This post originally appeared on Snooth.
A well-known secret lies in the heart of Southern California’s wine region: Temecula Valley Wine Country. About 85 miles south of Los Angeles and 60 miles north of San Diego near the Interstate 15 and 215 corridors, sits Temecula. Meaning “where the sun shines through the mist,” Temecula has over 40 wineries and award-winning premium wines from over 28 varietals.
Visitors should not expect to find a drop of Pinot Noir here. Instead, wines like Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Viognier rule on the 35,000-acre land due to the cool coastal breeze between the Rainbow and Santa Margarita gaps. The best time to visit is during the harvest season in August through October, with the buds breaking in mid-March.
Thirsty yet? Read on to learn about wineries that will satisfy your taste buds!
Bella Vista
The first commercial vineyard in Temecula Wine Country is Bella Vista. Formally known as Cilurzo Winery on Calle Contento, it was established in 1968 and uses 80 percent estate grapes and 20 percent Temecula grapes. Visitors can sample six different varietals from the winery’s white, red and sparkling wines. Some favorites include a 2009 Rozmaring with flavors of apricot and honey, a 2009 Soiree Dry with peach flavors, a 2005 sweet Late Harvest Petite Syrah, a 2008 Black Magic made from late harvest Cabernet Sauvignon grapes with plum and cherry flavors, and a 2011 Muscat Canelli with exotic fruit flavors.
Just up the hill from the winery is a picnic area where you can enjoy spectacular views and walk out to a pond filled with geese (just watch out for Charlie, a goose who is protective of his friends!).
Briar Rose Winery
Once upon a time, up on the hill on Calle Cabrillo, lies the inspired Snow White cottage of Briar Rose Winery. Designed by an architect who assisted with the design of Disneyland in the 1950s, the layout is straight out of a fairytale with Snow White, the seven dwarfs, frogs, an old carriage and even an enchanted garden with gnomes.
Briar Rose gives customers a standard tasting featuring a bubbly, sweet wine lager called The Talking Frog, a peach-flavored 2011 Estate Viognier, a sweet, orange blossom 2011 Estate Riesling, a peppery and berry 2008 Zinfandel and a sweet, black cherry 2005 Zinfandel Port. The winery also has a charitable “We Remember” red wine filled with blackberry, raspberry and vanilla notes. All proceeds from purchasing the bottle benefit the Veterans Research Corporation.
A reservation to visit the tasting room is required.
Leonesse Cellars
Perhaps one of the wineries in Temecula Wine Country most known for its breathtaking views is Leonesse Cellars off of De Portola Road. Leonesse, which means “village of dreams,” is known for its red wines, but carries everything from Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to White Merlot, Muscat Canelli and Cinsault Port.
The tasting room offers customers the choice to sample six of their white, red, premium, dessert or sweet wines. It is also the only winery in Temecula Wine Country to offer Cinsault wine, theirs showing cherry and hints of vanilla and strawberry. Another favorite is the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon with blackberry, vanilla and mint flavors.
Leonesse also offers a restaurant serving appetizers, salads, sandwiches and flat breads that are paired off with one of the Cellar, Vineyard or Signature Selection wines.
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