Wine Country Restaurants

EASTER IN TEMECULA VALLEY WINE COUNTRY

Spring has officially arrived and we’ve got bud break in the vineyards! We invite you to come out to wine country and enjoy Easter Brunch, savor a wine tasting, or simply wind down with a glass of wine.

Altisima Winery
Easter Sunday at Gaspar’s

When: Sunday, April 17, 2022
Duration: 11:00am – 5:00 pm
Price: A la carte special menu offered.
Reservation Info: Reservations should be made by calling (951) 422-2525 or online at their website of www.altisimawinery.com  for menu information and reservation.

Avensole Winery
Easter Brunch at the Avensole Winery Restaurant
Join us at Avensole Winery Restaurant for our Chef’s special gourmet brunch menu with festive seasonal mimosas!

When: Sunday, April 17, 2022

Duration: 11:00am – 5:00pm

Menu: Special Easter menu offer. Click here to view menu.

Reservation Info: Reservations recommended online at their website of https://www.avensolewinery.com/restaurant/

Europa Village Wineries & Resort
Easter Brunch at Bolero Restaurante
Easter is just a hop and a skip away! Hop on over to Bolero Restaurante this Easter for a delightful brunch complete with traditional holiday cuisine and other Spanish favorites.

When: Sunday, April 17, 2022

Duration: 10:00am – 3:00 pm

Price: $79 adult, $39 children. Click here to view menu.

Reservation Info: Reservations should be made by calling (951) 414-3802. Learn more at https://www.europavillage.com/spring-happenings/

Falkner Winery
Easter Champagne Brunch at The Pinnacle Restaurant

When: Sunday, April 17, 2022

Price: $69.95 per person

Reservation Info: Reservations should be made by calling (951) 676-8231 Ext. 4 or online by clicking here.

Lorimar Vineyards & Winery
Easter Brunch
Join us for our Easter Brunch! Enjoy a brunch buffet, Easter egg hunt, and more! Adult ticket (21+) includes bottomless mimosas! *Limit of 2 hr dining time, menu may vary depending on seating time.

When: Sunday, April 17, 2022

Duration: Two available seating’s at 11am & 2pm

Price: $90 per person (wine club), $100 per person (non wine club members)

Reservation Info: Reservations should be made online by clicking here.

Still Hungry After the Holidays? Meet Temecula Valley’s Other Rockstars – the Chefs and Restaurants of Wine Country

We all associate wine country with gorgeous scenery, rolling vineyards, welcoming tasting rooms, the unmistakable sound of corks popping… but, unique to Temecula Valley Southern California, we also find a whole world of culinary delight waiting to be uncovered. Unlike many other prominent wine regions, visitors to Temecula Valley can actually dine among the vines at quite a few restaurants on-site at the local wineries.

Before we all embark on the post-holiday cleanse or New Year diet, and just in time for Restaurant Month, we thought we would turn the spotlight on the amazing places to dine in wine country, not to mention Temecula Valley Southern California’s other rockstars – Wine Country Chefs. Here are a few to check out.

The Cave Café at Oak Mountain

Dine 75 feet underground in one of Wine Country’s most unique settings – the wine cave at Oak Mountain, which features a seasonal menu cooked with locally sourced ingredients, designed to share and pair with Oak Mountain wines. Chef Kevin Grant has honed his craft through years working in some of the top kitchens in California and around the world, from resort-style dining to intimate, chef-driven restaurants. His perspective not only comes from his classical French training, but incorporates the unique backgrounds of others in his kitchen, through which he hopes to tell the story of California cuisine – where it has been, and where it is going.

Creekside Grille at Wilson Creek Winery

Here, diners enjoy wine-inspired casual fare based on seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients, while surrounded by lush, 30-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines, an herb garden, and baskets brimming with colorful flowers. Executive Chef Steve Stawinski credits his passion for cuisine to his upbringing in New Jersey, where food was always a focal point in his family. He even tells the story of adding white wine to a pan once as a child when his mother’s back was turned, because he had seen it done on a cooking show. Voted as one of the Inland Empire’s Best Chefs in 2009, Steve brings decades of experience in the hospitality industry, from high-end steakhouses to bistros and banquets.

Meritage at Callaway

Few winery restaurants offer guests such stunning vineyard views as Meritage Restaurant at Callaway Vineyard & Winery. Executive Chef Anthony Bar brings with him passion and talent cultivated over many years studying and working in kitchens the world over, including Lille, France, where he attended culinary school; St. Martin where he served as the Executive Chef at Coco Beach Orient Bay; Texas, where he served as Executive Chef at high-demand restaurant La Maison; and Los Angeles. World travel has deeply influenced his culinary vision, which he now applies to creating seasonal, farm-to-table meals enhanced by the winery’s on-site greenhouse and garden.

Pinnacle Restaurant at Falkner Winery

This multi-award-winning restaurant not only boasts truly spectacular panoramic views of Wine Country, but also thoughtful – and decadent! – Mediterranean-style cuisine. Executive Chef Jason Barradas has a long history in California kitchens, having trained at Le Cordon Bleu in San Francisco and worked at five-star restaurant Amaya at the Grand Del Mar Resort. He brings this immense experience to Pinnacle, where he works to create fresh and imaginative dishes to pair with Falkner’s lineup of premium wines.

Sangio’s Deli at Cougar Vineyards & Winery

Cougar Vineyards & Winery focuses on quality wines made from Italian grape varieties. Of course, no glass of Italian wine (SoCal-style) would be complete without an expertly made Italian sub, panino, cheese and charcuterie plate, or hand-tossed pizza on offer at this casual yet totally gourmet spot located conveniently in the winery’s tasting room. Sangio’s Chef Alex Alimirante trained at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts and brings with him 7 years of culinary experience. Lucky for us, he is leading a new series of cooking classes at the winery. 

The Vineyard Rose at South Winery Resort and Spa

This all-day restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring California ingredients – some from South Coast’s very own organic gardens – promoting healthy lifestyle menu selections. Executive Chef Jose Esparza oversees culinary operations and develops menus at both South Coast and Carter Estate Winery and Resort. Being a true Wine Country chef, he works closely with award-winning South Coast Winery Master Winemaker Jon McPherson to offer guests wine-friendly pairings to enjoy with their meals.

Other top spots to enjoy a gorgeous meal in an equally gorgeous vineyard setting include the European castle-like Carol’s Restaurant at Baily Winery; Mama’s Rosa’s Trattoria at Robert Renzoni Vineyards, featuring Wine Country’s only brick oven for some of the most epic pizzas this side of Italy; the ultra-elegant Restaurant at Leoness Cellars; the stunning al-fresco terrace Restaurant at Avensole Winery; and Baba Joon’s Kitchen at Fazeli Cellars, offering Persian-inspired Mediterranean cuisine in a spectacular setting.

While not technically in Wine Country, Bluewater Grill in the heart of Temecula’s business area is also a must-visit and certainly deserves an honorable mention. Not only does this hot spot offer fresh, sustainably caught seafood prepared in a variety of ways from classic to modern, amazing happy hour specials, a shaded (and heated when needed!) patio and pet-friendly area, it also boasts one of Temecula’s best kept secrets – zero corkage fee on local wine, making it the perfect spot for dinner after a day of wine tasting to bring one of your local purchases to pair with your meal.

Dad.  Ask him when Mom says no!

After decades of discussion (as is most always the case in government!), President Woodrow Wilson approved the idea of an actual Father’s Day back in 1916, followed shortly by President Calvin Coolidge supporting the idea of a national Father’s Day in 1924 to, “establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations”.  After a protracted struggle of over four decades, President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day in 1966. Then in 1972, President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father’s Day to be held on the third Sunday of June.

Father’s Day undoubtedly brings up fond memories for most, whether it’s for something your Dad did, for something he said, or for that one thing he never, ever mentioned that you know he could have!  So how do we repay him for all the things he’s done?  First of all, resist the temptation to take the easy road; he has enough ties and coffee mugs.  What about giving the gift of time? Here’s a few, fun times you can share with Dad, right here in wine country.  Check it out!

Baily Vineyard & Winery – Father’s Day Specials at Carol’s Restaurant
Falkner Winery – Father’s Day Lunch Specials and Free Concert
Frangipani Estate Winery – Father’s Day Lunch
Thornton Winery – Champagne Jazz Concert Series – Spyro Gyra & Acoustic Alchemy
Wiens Family Cellars – Father’s Day Bacon & Syrah Dinner
Wilson Creek Winery – Father’s Day Brunch

June Winery Events

The weather is warming up, school’s just about out and we’re dusting off our backyard grills in preparation for summer get-togethers. If your summer plans include spending some time in Temecula Valley Wine Country or if you’re local and plan on entertaining out-of-town guests, be sure to check out some of the great events being hosted by our wineries.

Baily Vineyard & Winery
Sangiovese Saturdays at Carol’s
Saturdays in June; / 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 wines. Sit down with bread and cheese plate; $30 (Reservations required 24 hours in advance) / Bar Tasting; $20. Call for reservations: 951-972-9768.

Father’s Day at Carol’s Restaurant
Sunday, June 21 / 11:00a / Menu specials for Dad!

Shakespeare in the Vines presents: Julius Ceasar
June 11-27 / Visit www.shakespeareinthevines.org for pricing information and reservations or call 951-402-7488.

Callaway Vineyard & Winery
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.

Live Music Fridays
Every Friday from 5:00p-8:00p

Cougar Vineyard & Winery
Father’s Day Special at Cougar Winery
Sunday, June 21 / Take care of Dad by taking him out for what he wants, you know he deserves it!  Mad Mike’s Gourmet Sausage with a choice of toppings served with a side of coleslaw and paired with a glass of our wine or a glass of Black Market Beer for $14 per person.  For our wine club members, enjoy yours for $12 per person.

Live Music
Every Friday evening / 5:00p-8:00p / Come enjoy live music at Cougar Winery. The deli is also open later until 7:00p. For musician schedule, visit www.cougarvineyards.com.

Danza del Sol Winery
Live Music on the Patio
Saturdays in June / 1:00p-5:00p / June 6 – James Wells / June 13 – Rosewood & Rye / June 20 – JD Priest / June 27 – Tralain Rox

Europa Village
Live Music
Fridays from 5:30p-8:30p and Sundays from 1:00p-4:00p / June 5 – Mrs. Jones’ Revenge / June 7 – Danielle Taylor / June 12 – Nite Riders / June 14 – Jimmy Patton / June 19 – Barstow Prophets / June 21 – Dustin Jake / June 26 – Kanan Road / June 28 – Joe Baldino

Music & Wine Pairing Dinner – “Bella Notte”
Thursday, June 25 / 6:30p-9:00p / $85 per person / $75.60 per person, wine club / Buy tickets in the tasting room or online at www.europavillage.com.

Falkner Winery
Wine Appreciation Class
Saturday, June 20 / 10:00a-12:30p / Designated for all levels of wine knowledge / $45 per person / $70 per person with lunch. / Reservations required by calling 951-676-8231 xt. 109

Father’s Day Lunch
Sunday, June 21 / 12p-3p / $55 for two, plus tax and gratuity (includes a salad, two entrees, dessert to share and non-alcoholic beverages) / Dancing, sangria, beer and BBQ in the yard garden. Reservations required by calling 951-676-8231 ext. 1

Live Music / Sundays 12:00p-3:00p / June 7 – Guilty Conscience Band / June 14 – Harmony Road/ June 28 – Guilty Conscience Band

Frangipani Estate Winery
Father’s Day Lunch
Sunday, June 21 / 11:00a-3:00p / Enjoy the breathtaking views of our estate vineyard, while you enjoy lunch and a glass of wine on our winery hilltop patio overlooking the vineyard. Menu includes Bourbon Brown Sugar Smoked Brisket, Caribbean Jerk BBQ Chicken, Black Beans & Rice, Garden Salad and Fresh Baked Dinner Roll/ $29 per person, plus tax. Reservations are required by June 17th by calling 951-699-8845.

Longshadow Ranch Winery
Summer Bonfire Saturday Nights
Every Saturday night through October / 6:00p-10:00p / No admission price / Live music, mechanical bull rides, along with wine. Supervised children with their families are welcome to attend.

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

Summer Art Show
June 5, 6,7 – all day / Join us for a special art show of summer-inspired art by some of the nation’s top artists. Entry is free.

“Dueling Pianos”
Thursday, June 25 / 6:00p / Join us for a night of music and fun with Dueling Pianos! $10 gets you in with a glass of sangria. Tickets available online at www.lorimarwinery.com.

Movie in the Vines – Bridesmaids
Monday, June 29 / 6:00p; movie starts at sunset / “Pairings” mobile kitchen will be available! No outside food allowed.

Mount Palomar Winery
Bottles “n” Brushes Painting Class with Wine
June 11 and June 28 / 12:00-3:00p (June 28 class is 1:00p-4:00p)/ $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 bottlesnbrushestemecula@gmail.com.

“Heart to Heart” Concert – A tribute to HEART
Friday, June 12/ 6:00p-10:00p / $25 per ticket (pre-sale) $30 at the door / Contact Robert Walker at 760-716-6295 or heyday@heyday.com

Oak Mountain Winery

Learn to Paint Event
Sunday, June 14 / 1:00p-4:00p / Includes all art supplies, hors d’oeuvres and a glass of wine. Reservations are required by calling 951-699-9102 or by email to events@oakmountainwinery.com.

Wine Blending Party in the Cave
Saturday, June 27 / 6:00p-9:00p / $65 per person; $60 per person, Wine Club / Sample three different red wine varietals and learn what differentiates them from one another.  Then, blend and taste as you craft your very own wine!  Includes a family-style dinner with a glass of wine.  Reservations are required by calling 951-699-9102 or by email to events@oakmountainwinery.com.

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

Oak Mountain Winery University
Bubbles 101 – We want to burst your bubble with our champagne class.

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

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.

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, while tasting Oak Mountain wines from different areas in the Bordeaux region of France.

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

Frankie Ballard Concert
Sunday, June 7 / 6p-10p / South Coast Winery Resort & Spa and K-FROG are proud to announce country artist Frankie Ballard will be performing live and in person on Sunday, June 7th for another sold-out Rhythm on the Vine Concert. Doors open at 6pm. Get your tickets today. JUST ANNOUNCED: LOCASH added to line up. They’ve played at the Grand Ole Opry, rocked it at NYC’s Times Square, and now LOCASH will be opening the Frankie Ballard Concert on June 7th at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa. Tickets start at just $50, so visit www.wineresort.com for concert details and to reserve your seat, or call 800-539-1375 today.

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”. 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.

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.

Wine Wednesdays at Vineyard Rose Restaurant
6:00p-9:00p / Wednesday nights just got even better at the Vineyard Rose Restaurant as award winning pianist, Blessie Isaac-Hopkins, takes the helm behind our elegant grand piano.

Vintner Vault Thursdays
Every Thursday is Couples Day at South Coast Winery’s Vintner’s Vault Tasting Room. Bring your spouse, your loved-one, your partner, your friend and treat yourself to a wine tasting experience for two. / Couples Tasting: $20 wine tasting for two people. Includes two keepsake South Coast Winery wine glasses with your paid tasting

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.

Behind the Scenes Wine Tours
Tours are held daily at 11 AM, 1 PM and 3PM, Monday through Sunday. Due to the limited sizes of each tour, advance reservations are required with prepayment, and are non-refundable. Must be over 21 years of age to attend. Call 800-539-1375 Ext. 350 to reserve your spot today.

Thornton Winery
Friday Live Music
6:00p-9:00p / June 5 – Mor Sol / June 12 – Oceans of Sand / June 19 – Mrs. Jones Revenge / June 20 (Saturday) – Fleetwood Mac Tribute / June 26 – Lifetime Rocker

Champagne Jazz Concert Series
Saturday, June 6 – Bobby Caldwell & The Rippingtons / 7:00p / General Admission tickets – $75 / Gourmet Supper tickets – $150 (3 course meal, concert ticket & assigned table)
Sunday, June 21 – Spyro Gyra & Acoustic Alchemy / 4:00p / General Admission tickets – $65 / Gourmet Supper tickets – $140 (3 course meal, concert ticket & assigned table
Sunday, June 28 – America / 4:00p / General Admission tickets – $85 / Gourmet Supper tickets – $160 (3 course meal, concert ticket & assigned table)

Wiens Family Cellars
Father’s Day “Bacon and Syrah” Dinner
Sunday, June 21 / 6:00p / $85 per person / $68 per person, wine club / Celebrate Father’s day in style with a vertical tasting of four past Syrahs along with perfectly paired bacon dishes.

Wilson Creek Winery
“Wine Academy” ~ Wine and Cheese, A Divine Pairing
Sunday, June 7 / 1p-3p / Our top notch winery instructors will make your wine experience interactive and interesting. / $40 per person / $30 per person, wine club

Crawfish Boil
Friday, June 19 / 6p-9p / It’s back! Join us for a traditional Louisiana-style Crawfish Boil. Savor fabulous wines and feast on crawfish with all the fixin’s while enjoying the sounds of “Shades of J” rockin blues. / $49.95 per person / $39.95 per person, wine club

Father’s Day Brunch
Sunday, June 21/ 10:00a-3:00p / Surprise Dad with a Father’s Day brunch buffet in wine country! Play some bocce ball and listen to live music while enjoying a fantastic Father’s Day themed brunch. Brunch buffet: General $49.95 per person; Wine Club $44.95 / Brunch buffet with Sparkling wine – General $59.95; Wine Club $53.95

Live Entertainment
Saturdays & Sundays in June /12p-4p / June 6 – JD Priest / June 7 – Michael LeClerc / June 13 – Smoothie Jones / June 14 – Billy Watson / June 20 – Mark Norris / June 21 – Astra Kelly / June 27 – JD Priest / June 28 – Rod Frias

Celebrate Mother’s Day in Wine Country!

The ancient Greeks paid annual homage to Cybele, the mother figure of their gods, the Romans dedicated an annual spring festival to the mother of their gods, and in 16th century England, a celebration called “Mothering Sunday” was inaugurated — a Sunday set aside for visiting one’s mother.  When President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill back in 1914 designating the second Sunday in May as a legal holiday to be called “Mother’s Day”, he dedicated the day “to the best mother in the world, your mother.”

Show your Mom how special she is!  Lunch, brunch, dinner – or just a day of wine tasting – is surely one way to get on her good side.  And remember, you’re the reason she drinks wine in the first place…

Here’s just a few ideas for spending Mother’s Day in Temecula Valley Wine Country:

If brunch suits your fancy, you’ve got lots of options!  Try Carol’s at Baily Winery; 11a-3p, Bel Vino Winery; 9a-3p, Danza del Sol Winery; 10a or 1p, Doffo Winery; 10a or 12:30p, Frangipani Winery; 11a-3p, Monte de Oro Winery; 10a or 12:30p, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa; 10a – 3p, Thornton Winery; 11a-4p, Wiens Family Cellars; 11a-1p, Wilson Creek Winery; 10a-3p.

Lunch and Dinner will both be served at Meritage Restaurant at Callaway Vineyard & Winery from 10a-8p.

And if you’ve always wanted to Learn To Paint, Oak Mountain Winery is offering a fun alternative to the usual at 1p.

All of our wineries will be open and ready to see you.  Happy Mothers Day, all!

California Restaurant Month, Temecula Wine Country Style!

California Restaurant Month – Splurge, Savor and Save

Dream Big ~ Jim Carter, South Coast Winery

Check in every month where we feature a new interview with a Temecula Valley winery owner. You’ll learn where they came from, why they chose Temecula – and what keeps them passionate about the sometimes not-so-glamorous life of a winery owner.

 

Today, we’re sitting down with Jim Carter, owner of South Coast Winery Resort and Spa, at the winery’s restaurant, Vineyard Rose. Never one to sit still for long, the energetic father of 13, grandfather to 27 and great-grandfather to 4 is a man on a mission!

South Coast Winery opened in 2001 and has grown exponentially since then, was that always part of the vision?
I knew what I wanted to build way before I started construction.  I’d visited wine regions throughout the state and knew that ultimately I wanted to have a place where people would want to come and stay amongst the vineyards. We built in phases, starting with the production side and the tasting room.  Phase 2 was the villas, phase 3 the Vineyard Rose restaurant, phase 4 the conference center and finished off with phase 5, the Grapeseed Spa. I think there was about 10 or 11 wineries when I started.  Who knew it was going to develop as quickly as it did?

But that really wasn’t what I had in mind when I bought my first Temecula vineyard property back in 1981.  I wanted to grow grapes. And I planted a lot of them beginning back in 1995 on a 400 acre piece of property that I’d purchased years before up along the east side of Mount Palomar. It’s a spectacular vineyard we named Wild Horse Peak and it produces some fabulous grapes.  My kids and I would spend weekends and summers up there digging and planting.  I just fell in love with the farming side.  The winery is the vehicle that allows me to be a grape grower.

The winery has quite an extensive menu of wines, was that also part of the plan?
We just kept planting to see which clonal varietals grew well here and we ended up liking pretty much everything we grew.  So we’re in a unique position in that we can now make a wine that suits just about anyone’s palate.  There’s a wine for everyone – and I want to make sure that visitors can discover what they love right here in our tasting room.  

So what’s next?
Carter Estate Winery and Resort.  The first phase of our family’s next adventure is set to open in January.  It’s a completely different concept from this winery.  Our production will be quite limited.  We sourced the fruit for these bottlings from some of our best vineyard blocks and have used the best barrels on the market to hand craft 4-5 different wines that we’ll be releasing under the Carter Estate label.  And we’re also really excited to announce that we’ll be showcasing some new “methode champenoise”, traditional style sparkling wines over there too.  We’re really anxious to share these small lot wines that we’ve been bottling and cellaring for awhile now.  

And we’re also breaking ground on a winery/brew pub in the Texas hill country, just outside of Austin in a town called Johnson City.  

Sounds like crazy talk to me! Do you ever sleep?  What keeps you awake at night?
I have a good life.  About the only think that keeps me awake is praying for rain! We sure need us a good rainy winter.

 

 

Dream Big ~ John Thornton, Thornton Winery

Check in every month where we feature a new interview with a Temecula Valley winery owner. You’ll learn where they came from before settling in Temecula, CA – and what keeps them passionate about the sometimes not-so-glamorous life of a winery owner.

Our ongoing series this month features John Thornton, of Thornton Winery, one of the valley’s “first”, which opened for business way back in 1988.  Learn why, after almost 30 years, “Mr. T”, as he’s lovingly known to us, still lives and breathes wine.

Why – or how on earth! – did you get into the wine business? And why was Temecula your chosen region?
Well, Sally and I used to travel extensively on business and everywhere we’d visit, we’d try to eat and drink local.  We loved the social aspect of food and wine together.  We thought, “Hey, we can start our own place and offer food and wine and it’ll be easy.” Boy, were we WRONG!  At the time, Ely Callaway was marketing Temecula as the perfect place to make wine and although the area had a small wine industry, we did some research and it did appear to be a “natural” fit for a wine country and poised for growth.

Running a small family winery – even one that’s been around for awhile like Thornton has – must present a unique set of challenges. What keeps you up at night? And what gets you up in the morning?
I think some of the same things that keep most business owners up at night; but for us it’s how to sell our wine, what wines to make, how to keep our customers happy, cash flow….but Steve works this part of the business, so I sleep pretty darn good!  What gets me up in the morning?  I get excited about the challenges in the business actually.  Challenges can be opportunities and we can take a challenge and turn it into something positive.

What do you MOST love about the wine industry?
What I love most about the wine industry is the people.  There are some of the nicest and most genuine people in this industry.  Another thing about this industry that is so great is sharing food and wine with friends;  it’s a wonderful thing.  You add music to that, and you’ve got the perfect combination.

Speaking of music, Champagne Jazz has been a staple in the music industry – and at Thornton – for almost 30 (!) years. Are you proud with its effect on our little wine country?
When we started Champagne Jazz, we never expected it to be what it is today.  It’s had a long life and it’s taken years and a lot of hard work to formulate.  It’s a continuous challenge to combine a food, wine and musical experience that will appeal to a broad audience.  We’re really proud that we’re bringing in some of the best jazz performers in the world. cheapigfollowers.com

Cafe Champagne was THE first restaurant in wine country. That must present its own unique opportunities and challenges?
Our biggest challenge was learning the food business.  It’s a tough business.  You’ve got to do a lot of research and make sure that you’ve got what people want.  You’ve got to come up with menus that appeal to customers and you’ve got to make the prices competitive in order to bring the people in.  The restaurant was originally “high-end”, but it’s now more casual.  Steve’s been teaching me that it isn’t always about what I want!  The customer is always right.  We’ve got to listen to them, try to pair the food and wine well, and make them happy.  We’ve got a lot more competition with our neighbors now, and while this is inevitable, it just keeps us planning and adapting.  We’re watching the valley get better and better and it’s exciting to watch!

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.