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
Sustainable farming is one half of the story. The other half is the person who takes what the land produces and decides what to do with it. Fortunately, a few of our winemakers are more than willing to walk you through that part! Here are a few standout experiences:
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 the 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
Want to go even deeper? Beyond the Sip designs personalized wine experiences that answer any questions you have about Temecula wine and will build a full tasting around them! 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.
