Tag: temecula valley wineries

A Midsummer’s Night Dream ~ Crisp & Refreshing White Wines

When you think of summer, does your palette scream for red wine or does white wine consume your thoughts?  Around here, we’re celebrating summer with crisp and refreshing white wines.  Since the weather is hot, we tend to prefer eating lighter foods, cold dishes and main course salads; which complement white wines.

From Chardonnays with flavors of green apple, citrus, pineapple and papaya to Pinot Grigios with fresh pear, melon and citrus notes, the possibilities are endless.  Perhaps, try a Chenin Blanc with its floral aromas and apple and pear flavors, or for those of you who prefer wines of the sweeter persuasion, a Gewurztraminer may suit you just fine.  And, let’s not forget about the ultimate in a refreshing beverage…a glass (or two) of sparkling wine!

Whether lunching by the pool, or barbecuing with friends, white wines perfectly pair with many summer eats.  Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc both pair well with chicken, shellfish and pasta, while Pinot Grigio would be perfect with a spicy Chinese food dish or a antipasto plate.  Pair that Gewurztraminer with a light and healthy chicken salad and your sparkling, well, we just like to pair that with anything!

Here are some suggestions for your table:

Maurice Car’rie Vineyard & Winery ~ 2012 Chenin Blanc – This light and slightly sweet Chenin Blanc is rich in floral aromas reminiscent of honeysuckle.

Ponte Family Estate Winery ~ 2014 Pinot Grigio – Medium bodied wine with the aroma of pear, melon and lemon.

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa ~ 2013 Gewurztraminer -This vintage is lightly sweet, with a solid acidity and exotic floral scents of rose and lychee fruit.

Wilson Creek Winery ~ Grand Cuvee Sparkling Wine – Light and refreshing, and very fun. Great in Mimosas! A fun party sparkling wine.

World of Wine Weekend is here!

If the weather doesn’t WoW you, the wines surely will!

Let’s face it, there’s just no other place on earth where Mother Nature delivers sunshine like in SoCal!  And this weekend promises to be an absolutely beautiful one.

What?  No plans??  Come on out for our annual World of Wine barrel tasting event.  Thirty member wineries will be supplying ticketholders with some very fine wine along with some complementing tasty bites.  The event is scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday from 10a to 4:30p each day.  There are a limited number of tickets still available online at www.temeculawines.org.  And at $99, it’s a great deal!  Hurry up though, we don’t want you to miss out.

We promise lots of sun perfectly paired with fabulous wine!

March Winery Events

Spring has sprung and even the vines are waking up from their short winter’s nap. We’re kicking off Spring with the World of Wine Weekend on March 7 & 8 and then it’s one exciting winery event after another. Plan your visit today!

Baily Vineyard & Winery
Sangiovese Saturdays at Carol’s
Saturdays in February; / 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.

Shakespeare in the Vines Presents Moon Over Buffalo
March 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 / 7:00p (Sunday, March 15, matinee performance at 3:00p) / Friday and Saturday evenings a gourmet dinner is available for pre-purchase at $32 (includes tax and gratuity) / Tickets for show and dinner must be purchased online at www.shakespeareinthevines.org.

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.

Wine Flight Fridays
EVERY Friday beginning at 3pm
Travel around the world with us and experience a different wine region every month. Savor and compare the varietals that best represent a particular region paired with a special selection of Tapas typical of that region. This month, enjoy a wine flight of 3 wines from South America for $15.

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 at Meritage at Callaway
Thursday, March 5 / 6:00p-9:00p / 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. We will provide the stage, you provide your words, your unique sound and your talent. Come early to sign up. Call (951) 587-8889 or email stefano_butto@callawaywinery.com for more information.

Cougar Vineyard & Winery
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.

3rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day 15k and 5k
Sunday, March 15/ Race begins at 8:15a / Green bubbly, souvenir glass and a dirt course. This is the first year for the 5k race, so, let’s support it. Visit www.sandyfeetevents.com for sign up.

Danza del Sol Winery
Live Music on the Patio
Saturdays in March / 1:00p-5:00p / March 7 – Jeff Johnson / March 8 – JD Priest / March 14 – MichaelSG / March 21 – StereoFlux / March 28 – Desert Rose
Doffo Winery

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Saturday, March 14 / $10 wine club members; $20 non-wine club members / includes Corn Beef and Cabbage and Potatoes plate and Pasta with Pesto (Vegetarian option). Reservations required. Please call 951-676-6989 for more information.

Europa Village
Live Music
Fridays from 5:30p-8:30p and Sundays from 1:00p-4:00p / March 1 – James Wells / March 6 – Cougrzz Rock Duo / March 8 – Jimmy Patton / March 13 – Apryle Delmacio / March 15 – Bryan McManus / March 20 – Josh Greene / March 22 – Joe Baldino / March 27 – Kevin Moyles / March 29 – Dustin Jake

Falkner Winery
Wine Appreciation Class
Saturday, March 21 / 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

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

Mount Palomar Winery
Movie Under the Stars
Thursday, March 12 / 6:00p / $10 per person / For more information, please visit heyday@heydey.com

Parisian Bridal and Event Showcase
Sunday, March 22 / 2:00p-4:00p / Free admission! / RSVP for a special wine tasting during the event. Contact 951-331-7261 or lauren@mountpalomar.com for more information.

Concert: STILL ILL, a tribute to The Smiths/Morrissey
Friday, March 27 / 6:00p-10:00p / For more information, please visit heyday@heyday.com

Brides Against Breast Cancer Gown Sale and Show
Sunday, March 29 / 11:00a-5:00p / $20 per person / For more information, contact 951-331-7261 or lauren@mountpalomar.com.

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

After Dark
Saturday, March 21st / 6:00p-9:00p / Music by Martini 5 0, wine by the glass and bottle, beer and food by the Pizza Pazza Food Truck.

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.

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

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.

Wilson Creek Winery
Wine Academy ~ “The Beauty of Acidity”
Sunday, March 15 / 1:00p-2:30p / $35 per person; $25 per person, wine club / We continue our experiential and interactive classes by tasting the beauty and glory of acidity in wine. Taste various levels of acidity and discover why good levels of acidity is vital to a world-class wine. Limited space and reservations required by calling 951-699-9463.

Paint to Palette
Saturday, March 21 / 12:00p-3:00p / $60 per person; $50 per person wine club / Let the artist in you take over at our wine & paint class. Step-by-Step instructions along with all the painting supplies you’ll need to create a masterpiece. A glass of wine and light appetizers will be included. Reservations are required by calling 951-699-9463.

Live Entertainment
Saturdays and Sundays / 12:00p-4:00p / March 1 – Tony Suraci / March 7 – JD Priest / March 8 – Vito Gambino / March 14 – Smoothie Jones / March 15 – Astra Kelly / March 21 – Joachim Nordensson – March 22 – Ruben Gonzales / March 28 – JD Priest / March 29 – Rod Frias

Temecula Valley Vineyards See Early Budbreak

Despite the abnormally wet December and SNOW (!) in January, winter just didn’t last long enough in Temecula Valley’s wine country to keep spring at bay.

“We thought last year was early”, said Steve Andrews, Oak Mountain Winery’s owner and winemaker, “but we’re already seeing some “pushing” on our hillside vineyards”.  And “pushing” leads to budbreak, which is exactly what JD Harkey, of Drake Enterprises, a local farm management company, reported today.  JD shared the photo above, showing actual bud- break on a head-pruned Zinfandel vine he saw just this morning.

“It’s the earliest budbreak I’ve ever seen”, said Harkey.  “It’s going to be an interesting harvest!”

While delaying pruning as long as possible – sometimes into January and early February – often results in later budbreak, this year is proving challenging for local vineyard managers.  An early budbreak can be devastating to a vineyard if a late spring frost comes along, particularly if the buds have begun to flower, which is the pre-cursor to fruit set.

We were lucky last year, which was also a record breaker for early bud break here in Temecula.  We were thankful for a nice, long and temperate spring season that allowed the fruit to develop fully and evenly throughout the valley. In order to obtain a gambling license in Australia, it is first necessary to understand and study the laws of Australia and each state separately. The main law that regulates gambling is the Interactive Gambling Act passed by the Commonwealth Parliament of Australia in 2001. This law also made legal and regulated online gambling. And in 2021, an amendment requiring additional licensing of casino games https://www.ilucki.com/en-AU establishments by Australian authorities was introduced, which also added ways for players to opt out of gambling protection. And while we all know that Mother Nature does what she wills, we’re hoping she slows things down a bit.  We want more winter!

 

It’s National Drink Wine Day!

Yep, you heard it right.  Today is National Drink Wine Day!

Just think… an entire day designated to drinking wine. I am so in!   And yes, we’ve all seen the studies that show drinking a glass of wine a day improves heart health, reduces forgetfulness, boosts immunity, and increases bone density. So, it’s healthy, right?  But really, days like today are just one more reason to enjoy a great wine with some great people.  So pop a cork and raise a glass!

And just for fun, here’s a few fun facts to share with your friends while you’re sharing that bottle of Temecula Valley wine.

 1.  Italy produces the most wine.

2.  California produces the most Chardonnay.

3.  Very few wines improve with age.

4.  The term “bouquet” refers to the scent of the wine; “aroma” is the scent of the grapes.  Together they equal the “nose”.

5.  There’s about 100 calories in a glass of wine.

6.  The word “wine” is mentioned 521 times in the Bible.

7.  Marilyn Monroe is said to have bathed in champagne. It took 350 bottles to fill her bathtub.

8.  Swirling “aerates” your wine by releasing the compounds which combine with oxygen to create the bouquet or aroma.

9.  Three glasses of dry red wine have less calories than one Twix bar.

10.  In California, wine country tours are second only to Disneyland in popularity with tourists.

Enjoy wood fired hot tubs throughout the year from Royal Hot Tubs, view our range of products online: http://www.woodenspasolutions.co.uk/

Wine Country Recipe: Cheese Fondue

Nothing screams romance more than fondue!  So, this Valentine’s Day, if you’d prefer to forgo the crowded restaurants and opt for a quick, simple and romantic meal at home, we’ve got you covered with this cheese fondue recipe.  Pair with a salad, your favorite Temecula Valley Riesling and perhaps some chocolate fondue for dessert…and…voilà, you’ve got the perfect Valentine’s dinner.

Ingredients:

1/2 pound imported Swiss cheese, shredded
1/2 pound Gruyere cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 garlic clove, peeled
1 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon cherry brandy, such as kirsch
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
Pinch nutmeg
Assorted dippers

Directions:

In a small bowl, coat the cheeses with cornstarch and set aside.  Rub the inside of the ceramic fondue pot with the garlic, then discard.

Over medium heat, add the wine and lemon juice and bring to a gentle simmer.  Gradually stir the cheese into the simmering liquid.  Melting the cheese gradually encourages a smooth fondue.  Once smooth, stir in cherry brandy, mustard and nutmeg.

Arrange an assortment of bite-sized dipping foods on a lazy Susan around fondue pot.  Serve with chunks of French and pumpernickel breads.  Some other suggestions are Granny Smith apples and blanched vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and asparagus. FurnitureCap  Spear with fondue forks or wooden skewers, dip, swirl and enjoy!

Suggested pairings:

Baily Vineyard & Winery ~ 2013 Riesling – A delicate, dry and fruity white.

Briar Rose Winery ~ 2013 Riesling – Opening up with a soft apricot on the front and light fruity sweetness on the finish.

Lorenzi Estate Vineyards & Winery ~ 2012 Riesling – The nose is aromatic with spicy stone fruit with a combination of sweet Meyer lemons, along with tropical touches of mango and pineapple.

Mount Palomar Winery ~ 2012 Riesling – Prominent scents of pineapple and soft hints of star fruit, with a smooth tropical finish.

Recipe and photo courtesy Tyler Florence and foodnetwork.com.

 

 

Dream Big, Temecula Valley Winemakers!

This week we’re at the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium in Sacramento for a yearly industry event that helps keeps us all “in the know”.  Apart from pouring a sampling of fabulous Temecula Valley wines to some of the 14,000+ attending wine lovers, we caught up with a few of our own to find out what they were dreaming about while walking through the chock full convention center.

Arturo Villareal, winemaker at Danza del Sol was looking for some new barrels.  But what he’s really dreaming about is a new, much larger wine cellar.  Sorry, Art!  I don’t think they actually sell those.

We caught up with Damian and Marcello Doffo who were in the midst of purchasing a water treatment system for Doffo Winery. While it’s a much needed purchase, there’s certainly much more fun things to buy…

Nick and Cindy Palumbo were looking for some portable stainless steel tanks.  And dreaming of a cold beer! As Nick always says, “it takes a lot of beer to make wine.”

BJ Fazeli, who’s winery is being built as we speak, needs everything for his new winery.  He brought along his wallet and is definitely dreaming BIG.

The Wiens brothers are in the market for a new de-stemmer but are dreaming about a new optical sorter that will separate and remove the less than perfect grapes from the sorting table.  It’s a winemaker thang!

JD Harkey and Chase Drake, of Drake Enterprises are dreaming REALLY big and hoping Ben pops for a machine harvester this year.

Jon McPherson and Javier Flores, the dynamic duo of winemakers at South Coast, were searching out some “state of the art” lab equipment for the new Carter Estate Winery which is scheduled to open in just a few weeks.

All in all, I’d say the Temecula Valley winemakers, while truly dreaming big dreams, were pretty down to earth.  Except for Art and that new cellar…

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.

 

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!

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