Guide to the Best Temecula Winetasting
Spending a day wine tasting in Temecula can be very enjoyable, particularly if you visit the best Temecula wineries. Some Temecula wine isn't very good, but the best of it is fine and can make for an enjoyable day of winetasting.
The weather for wine tasting trips in Temecula is typically sunny without being too warm. The exception is during the summer, when it can get rather hot and the folliage has lost its green. The optimal season to enjoy the best Temecula wine is April and May. At this time the weather is pleasant and the vines and surrounding folliage is still fairly green.
Temecula wineries are quite convenient from anywhere in Southern California. Temecula is located about an hour north of San Diego along the I-15 and about two hours east of Los Angeles south of the I-10.
Its warm, sunny climate is well-suited for growing wine from Syrah and Grenache, as well as Italian varietals such as Sangiovese.
Perhaps the best wine in Temecula (admittedly not a high bar) comes from one of the newer wineries, Robert Renzoni. Solid quality and consistent value for their price points. Their current tasting room, shown here, feels like a warehouse. But they're building a new tasting room, which along with their nice view will make this a very pleasant stop.
Monte de Oro is one of the newer tasting rooms and a delightful facility. It's set up on a hill with an expansive view from their large patio. They have a big tasting room, shown here. Their wines are quite good (by Temecula standards) and reasonably priced. They do a nice job with their Zinfandel, a varietal which typically is better from other regions such as Amador and Lodi.
Stuart Cellars also makes some of the best Temecula wine, even though their tasting room is cramped and has only a couple windows. They have a pretty lawn with a great view, and they have a reasonably priced lunch menu.
Mount Palomar Winery is another good option among Temecula wineries. They are known for their Syrah as well as wines made with Tuscan varietals such as Sangiovese. The folliage is a bit more sparce there, particularly in the summer, but their patio is pleasant. (Remember that it does get hot in Temecula wine country in the summer months, so dress accordingly.) The Mount Palomar tasting room has a warehouse feel and is a bit non-descript. But the wines are good and this is a worthwhile stop while winetasting in Temecula.
Falkner Winery is one of the better Temecula wineries. Among the varietals they do well are Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Falkner's nicely landscaped lawn is a great place for picnic. Their lawn is set on a hilltop which provides a nice view of the surrounding valley, though often special events take this space.
