We fell in love with Temecula for a few reasons. It’s unknown. Most of the wineries are family owned. It’s hot as hell. And the tasting rooms line both sides of the main drag for ½ mile or so...no schlepping up mountains and down canyons for the prize.

Our visit coincided with our annual pilgrimage to California. Temecula was our last stop en route to Cabo San Lucas for a week of sun, golf (Gary), reading (Lisa), and great Mexican food. We stumbled on Temecula when checking out wine options near Orange County, where our friends moved. Temecula is only about 30 miles inland from San Clemente, so we set up a two-day trip.

Where We Stayed
Pala Mesa Resort
There are gambling casinos nearby but we hit the jackpot when we picked Pala Mesa Resort for our hotel. The rooms were fine, but it’s the setting and the amenities that knocked us out. Gary played golf at their very tough course. Lisa got an in-room massage. The concierge was as big a wine lover as we are and had great recommendations for tasting.

Where We Ate
Carol’s Restaurant (at Bailey Vineyard)
We enjoyed a great lunch at Carol’s. we were the only ones brave enough to sit outside in the garden in 100 degree temperature (but it’s dry!)  A very cool mist from above kept us comfortable throughout the meal.

Aqua Terra (at Pala Mesa Resort)
One night we hung at the bar at Aqua Terra and enjoyed good local wine and ok local nibbles.

We also found great local Mexican food in the adjacent, less chi-chi towns.

Where We Tasted
Baily Vineyard & Winery
Callaway    
Filsinger
Hart
Leonesse
Miramonte
Palumbo
Ponte
Wiens


Baily Vineyard & Winery
A lovely family-owned vineyard with a restaurant to boot.
What We Bought
•    2002 Serenity (Late Harvest Chardonnay)

Callaway
What We Bought
•    Chardonnay

Hart
A 30-year family operation, Hart Winery produces just 5,000 cases annually. But oh, what wine. A few whites, but they’re best known for their reds, which we happily sampled and bought.
What We Bought
•    2002 Zinfandel, Cucamonga Valley/Lopez Ranch Old Vines

Stuart Cellars
They call themselves “Temecula’s Premier Winery,” which seems a bit much and possibly unwarranted.  But we did enjoy the tasting and the grounds are quite beautiful.
What We Bought
•    2001 Tatria Limited estate Reserve Meritage


For information about Temecula wineries visit www.temeculawines.org