:30p
Every Sunday on the Patio / 1:00p-4:00p

Annual Grape Stomp
Saturday, September 20 / 6:30p-10:30p
Plated meal in the vines, wine, live music, dancing and stomping!  Join friends and family for our most anticipated event of the year!  For reservations, either call 951-216-7305 or e-mail to reservations@leonesscellars.com.  To assure your space, please RSVP no later than September 13, 2014.

Longshadow Ranch Winery

Bonfire Saturday Night
Every Saturday evening through October / 6:00p-10:00p
Family friendly / Mechanical bull rides, face painting and petting zoo for the kiddos.  Dinner available with RSVP ($8)

Strangelove – A Tribute to Depeche Mode
Friday, September 12 / Doors open at 6:00p
Tickets available at www.heyday.com

Bishon Fur Kids Fundraiser
Friday, September 19 / 6:00p-10:00p

Lorimar Winery

Live Music
Fridays & Saturdays 6p-9p / Sundays 2p-5p

Labor Day Movie in the Vines
Monday, September 1 / Featuring: Return of the Jedi
$1 Admission – Includes small bag of popcorn!  Wine Bar and Concession stand will open at 6 pm. Film begins at Sunset on the Barrel Room Lawn! Bring your own beach chair or blanket!

Grape Stomp & Harvest Festival
Saturday, September 20 / 4:00p-8:00p
Tickets include dinner, 2 glasses of wine, 1 commemorative etched wine glass to take home, participation in Grape Stomp and all Harvest Festival events. / $65 + tax, per person / $55 + tax, wine club members / $35 + tax, under 21.  Space is limited!  Get your tickets today!  Purchase tickets online at www.lorimarwinery.com or by calling 951-694-6699 xt. 4

Movie in the Vines
Monday, September 29 / Featuring: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory / $1 Admission – Includes small bag of popcorn!  Wine Bar and Concession stand will open at 6 pm. Film begins at Sunset on the Barrel Room Lawn! Bring your own beach chair or blanket!

Monte De Oro Winery

3rd Annual Grape Stomp and BBQ
Saturday, September 27 / 6:30p / Adults $34.95 / Kids $14.95 (4-13) Grape Stomp contest & prizes, outdoor BBQ, live entertainment, games, balloon glow and much, much more.

Mount Palomar Winery

Live Music
Enjoy complimentary music on the patio!  1:00p-4:00p

Grapestomp!
Sunday, September 14 / 11:00a-5:00p / $45 per person / $40 per person, wine club members
For reservations, please call 951-676-5047 ext. 7261

Take Steps Walk – Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
Sunday, September 14 / 3:00p-6:00p
For more information, please contact Jackie Mizon at 619-497-1300 xt. 1604 or jmizon@ccfa.org

Oak Mountain Winery

Live Music in the Pavilion
Every Saturday and Sunday in July / 1:00p-5:00p

Oak Mountain Winery University
$15 per student; $12 for wine club members.  Classes run for one hour.  To sign up, call or text 951-880-8840

Bubbles 101 –  Learn fun facts you always wanted to know about sparkling wines and champagne.

Blending Reds – Create, bottle and label your very own blend

Wine Tasting for Dummies 101 – Our beginners class for Wine Tasters

Rhone Wine Class 201 –  Our second, more advanced class after taking Wine Tasting 101 is our Rhone Wine Tasting Class 201.

Bordeaux Wine Class 201 – You will learn how these grapes are grown and how they are harvested and processed.

Ponte Family Estate Winery

4th Annual Movie Night for Charity – Despicable Me 2
Friday, September 12 / 6:30p
The event is free, but all proceeds from the night’s food and beverage sales and the silent auction will go to Rancho Damacitas, a Temecula charity dedicated to helping underserved children and victims of child abuse.  For more information, please visit www.pontewinery.com

Grape Stomp
Sunday, September 29 / 4:00p-9:00p / Gourmet food, wine music and a Stomping Good Time!

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

Wine & Dine Chef’s Table at the Vineyard Rose Restaurant
Whether it’s a special celebration or an intimate affair, our Chef’s Table dinner for 2 to 8 guests will define the art of fine cuisine with a memorable evening of food and wine for only $135 per person. Call 951-491-8077 to reserve your table today.

Divas in D’Vines
Every Sunday during football season from 12p – 3p in the Vineyard Rose Restaurant. Enjoy half priced mimosas, sangria and Spumante Diamante. Reservations Recommended. Call 951-587-9463 x 2

Vintage Vantage Menu
Monday-Thursday 11:30a -3:00p
Specially priced $9.99 lunches for those aged 55 and over. Call 951-587-9463 x 2 for more information or reservations.

Marvelous Mondays
5:30p-9:00p
Enjoy half-priced bottles of select featured wines with the purchase of 2 entrees.  Call 951.587.9463 today or visit here.

Behind the Scenes Winery Tour
Daily / 11:00a and 1:00p / Get up close and personal with the real workings of a winery during a harvest crush.  This $40 walking wine tour culminates with a private, plated wine & cheese pairing. Wine Club Members, enjoy the tour for just $35 per person.   Reservations strongly suggested:  Call 951.587.9463 x7219.

Wiens Family Cellars

Robin Zander Band (from Cheap Trick)
Friday, September 12/ Doors open at 6:00p
For tickets, please visit www.goldencrownproductions.com

Wilson Creek Winery

“Winemaker for a Day – Harvest Edition”
September 19-20 (nightly)
Spend a night in our exclusive retreat, Wilson Creek Manor and enjoy picking grapes in the vineyard, making wine in the cellar, delicious food, wine and more! / $670 per person / Due to the nature of this unique experience, space is very limited.  Please call and reserve today: 951-699-9463

California Wine Month

Knowing that California is celebrated for its scenic beauty and lifestyle – and in celebration of the upcoming California Wine Month in September – the Wine Institute recently shared “10 Reasons To Love California Wine”.

Actually, we can think of hundreds of reasons to love our wines, but see what Wine Institute has to say here!

You can celebrate California Wine Month, Temecula style all month long with SIP passports, which allow ticketholders to choose any four wineries to taste, any day, for just $40!  Or, join us for CRUSH, our annual wine and culinary showcase on September 13, 2014, at Wiens Family Cellars.  Either – or both – are great ways to celebrate Septembers’ California Wine Month and offer two additional reasons to love California wines.

 

Bastille Day

Vive le 14 juillet!
Long live the 14th of July!

Bastille Day, the French national holiday, commemorates the storming of the Bastille, which took place on July 14, 1789.  As in the US, where the signing of the Declaration of Independence signaled the start of the American Revolution, in France the invasion of the Bastille began the Great Revolution.  Although the Bastille held only seven prisoners at the time of its capture, the raid was a symbol of liberty and the start of the fight against oppression for all French citizens.  Today, the day is commemorated with much merry making, revelry and of course, wine drinking!

As we Americans tend to do, it seems only appropriate to join in the celebration, which gives us cause to celebrate everything French, oui?  And since almost all of the most famous grape varieties originated in France or became famous through French expression, we think toasting to our fellow red, white and blue’rs should be done in the French spirit, non?

The diversity of French wine is due in large part to the country’s wide range of climates – just like ours in California.  It’s cooler in the north, warm and dry in the Rhone Valley to the south; there’s coastal effects and all sorts of continental and Mediterranean influences throughout the land.  And like us in the Temecula Valley, whether you’re a lover of Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot or Sauvignon Blanc – or you’re more a devotee of Bourdeaux or Rhone style blended wines, there’s a little something for everyone.

So, we say Santé!  And add a warm merci beaucomp to the French!

Click here for some great French varietals, Temecula Style!

Ponte Family Estate Winery
2013 Pas Doux
Newly released, Pas Doux, means “not sweet” in French.  A full bodied, bone dry rosé wine with a honeysuckle aroma and and wonderful flavors of pear, guava, grapefruit and lemon zest.  A staple of the French table!

Doffo Winery
2012 Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark rich garnet in color; opulent flavors of dark red cherries and cassis on the palate.  Soft and subtle with a long, lingering finish with a hint of smoke and cocoa.

Falkner Winery
2010 Meritage ~ Bourdeaux style
A  full-bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. Deep ruby red in color, rich in flavors such as black cherry, blueberry and pepper with well integrated tannins.

Palumbo Family Winery
2011 Meritage “Tre Fratelli”
A traditional blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc; toasted vanilla and caramel nose with black cherry and plum fruit finish.  Oh yeah, and if you happen to stop by Palumbo Family Winery today, it just happens to be Nick’s birthday, too!

Temecula Spring Wines and Special Sparklers for Mother’s Day

May is a big month for wine and dine celebrations! Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, weddings and spring birthdays… So what Temecula Valley wines perform best in these lovely pre-summer months? And what’s the best seasonal fare to pair them with?

*Reminder tip! Get the most balanced flavor from your bottle by using the simple 15 minute rule for serving all wine: Pull whites and rosés out of the fridge 15 minutes before drinking; put reds in the fridge for 15 minutes before drinking.

 

Spring Whites: Crisp Vermentino and Floral Viognier-Rousanne Blend

Try some unique whites this spring and give your family something to talk about at the next picnic. How about…

Of Spanish-Mediterranean origin, Vermentino is often a grape used in white-wine blending. Relatively low in alcohol with crisp acids, Cougar Winery offers their 100% 2013 Vermentino for $17. Serve this white alongside grilled spring vegetables like asparagus, artichokes and charred green onions.

Palumbo Family Vineyards’ Brezza di Mare Viognier-Rousanne is a Rhone-style blend (meaning in the style of the Rhone wine region in the South of France) which sells for $19.95. Made up of 75% Viognier and 25% Rousanne, this food-friendly white blend has a minerality that goes nicely with fresh seafood (think chilled mussels and shrimp) or a charcuterie platter if you’re having a weekend get-together.

 

Spring Reds: Fruity Merlot and Spicy Tempranillo

Lighten up with some easy-drinking reds, perfect for a spring day or evening. We recommend…

Leoness Cellars focuses on sustainable practices in the vineyards and it shows in their wines. Try the fruit-forward 2010 Vineyard Selection Merlot, $55. This bottle is a great stand-alone drinker and has a high likelihood of being consumed before the food is finished cooking. But if you must pair it with your meal, serve with a medium-rare pork loin with cherry compote or a spring pasta tossed with early-season tomatoes, asparagus and caramelized spring onions.

Miramonte Winery offers an excellent quality 2010 Tempranillo for $38.95. Technically a blend (80% Tempranillo, 10% Grenache, 10% Cinsault), this Spanish red pairs well with cooked meats hot off the grill, like lamb chops and brats served with a side of grilled peppers and onions.

 

Special Wines for Mother’s Day: Sparklers and Spring Three-Packs

Think ahead and pop into one of these Temecula wineries for mom’s perfect brunch beverage. Our favorites…

For special toasts to mom, there’s nothing like a sparkler. But first, some background. What’s the difference between champagne and spumante? Well, it begins with the country of origin. For a sparkling wine to be officially designated as “Champagne” it must be made in the Champagne region of northeast France. Spumante (also known as Asti Spumante) is a sparkling white wine from the Piedmont region of Italy, made from Muscat Bianco grapes.

Champagne and spumante are crafted differently as well. Unlike Champagne, Asti is not made sparkling through the use of secondary fermentation in the bottle but rather through a single tank fermentation utilizing the Charmat method. While Champagne can land anywhere on the scale between sec (sweet) or brut (dry), Spumante tends to be on the sweeter side; another well-known version is Moscato d’Asti.

Ponte Estate offers two California bubblies: the popular Moscato and the beautiful Rose Spumante. Moscato – by itself or in a Mimosa with fresh OJ or tangerine juice – pairs perfectly with your Sunday Mother’s Day brunch (think Quiche Lorraine and fruit.) Its gentle bubbles will tickle your taste buds with mellow flavors of apricot and nectarine. Even better, pick up Ponte’s Sparkling Wine Trio for $92 (or $69 wine club sale.) You’ll get a bottle of Moscato 2012, Rose Spumante 2012 and Vernaccia Nera 2011.  This sparkling trio will certainly keep glasses filled throughout your Mother’s Day celebrations.

Another top winery choice for that special Mother’s Day bottle is South Coast Winery, which makes a variety of unique California sparkling wines like Pinot Noir Rosé, Pinot Grigio Sparkling and Spumante Diamonte. Pair these with your favorite brunch items – eggs benedict, french toast with strawberries and even a ham & cheese melt topped with powdered sugar (ala Monte Carlo.) And send mom home with a bottle, too.

Last but not least, Leoness Cellars has put together a hand-selected spring three pack for your Mother’s Day picnic: White Merlot, Grenache and Melange de Blanc. The White Merlot is a lovely pink hue, bursting with berry flavors. Melange de Blanc is a Rhone-style white wine blend of Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne and pairs perfectly with seafood, soft french cheese and seasonal fruit like fresh strawberries. The Grenache is a soft and supple medium-bodied red (a warm-climate alternative to Pinot Noir) that matches the flavor of barbecued meats and light pasta salad. Remember to serve all three of these wines cool.

 

Happy Spring & Happy Mother’s Day from Temecula Valley Wine Country!