Tag: temecula valley wineries

Temecula Valley Winegrowers Hall of Fame

The Temecula Valley Winegrowers were excited to introduce the first Hall of Fame inductees at the 33rd Annual Grape Day conference on April 21, 2016 at South Coast Winery in Temecula, California. The inductees honored were Vincenzo and Audrey Cilurzo, and John Moramarco.

“The recent passing of wine country pioneer Vince Cilurzo prompted the TVWA Board of Directors to consider ways we could honor his memory,” stated Phil Baily, TVWA Board member. “In discussing this, we realized that other pioneers should be recognized, most notably Audrey Cilurzo, because Vince and Audrey partnered in their accomplishments. John Moramorco was unquestionably the key leader of our rise in the 1960s and for the following thirty-plus years.”

Vincenzo and Audrey Cilurzo planted the first commercial wine grape vineyard in the Temecula Valley. They established Cilurzo Vineyard and Winery as one of the first wineries in the Temecula Valley. As husband and wife, they championed the growing of red wine grapes, most notably Petite Sirah. They offered help, encouragement and support to all the wineries that followed them.

John Moramarco planted one of the first commercial wine grape vineyards in the Temecula Valley in 1968 while working for Brookside Winery. In the late 1980s his efforts helped Riverside County create the citrus/vineyard zone which preserved agriculture and laid the foundation for the remarkable growth of wineries over the ensuing years. Moramarco also worked to mobilize Riverside County, the City of Temecula, State and Federal efforts to successfully combat the spread of Pierce’s Disease in Temecula Valley vineyards.

Future inductees will be chosen from submissions that meet specified criteria, which will be announced in the coming months.

Welcome New Temecula Wineries!

We’re excited to announce the opening of three new Temecula Valley Wine Country wineries!  We’ve been out to visit all three and can say that we were both impressed and enamored with them.  Here’s a brief introduction:

Avensole Winery:

Situated on the hilltop above Rancho California Road, Avensole is Temecula’s newest winery. Formerly Van Roekel Winery, this hilltop estate has long been known for its old-growth vines producing some of Temecula’s finest grapes. The property was purchased by the Lytton family in 2014 and has been extensively remodeled, includes a new restaurant, a marketplace with both wine and craft beer bars, a tasting room, a new indoor-outdoor wedding venue, and park-like setting with pond.  The Lytton Family is committed to using the property’s premium fruit to produce some of Temecula’s finest, premium wines. Their grand opening is on Saturday, April 9th…be sure to stop by!
34567 Rancho California Rd. Temecula, CA 92591

Fazeli Cellars:

Masia de la Vinya:

January Winery Events

Last year, around this same time, we awoke to Temecula Valley Wine Country blanketed by a thin layer of snow. Although it does get cold in Temecula Valley, we rarely get snow! Plan your visit in January, check out some of the great events and maybe, just maybe, you’ll get lucky enough to experience a winter wonderland in wine country!

Baily Vineyard & Winery

Dog Day Sundays
Every Sunday / 11:30a-2:30p / Bring your well-mannered pooch to lunch, doggie treats and special menu items / Doggie costume contest on Nov. 1st / Live acoustic music on the patio.

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 and information on current vertical wines: 951-972-9768.

Bel Vino Winery
Karaoke Night
Every Saturday 6p-9p / Free admission / Karaoke every Saturday night at Bel Vino Winery in the Barrel Room / Happy Hour from 6pm-7pm; Half off wine and beer and open kitchen.
Live Music / Saturday 12pm – 4pm / Sunday 11am-3pm

Briar Rose Winery
Sip Into the Sunset
First Friday of each month / Open until 10pm / Music and wine under the stars in our enchanted garden or tasting room / Reservations required; call 951.308.1098

Callaway Vineyard & Winery
Live Music at the Winery
1pm – 4pm / No charge / Enjoy live music in the main tasting room

Happiest Hours
Friday’s from 3:00p-6:00p in the lounge at Meritage at Callaway / Grab your friends and join us for a marvelous time! 20% all tapas, 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 / 4pm-8pm/ Enjoy sipping on our very own Watermelon Sangria while soaking in the sunset vineyard views in our main dining room. Live music from local musicians begins at 6pm / No cover charge / Reservations for parties of 5 or more are required.

Carter Estate Winery and Resort
Elegant Food & Wine Pairing
$40pp / Available Mid-week 1pm and 3pm; Weekends 1pm and 3pm / Reserve your place for an indulgent wine and food pairing designed to tantalize the senses. Guests enjoy five specially-selected Carter Estate Winery wines paired perfectly with a variety of cured meats, artisan cheeses and accompanied with season accoutrements. Each pairing last approximately 90 minutes and is limited to just eight participants to allow for one-on-one interaction / For reservations call today: 844.851.2138

Friday Nights After-Hours
6pm-9pm / Summer may be “falling away’ but Friday Nights at the all-new Carter Estate Winery and Resort Tasting Room are guaranteed to keep things HEATED with Friday Night After Hours! All are welcome – from first time sippers to worldly wine tippers. Wine by the glass and live musical entertainment make a perfect pairing. The only thing missing is YOU!

Cougar Vineyard & Winery
Cougar meets Italy Wine Judging Event ~ The Preview
Wednesday, January 20th / 6pm-8pm / $10 per person / Two nights (Jan. 20 and Jan. 21) event price: $75/pp wine club, $80/ pp non-wine club / Wine Judging Event with entertainment, excellent wine and gourmet food. Includes a glass of Cougar wine, all you can eat gourmet popcorn / viewing of the Bottle Shock movie in the Barrel Room; the movie is a fictionalized version of the events surrounding the 1976 Judgment of Paris, as the event was called. The movie focuses on Chateau Montelena and the relationship between the father and son who run this Napa winery. It also touches on many of the other people who were involved in the Judgment of Paris. The movie is fun to watch and is loosely based on the facts surrounding the blind tasting in Paris.

Cougar meets Italy Wine Judging Event ~ The Main Event
Thursday, January 21st / 6pm-9pm / Price for the Wine Judging Event $70/pp wine club $75/pp non wine club / Two nights (Jan. 20 and Jan. 21) event price: $75/pp wine club, $80/ pp non-wine club / Limited to the first 50 attendees / Professional wine judging comparing Cougar wines with their Italian counterparts; Audience wine tasting and judging with the same wines; 4 Course “Food-Paired” dinner prepared by Francesca’s Italian Kitchen / Presentation of the wine judging results and special Cougar Logo Wineglass to commemorate the Event / Musical entertainment provided by Don Brennan / Limited to the First 50 Attendees / Advance payment and reservation required. Please RSVP with your Cougar wine server or email WineClub@CougarVineyards.com / This event will sell out!! Get your tickets today.

Friday Night Live Music
5pm-8pm / Wine by the glass or bottle purchase available / Deli is open until 7pm

Sunday Afternoon Live Music
2pm- 5pm

Danza del Sol Winery
Live Music on the Patio / Saturdays from 1pm-5pm / Free / Grab your friends and head over to Danza del Sol for an afternoon of wine and great music

Europa Village
Murder Mystery – Holmes Sweet Homicide
Saturday, Jan. 30th / 6:30pm-8:00pm / $75 pp / “ An interactive comedy mystery spoof of Sherlock Holmes.” / Includes gourmet dinner by Executive Chef, Dean Thomas / For reservations please visit www.europavillage.com

Murder Mystery – Holmes Sweet Homicide
Saturday, Jan. 31st / 6:30pm-8:00pm / $70 pp / “ An interactive comedy mystery spoof of Sherlock Holmes.” / Includes gourmet dinner by Executive Chef, Dean Thomas / For reservations please visit www.europavillage.com

Friday Night Entertainment
5:30p- 8:30p / Free / Live music in the Cave / Jan. 8th – Two Fish / Jan. 15th – Dustin Jake / Jan. 22nd – Luis Andre / Jan. 29th Danielle Taylor
Live Music every Sunday/ 1pm- 4pm / Free / Live music on Veranda / Jan. 3rd – Michael LeClerc / Jan. 10th – Jimmy Patton / Jan. 17th – Bryan McManus / Jan. 24th – Tom Bray / Jan. 31st – Joe Baldino

Falkner Winery
Wine Appreciation Class
Saturday, Jan. 16th / 10:00am-12:30pm / Designated for all levels of wine knowledge / $45pp; $40pp Connoisseur; $20pp VIP; $70pp with lunch / Reservations required 951.676.8231 x.109.

Frangipani Winery
10th Year Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, January 16th / 10am-6pm / Join us for discounts on wine bottle purchases and specials on wine tasting throughout the day.

Leoness Cellars
Live Music at The Restaurant at Leoness
Every Friday 5pm-8pm / Every Sunday 1pm-4pm / Free to the public

Live Music in the Barrel Room
Every Sunday / 1:00p-4:00p / Free to the public

Monte De Oro Winery
Winter Bingo Night
Saturday, January 23rd / 7:00pm / Cost is $25 per person that includes ten Bingo games, one glass of wine and two Bingo game cards. Additional Bingo cards, food and refreshments available for purchase / Tickets can be purchased at www.montedeoro.com, online store and order events.

Mount Palomar Winery
Paint Nite
Saturday, Jan. 2nd – Flight of the Fireflies / 1pm-4pm / $45 per person / Contact 760.413.5808 or www.paintnite.com to reserve
Paint Nite
Saturday, Jan. 9th – Love to the Moon / 1pm-4pm / $45 per person / Contact 760.413.5808 or www.paintnite.com to reserve
Paint Nite
Sunday, Jan. 10th – Winter Love Birds / 1pm-4pm / $45 per person / Contact 760.413.5808 or www.paintnite.com to reserve
Paint Night
Saturday, Jan. 30th – Coco Caliente / 1pm-4pm / $45 per person / Contact 760.413.5808 or www.paintnite.com to reserve
Paint Night
Sunday, Jan. 31st – Flight of the Fireflies / 1pm-4pm / $45 per person / Contact 760.413.5808 or www.paintnite.com to reserve.

Ponte Family Estate Winery
First Sundays – Live Music in the Reserve Room*
First Sunday of the month/ 12:00p-4:00p / The Lookouts, Classic Rock / The Reserve Room will host a variety of live musical artists the first Sunday of each month in 2015. *The Reserve Room is a tasting room for wine club members only. Join the Wine Club and enjoy complimentary tastings in our exclusive venue.

Live NFL on the Big Screen
Every Thursday, Sunday and Monday throughout the 2015 NFL season / The Cellar Lounge at Ponte Vineyard Inn / Free to attend.

Oak Mountain Winery
Live Music in the Pavilion
Every Saturday and Sunday in November / 1:00p-5:00p

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa
Marvelous Mondays at the Vineyard Rose Restaurant
Join us Monday evenings from 5:30p to 9:30p for specials at the restaurant featuring select premium wines at 50% off / Call 951.491.8077 to reserve 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. 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.

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. $40pp / $35pp Wine Club Member. Get up close and personal as you learn more about our spectacular Southern California winery with a behind-the-scenes tour. From vineyards to crush pad, each tour concludes with a specially prepared wine and food pairing. 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.

Yoga Classes at Grapeseed Spa
Sunday 9a-10a / $12 per class / Yoga mat, towels and water provided. Call 951.587.9463 ext. 3513 to reserve your session.

Thornton Winery

Friday Live Music
Wine Specials, Live Music, Food Specials, and Dinner Menu / 6:00p-9:00p / No Cover Charge. Seating Available at Courtyard, Covered Patio & Café / Reservations suggested, call 951.699.0099

Wiens Family Cellars
Wine Blending Party
Saturday, Jan. 23rd. / 6pm – 9pm / Be a winemaker for a day and blend your ideal wine. Wiens production staff will guide you through a part of the winemaking process that is essential for making great wine. This event will be as much fun as it is informative / Limited to 100 seats for this event/ Cost is $100 pp., $80 wine club members / For reservation and information please visit www.wienscellars.com.

Holiday Gift Giving ~ Temecula Style!

Need that perfect holiday gift?? We’re sure that nothing would be appreciated more than a little something from Temecula Valley Wine Country! What could be better than sipping wine while shopping for everyone on your list? Our Temecula Valley winery gift shops offer unique and charming wine-themed gifts, specialty food, home decor and, of course, wine!

Not only does wine make the perfect gift for friends, neighbors and family, but it also makes for a great host gift or corporate gifts. You can purchase by the case for the best price!

Besides wine, wine club memberships make excellent gifts! Most Temecula wineries offer affordable wine club memberships with year-round benefits such as free wine tastings, VIP pricing on wine and special events, pick-up parties and more. If you’d prefer to shop online, many wineries offer the ability to sign up for wine clubs online. Of course, wine can also be purchased online and shipped to most states.

Or, perhaps, you’re just looking for wine for your holiday gathering. Many of our wineries offer festive white and red dessert wines, either late harvest or port-style. Some festive wine options include: South Coast Winery’s sparkling wine line, Thornton NV Cuvee Rouge, and Callaway’s Late Harvest Cabernet and dessert wines. Be sure to check out Wilson Creek Winery, which offers white, red, and sparkling wines with custom and personalized holiday labels.

Happy holidays from Temecula Valley Wine Country! We look forward to celebrating with you soon.

November Winery Events

Fall is an exciting time in wine country. The leaves are changing, the weather’s getting cooler and the wineries are beginning to prepare for the holidays. For our U.S. military active duty and veteran friends, be sure to head out to Temecula Valley Wine Country on Veterans Day for wine tasting specials. And for guests planning to visit towards the end of the month, be sure to check out the Thanksgiving dinner events, Black Friday specials and tree lighting events!

Baily Vineyard & Winery

Dog Day Sundays
Every Sunday / 11:30a-2:30p / Bring your well-mannered pooch to lunch, doggie treats and special menu items / Doggie costume contest on Nov. 1^st / Live acoustic music on the patio.

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.

Bel Vino Winery

Live Music / Saturday 12pm – 4pm / Sunday 11am-3pm

Briar Rose

Sip Into the Sunset / First Friday of each month / Open until 10pm / Music and wine under the stars in our enchanted garden or tasting room / Reservations required; call 951.308.1098

Callaway Vineyard & Winery

Live Music at the Winery / 1pm – 4pm / No charge / Enjoy live music in the main tasting room / Nov. 7- Dave Reynolds / Nov. 14 – Michael LeClerc / Nov. 21 – JD Priest / Nov. 28 – Dave Reynolds.

Happiest Hours / Friday’s from 3:00p-6:00p in the lounge at Meritage at Callaway / Grab your friends and join us for a marvelous time! 20% all tapas, 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 / 4pm-8pm/ Enjoy sipping on our very own Watermelon Sangria while soaking in the sunset vineyard views in our main dining room. Live music from local musicians begins at 6pm / No cover charge / Reservations for parties of 5 or more are required.

Carter Estate Winery and Resort

Elegant Food & Wine Pairing / $40pp / Available Mid-week 1pm and 3pm; Weekends 1pm and 3pm / Reserve your place for an indulgent wine and food pairing designed to tantalize the senses. Guests enjoy five specially-selected Carter Estate Winery wines paired perfectly with a variety of cured meats, artisan cheeses and accompanied with season accoutrements. Each pairing last approximately 90 minutes and is limited to just eight participants to allow for one-on-one interaction / For reservations call today: 844.851.2138

Friday Nights After-Hours / 6pm-9pm / Summer may be “falling away’ but Friday Nights at the all-new Carter Estate Winery and Resort Tasting Room are guaranteed to keep things HEATED with Friday Night After Hours! All are welcome – from first time sippers to worldly wine tippers. Wine by the glass and live musical entertainment make a perfect pairing. The only thing missing is YOU!

Cougar Vineyard & Winery

Friday Night Live Music / 5pm-8pm / Wine by the glass or bottle purchase available / Deli is open until 7pm /.

Sunday Afternoon Live Music / 2pm- 5pm

Doffo Winery

Live Music on the Patio / 1pm-4pm / Free
Danza del Sol Winery

Live Music on the Patio / Saturdays from 1pm-5pm / Free / Grab your friends and head over to Danza del Sol for an afternoon of wine and great music

Europa Village

Friday Night Entertainment / 6pm-9pm / Free / Live music on Veranda; Food Truck / Nov. 6 – Mrs. Jones Revenge / Nov. 13 – Missy Andersen / Nov. 20 – Big Truth /

Live Music every Sunday/ 1pm- 4pm / Free / Live music on Veranda / Nov. 1 & 8 – Jimmy Patton / Nov. 15 – Kelly Moore / Nov. 22 – Michael Edon / Nov. 29 – Joe Baldino

Falkner Winery

Veteran’s Day Free Classic Tasting / Complimentary tasting for all military. Must have military ID / 4 tastes offered and 15% off all bottle sales. Lunch special in the Pinnacle Restaurant for all veterans.

Wine Appreciation Class / Saturday, Nov. 17 / 10:00am-12:30pm / Designated for all levels of wine knowledge / $45pp; $40pp Connoisseur; $20pp VIP; $70pp with lunch / Reservations required 951.676.8231 x.109

Black Friday Sales / Nov. 27 / 10am – 5pm / Sales TBD

Leoness Cellars

Live Music at The Restaurant at Leoness / Every Friday 5pm-8pm / Every Sunday 1pm-4pm / Free to the public

Live Music in the Barrel Room / Every Sunday / 1:00p-4:00p / Free to the public

Lorimar Vineyards & Winery

Annual Tree Lighting / Nov. 29 / Begins at 6pm / Begin your holiday season with Lorimar Winery! Come meet Santa, enjoy Christmas cookies, cocoa, mulled wine and more! / www.lorimarwinery.com

Movies in the Vines / Nov. 30 / Begins at sunset / The Hangover / Bring blanket and chairs for our monthly Movie in the Vines! / No outside food permitted.

Monte De Oro Winery

Masquerade Wine Dinner / Nov. 7 / Reception starts at 7:00pm; Dinner 7:30pm / $90 pp; $76 for wine club members / New Orleans style masquerade with 6 course meal in our main tasting room. Mask required (up to dinner time); costumes optional / Seating is limited. Reservations required visit www.montedeoro.com

Oak Mountain Winery

Bark Friday Sale / Nov. 27 / 5pm-8pm / No cover charge / Bring your leashed dogs and enjoy live music, wine, beer, food and vendors.

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

Ponte Family Estate Winery

Wine Country Half Marathon / Nov. 21 / 7am-Noon / Join Team Ponte and contribute to a great cause! Race benefits Rancho Damacitas Children and Family Services. Race begins at Ponte Winery and ends at Wilson Creek, where there will be a Wine and Music Festival at the Finish Line! / Cost $80 / www.pontewinery.com

Team Ponte Training Runs/Walks through the Vineyard
Every Wednesday nights at 5:45p through mid-November / Ponte associates, wine club members and members of the community come out to Ponte Winery to train for the upcoming Wine Country Half-Marathon, which will be held on November 21^st. The group runs, walks and/or strolls a clearly marked 3.1 mile loop through Ponte Family Estate’s vineyards. Meet in front of the Ponte Winery Tasting Room porch/parking lot / Free to attend

Thanksgiving Dinner at Bouquet Restaurant / Nov. 26 / 5pm – 9pm / $28 pp / Bouquet Restaurant at Ponte Vineyard Inn will be serving a traditional Thanksgiving Feast Featuring all the trimmings. Reservations are highly encouraged at www.pontevineyardinn.com

Live NFL on the Big Screen / Every Thursday, Sunday and Monday throughout the 2015 NFL season / The Cellar Lounge at Ponte Vineyard Inn / Free to attend.

First Sundays – Live Music in the Reserve Room*
First Sunday of the month/ 12:00p-4:00p / The Lookouts, Classic Rock / The Reserve Room will host a variety of live musical artists the first Sunday of each month in 2015. *The Reserve Room is a tasting room for wine club members only. Join the Wine Club and enjoy complimentary tastings in our exclusive venue.

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

Autumn Escape Spa Special / Take time to relax this fall with decadent spa treatments, pumpkin spice, and the warmth of treatments that are sure to renew the mind, body, and spirit / Call for various offers and pricing and book today: 951.587.9463 ext. 3513 / Special ends November 30, 2015.

Get movin’ & Groovin’ to the Grapeseed Spa this fall / Nov. 6^th / 7pm-9pm /. Meet up with your spa friends and enjoy live entertainment. Best of all, it’s all fee, but reservations are required / Award-winning wines and appetizers available for purchase / Call to book today! 951.587.9463 ext. 3513.

Wine, Dine and Painting Al Fresco / Nov. 15^th / 10am-1pm (painting portion 10am-12pm) / Take in the views and tap into your inner artist, then enjoy a fantastic lunch at the Vineyard Rose. This exclusive package comes with two-hour instruction and supplies to paint your masterpiece, and follows with a select lunch menu and glass of wine to enjoy / Wine can be purchased during painting class by the glass or bottle / To purchase tickets call 951.587.9463 ext. 5250 or visit southcoastwinery.com

Thanksgiving Dinner at the Vineyard Rose Restaurant / Nov. 26^th / 12pm- 9pm / The menu is a 4 course meal with a single price based on the entrée selected. Beverages, tax and 18% gratuity are additional / Reservations are limited and required / Call 951.491.8077

Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony / Nov. 29^th / 6pm-9pm / Wines have been toasted; halls have been decked, Santa is scheduled, the only thing missing is you. Be our guest at the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. South Coast Winery Resort & Spa is an official Toys for Tots drop-off location. Guests are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate at the Tree Lighting ceremony.

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. La sala da gioco ha recensioni positive – questo è il motivo principale per cui dovresti fidarti dei casinò online. Immediatamente dopo aver caricato il sito in un browser, sarai accolto da un’interfaccia amichevole e intuitiva. Come sottolineano le recensioni di Play Fortune, la navigazione nei casinò ti consente di navigare rapidamente, trovare i giochi e le sezioni giuste. Tra i motivi della registrazione al sito ci sono: https://italy-bonusesfinder.com/online-casinos/betn1-casino C’è una reale possibilità di vincere soldi. Un jackpot viene sorteggiato al casinò e un alto pagamento sulle macchine dà la possibilità di guadagnare denaro.

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. $40pp / $35pp Wine Club Member. Get up close and personal as you learn more about our spectacular Southern California winery with a behind-the-scenes tour. From vineyards to crush pad, each tour concludes with a specially prepared wine and food pairing. 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.

Yoga Classes at Grapeseed Spa
Sunday 9a-10a / $12 per class / Yoga mat, towels and water provided. Call 951.587.9463 ext. 3513 to reserve your session.

Thornton Winery

Friday Live Music
Wine Specials, Live Music, Food Specials, and Dinner Menu / 6:00p-9:00p / No Cover Charge. Seating Available at Courtyard, Covered Patio & Café / Reservations suggested, call 951.699.0099

Wilson Creek Winery

2015 Late Harvest Festival / Sunday, Nov. 1 / 6pm to 9:30pm / Join us as we celebrate the most wonderful time of the year – Harvest! Experience an amazing harvest festival with a seasonally inspired buffet, live entertainment, grape stomping, wagon rides, a pumpkin carving contest (with prizes) and barrel tastings / Regular admission $85; Wine Club members $76.50 / Reservations at www.wilsoncreekwinery.com

Wine Academy Class / Pinot Noir Experience / Nov. 14 / 11am, 1pm to 3pm / Taste great Pinot from different world regions. Our top notch winery instructors will make your wine experience interactive and interesting. / Wine Club $25; Non-members $35 / Call Wine Club to reserve your spot 951.699.9463

Live Entertainment / Free / 12p-4pm / Nov. 7- JD Priest / Nov. 8- Vito Gambino / Nov. 14- Smoothie Jones / Nov. 15- Astra Kelly / Nov. 21- Joachim Nordensson / Nov. 22- Ruben Gonzalez / Nov.28- JD Priest / Nov. 29- Rod Firas.

Temecula Valley Winery Owners Tell All! Their “Family Favorites.”

Have you ever wondered which wine is a “family favorite” at your favorite Temecula Valley winery?  We have too…so, we decided to ask a few of our winery owners which of their wines is their favorite….and, why.  Of course, we knew that asking them this question would be much like asking parents of multiple children which is their favorite, but we thought we’d give it a whirl!

Nick Palumbo, owner of Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery says that he and wife Cindy’s fave is the “Tre Fratelli” Meritage blend.  As Nick tells it, not only is this wine consistently very good, but it’s got sentimental value for the Palumbo Family as well.  It is one of the first blended wines they produced in 2002 when Palumbo Winery opened and takes its name “three brothers” from the 3 boys of the Palumbo Family. The current release 2012, is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.

The Lin Family, owners of Callaway Vineyard & Winery, have a brand new favorite wine. They challenged their winemaker, Craig Larson, to pull out all the stops and “do whatever it took, with no cost restrictions” to create a Cabernet Sauvignon that reflects their dedication and passion to bring the best quality wine in all of Temecula Valley and California.  What came of this challenge is the OPR, the Owner’s Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, which the Lins believe has captured the very essence of everything they envisioned.

Over at Oak Mountain Winery, owners Steve and Valerie Andrews’ favorite is their Tenacious.  This wine is a Syrah-heavy Rhone blend named after Valerie’s mother who passed away over 25 years ago.  Val says “my mother, Arlene was tenacious in everything she did, and she did plenty.  Her license plate on her car was Ten8shs.  Whether she was working in the family liquor store, volunteering at the hospital, battling cancer or just being a great mom and friend, she was tenacious.  My parents introduced the wine industry to Steve and I, and look what happened!  Sorry to say, the wine is so good we drank it all…but a new vintage is coming soon.”

Monte De Oro Winery’s Ken Zignorski is passionate about their Syrah.  For him, it’s all about how well it pairs with food. Ken says “I like pairing the Syrah with a nice ribeye steak or tri-tip on the grill.  It’s got a full-bodied, mellow and a nice, lasting finish for me.  And, I think that Syrah is one of those grapes that really demonstrates Temecula Valley’s capabilities as a wine region.”

Rick & Jennifer Buffington, owners of Cougar Vineyard & Winery, lists Aglianico as their family favorite.  A black grape grown in the southern regions of Italy, it originated in Greece and was brought to the south of Italy by Greek settlers. Although it’s not a popular wine amongst the Temecula wineries, it is one that the Buffington family is proud to offer since it isn’t widely available and is very unique.  They appreciate the wine’s complexity, high acidity, firm tannins, rich flavor and its ability to pair well with food.  Plus….it only gets better with age!

At Briar Rose Winery, owners Les & Dorian Linkogle didn’t hesitate when it came to their favorite wine.  Sacrament is a rare and historic Mission Wine.  The Mission Wine is made from the Mission Grape planted by Father Junipero Serra to use for the Sacrament of Communion as he established 9 California missions from 1769-1782.  These Mission Grapes, also known as the Heritage Grape of the State of California, were planted along the El Camino Real by the Founder of California Missions.

Well, it’s safe to say that our owners love their Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and red blends!  So, what is your favorite Temecula Valley wine….and why??

September Winery Events

Baily Vineyard & Winery

Shakespeare in the Vines – Twelfth Night ~ A Romantic Comedy /Sept. 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26 and 27 / Oct. 1, 2 & 3 / Showtime 7:30p / Price $22, Seniors, Military and Students $17 / For tickets visit www.ShakespeareInTheVines.org or call 951.402.7488

Celebrate California Wine Month ~ 2012 Vintage Preview Tasting / Preview tasting available Thursday thru Sunday for the Month of / 11am – 4pm / $25 per person / Taste 5 unreleased 2012 red wines accompanied with La Brea flatbread, Brie & Dry Cured Salami / Tank sample of fermented unfinished wine included. Call for reservations 951.972.9768

Sangiovese Saturdays at Carol’s
Saturdays in August / 11:30a-2:30p / Live music on patio / Half price Sangiovese, Sangiovese Sangria and special menu items.

Dog Day Sundays
Every Sunday / 11:30a-2:30p / Bring your well-mannered pooch to lunch, doggie treats and special menu items / Live acoustic music on the patio.

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.

Bel Vino Winery

Live Music / Saturday 12pm – 4pm / Sunday 11am-3pm / Sept. 5 Shoot 4 Tuesday / Sept. 6 The Sweedes / Sept. 12 All In / Sept. 13 Red Wave / Sept. 19 JD Priest / Sept. 20 DOSE / Sept. 26 Kenny Hale / Sept. 27 Kings of Rhythm

Briar Rose

Sip Into the Sunset / First Friday of each month/ Open until 10pm / Music and wine under the stars in our enchanted garden or tasting room / Reservations required; call 951.308.1098

Callaway Vineyard & Winery

Happiest Hours
Grab your friends and join us for a marvelous time! Friday’s 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. Reservations for parties of 5 or more are required.

Entertainment / 9/4 Dustin Lake / 9/5 Vini Contreas / 9/6 Tim Moyer / 9/11 Midnight Satellites / 9/12 Micke Arnett / 9/13 Robin Adler, Dave Blackburn, John Quint / 9/18 Al & Brad / 9/19 Vini Contreas / 9/20 R.O.C Duo / 9/25 Buzz Campbell / 9/26 Vini Contreas / 9/27 Harmony Road

Cougar Vineyard & Winery

Friday Night Live Music / 5pm-8pm / Wine by the glass or bottle purchase available / 9/4 Vini Contreas, Rock, Folk, Christian / 9/11 Frankie and the Invisibles, Instrumental Rock & Roll / 9/18 Kenny Hale, Rock & Blues / 9/25 Vini Contreas.

Sunday Afternoon Live Music / 2pm- 5pm / 9/6 Don Brennan, Acoustic Guitarist, / 9/13 Will Sumner, Smooth Jazz / 9/20 Shaula Walko, Steel drum island vibe / 9/27 TBA

Doffo Winery

Live Music on the Patio / Saturday, Sept. 5 / 1pm-4pm / Carlos Naranjo – Classic Rock /

Free Yoga on the Hill / Saturday, Sept. 19 / 9:30are / $12 per person / All levels are welcome

Everyday Essentials –Wellness for the Mind, Body and Soul / Saturday, Sept. 19 / 11am – 1pm / $35 public; $30 wine club members / includes a glass of wine and appetizers / Simple tricks and ideas to enhance your daily routine with natural and homemade products / Sign-up at www.doffowines.com

Europa Village

Classic Oldies – FAN Fundraiser / Sunday, Sept. 6 / 6pm / $20 Gen. Adm. / $18 Students, seniors, military / For more information and tickets visit temeculatheatre.org

Movies in the Vines – “Bottle Shock” / Thursday, Sept. 10 / 7:30pm / $5 admission / For more information visit www.europavillage.com

Elvis & Friends – FAN Fundraiser / Friday, Sept 18 / 7pm / $20 Gen. Adm. / $18 Students, seniors, military / For more information and tickets visit temeculatheatre.org

Live Music / Fridays from 6:00p-9:00p and Sundays from 1:00p-4:00p / Free / 9/4 Mrs. Jones Revenge / 9/6 Jimmy Patton / 9/11 Cougarz Rock / 9/13 Jimmy Patton / 9/18 Buzz Campbell / 9/20 Kelly Moore / 9/27 Joe Baldino

Falkner Winery

Labor Day Celebration / 12pm – 3pm / Saturday – Monday / Sept. 5-7 / Case sales, Free Concerts / Saturday, Harmony Road, Sunday, Danielle Taylor / Restaurant special $55 per couple / 50% off carafes / BBQ in yard garden with hot wings special!

Wine Appreciation Class / Saturday, Sept. 19 / 10:00am-12:30pm / Designated for all levels of wine knowledge / $45pp; $40pp Connoisseur; $20pp VIP; $70pp with lunch / Reservations required 951.676.8231 x.109

FREE Concert / Sundays 12:00p-3:00p / /Dancing, Sangria, Beer, BBQ in the yard garden / Sept. 13, 20, 27 Guilty Conscience Band

Leoness Cellars

Live Music at The Restaurant at Leoness / Every Friday 5pm-8pm / Every Sunday 1pm-4pm / Free to the public / 9/4 Michael SG / 9/6 Inbar Horowitz / 9/11 Astra Kelly / 9/13 Tim Cash / 9/18 Dustin Jake / 9/20 Sam & Stacy / 9/25 Vince Mendoza / 9/27 Michael LeClerc

Live Music in the Barrel Room / Every Sunday / 1:00p-4:00p / Free to the public / 9/5 Malissa Lauren Miller and Jerod Dulaney / 9/12 Adler, Blackburn and Quint / 9/19 Dustin Jake / 9/26 Joel Reese

Lorimar Winery

Grape Stomp & Harvest Festival / Saturday, Sept. 26 / 4pm-8pm / $65; $60 wine club / Grab your partner and join us at the Barrel Room for an afternoon of foot stompin’ fun! Live music, hayrides, dinner and more! / Tickets available online, at the winery or by phone 951.694.6699. www.lorimarwinery.com

Movies in the Vines – Clueless / Monday, Sept. 28 / 6pm / Film starts at sunset / No fee

Mount Palomar Winery

Bridal Showplace Bridal Show / Sunday, Sept. 13 / 11am-3pm / Tickets $7 pre-sale; $10 at the door / Contact Sophia M. Benfil 562.381.2865 or Sophia@bridalshowplace.net

STRANGE LOVE a tribute to Depeche Mode / Friday, Sept. 25 / Tickets $25 pre-sale, $30 at the door / Contact Robert Walker 760.716.6295 or heyday@heyday.com

Ponte Family Estate Winery

Grape Stomp / Sunday, Sept. 27 / 4pm-9pm / $95 Reg. Adult / $86 Wine Club Adult / $55 Reg. Child / $50 Wine Club Child / Join us for the 13th annual Grape Stomp, where teams of two compete to see who can stomp enough grape juice to fill a wine bottle! Great prizes, gourmet food stations, wine, live music and stompin’ good fun! / Purchase tickets www.pontewinery.com

Team Ponte Training Runs/Walks through the Vineyard
August – November 11 / Wednesday nights at 5:45p / This is a great way to get in shape, walk or run. Learn about Team Ponte and meet new people. Join us! Meet in front of the Ponte Winery Tasting Room. Run or walk a 3-mile route through our beautiful vineyard; feeling good? Do it twice! / Free to attend

First Sundays – Live Music in the Reserve Room*
Sunday, Sept. 6 / 12:00p-4:00p / Indie / Blues Americana / The Reserve Room will host a variety of live musical artists the first Sunday of each month in 2015. *The Reserve Room is a tasting room for wine club members only. Join the Wine Club and enjoy complimentary tastings in our exclusive venue.

Oak Mountain Winery

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

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

Blessing of the Wines Grape Stomp & Harvest Festival
20, 2015 / 4pm to 7pm / Reserve your tickets today for this year’s Grape Stomp & Harvest Festival. This is a fun-for-the-entire family “blessing” you don’t want to miss! Dance to live musical entertainment provided by Latin Jazz extraordinaire, Diego Mondragon & his band Savio. Games, competitions, face painting, tractor rides through the vineyards and Grape Stomp competitions. Fun family memories that last a lifetime. Tickets include entrance to the festival, all you can eat buffet, complimentary toast with the blessing, live musical entertainment, unlimited game play, plus a chance to win exciting prizes and everybody’s favorite – stomp those grapes! All ages welcome. / Adults $55 pp inclusive: $50 pp Club. Kids 4-12 $15 (3 under are free)

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 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. This world traveler and life-long student of music has performed internationally over the course of her career at many high-end hotels and resorts, including the Peninsula, Regent, Westin, Hilton and Shangri-la Hotel and now you can enjoy her music at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa. Reserve today for an unforgettable Wednesday evening with fine wines, delicious food and live music between the hours of 6:30p to 9:00p. 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.

Behind the Scenes Wine Tours
Tours are held daily at 11 AM, 1 PM and 3PM, Monday through Sunday. $40pp / $35pp Wine Club Member. Get up close and personal as you learn more about our spectacular Southern California winery with a behind-the-scenes tour. From vineyards to crush pad, each tour concludes with a specially prepared wine and food pairing. 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.

Summer Wine Series
Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, 6p-8p / Join us for extended hours in the Tasting Room Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights this summer! $30 ticket gives you access after hours from 6:00p-8:00p and includes a bottle of South Coast wine to take home. Call 951.587.9463 ext. 7261 for more information.

Yoga Classes at Grapeseed Spa
Sunday 9a-10a, Monday 10:30a-11:30a / $12 per class / Yoga mat, towels and water provided. Call 951.587.9463 ext. 3513 to reserve your session.

Thornton Winery

Friday Live Music
Wine Specials, Live Music, Food Specials, and Dinner Menu / 6:00p-9:00p / Sept. 4- Crimson Crow / Sept. 11- Missy Anderson / Sept.12 – Ry Bradley (Country Western) / Sept. 18- The Kepi Payne Project / Sept. 25- Mor Sol / No Cover Charge. Seating Available at Courtyard, Covered Patio & Café / Reservations suggested, call 951.699.0099

Champagne Jazz Concert Series

Saturday, 20 – George Benson / 7:00p / General Admission tickets – $95 Open seating / Gourmet Supper tickets – $170 SOLD OUT (3 course meal, concert ticket & assigned table)
Saturday, 26 – Boz Scaggs / 7:00p / General Admission tickets – $95 Open seating / Gourmet Supper tickets – $170 SOLD OUT (3 course meal, concert ticket & assigned table) n this growing digital age, where people are spending their whole day on the screens, it is essential to be aware of different monitoring services. FlexiSPY is a software that can be installed easily on your mobile phone for comprehensive tracking of its working. The app will let you keep track of all the activities on your phone, laptop, or tablet. Once you install flexispy on your device, it will make note of all your movements and transactions and stores it on a web portal. You can easily access this web portal flexispy at a convenient time of your choice and retrieve the information. #flexispy

Wilson Creek Winery

Live Entertainment / Saturdays & Sundays in

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Harvest season….it’s the hustle and bustle, the night time glow of the lights in the vineyards and the bins full of fruit.

Although winemaking happens all year long, the harvesting of the grapes is one of the most crucial parts of the winemaking process.  To ensure quality wine, one of the most important decisions a winemaker must make is when to pick the grapes. Determining when to harvest requires a bit of science; the grapes’ acidity and sweetness should be in perfect balance. Of course, Mother Nature also plays a vital role in the ripening of grapes; a mid-summer rain can slow the ripening process and leave the vines susceptible to fungus.

In Temecula Valley, because of our warm weather, our harvest crews mostly pick the fruit at night or in the cool hours of the very early morning.  Thus, images of winemakers growing beards and sleeping during the day start appearing on our Facebook feed.

While there’s a lot more to harvest season than just harvesting the grapes, this signals the beginning of what truly is the most wonderful time of the year!  Be sure to follow us on Facebook for a glimpse into harvest happenings.

Celebrating California Wine Month

Although we never need a reason to raise a glass in celebration, we’re eagerly awaiting the return of California Wine Month.  This September marks the 11th consecutive year that California’s governor has proclaimed California Wine Month; in honor of our state’s contribution as the leading wine industry in the United States.

September is the perfect time to visit Temecula Valley Wine Country. We invite wine lovers to explore and experience our premiere wine country in two ways.  SIP your way through wine country with the SIP Passport; you pick which four of the 30+ wineries to visit and when to visit them throughout the month.  Or, experience each of our wineries at our region’s signature food and wine event, CRUSH!

Event Details:

September SIP Passport:

When: Valid September 1-30; visits may be concurrent or spaced throughout the month.

What: Voucher for a full tasting flight at any four participating Temecula Valley wineries; includes souvenir wine glass.

Tickets: $40 per person (Monday-Thursday); $50 per person (Friday-Sunday). For more information and tickets, click here.

6th Annual CRUSH ~  A Wine & Culinary Showcase

When: Saturday, September 19 from 7-10:00 p.m.

Where: Wiens Family Cellars, 35055 Via Del Ponte, Temecula, CA 92592

What: Upscale event bringing together 30+ Temecula Valley wineries; fine cuisine from local chefs, caterers and restaurants and live entertainment to set the mood.

Tickets: All-inclusive tickets are $85 per person; VIP Tickets are $110 and include admittance to the pre-event exclusive winemaker tasting and reception, beginning at 6:00pm. Tickets are on sale now here!

Mid-Week Wine Tasting Guide

For many, summer vacation is quickly coming to an end.  But, how about squeezing in one more little get-a-way before the dog days of summer are over?

Whether you can get away overnight, or just want to take a day trip, a mid-week visit to Temecula Valley Wine Country should prove to be a relaxing and enjoyable break.

There are many advantages to visiting wine country during the week.  Much less busy weekdays are the perfect opportunity to allow yourself time to enjoy our 30+ member wineries’ offerings.  At a slower pace, you’ll be able to enjoy more one-on-one time with the knowledgeable wine servers (or even the winemakers and/or winery owners themselves if you’re lucky) at each of your stops.

In addition, the tasting prices tend to be lower during the week than on the weekends and some wineries even offer two-for-one wine tasting coupons and additional discounts if you’re tasting during the week.  And, if we haven’t convinced you yet….there’s no waiting in line to dine at our wonderful wine country restaurants that are very busy on the weekends. If you’d like to spend the night you’ll be pleased with the selection of hotels and their reduced mid-week rates.  Hotels in the area are generally booked months in advance on the weekends.

You may want to visit in September, as we’re celebrating California Wine Month with a special weekday SIP Passport.  This passport allows you to visit any four wineries of your choice for $40.  Visit our website at www.temeculawines.org to purchase your passport. Good wine goes well with an excellent mobile slots casino games , played on your smartphone or tablet.

While we’d love to see you at any time here in Temecula Valley Wine Country, give us a try on a Wednesday sometime….we think you’ll be glad you did!