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30 replies

Best wine tasting in Temecula

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T tpbMember
tblanco1,
Welcome to the board. Probably won't get much feedback here on Temecula. I did visit the area two years ago, with my wife, as we were traveling between san Diego and San Bernadino, and to be totally honest, I didn't come across a wine that I would actually buy. I tried to give the area (and the wineries) the benefit of the doubt, but most wines were actually offensive. Good luck hunting though.
D darleneMember
Cool This is an area not too far from me. Quaint, though growing like crazy. In late spring, early summer, there is a wonderful jazz festival, balloon rides, outside concerts...And I've heard different about the wines. It's all a matter of taste. After all, didn't James Laube say that "one man's perfectly ripened, sun-kissed grape is another man's raisin."
S spoMember
I was the having the what are you doing this weekend conversation with a freind from work. She told me she was going wine tasting in Temecula. I resisted the temptation to tell her about Temecula wines and their bad reputation. I do think an intervention may be neccesary, she said they often spend about $30 a bottle on wine there. I have not had Temecula wines so I could not make a first hand comparison though.
G gigondassMember
quote:
Originally posted by undo5:
I think ya'll are a little to harsh on poor Temucula...no Napa...but not horrible.
It's got a cool kinda hip feel to it. I've only been twice to about 6 wineries and they were quite pleasant. Broaden your horizons ...the world doesn't revolve around Napa and Bordeaux ...
Just my opinion...
CD Out
No. If you like the wine, you must have the palate of a filter feeder.
W winejoeMember
Wine Tasting in Temecula can be a lot of fun. The quality is not on par with Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles or Santa Barbara, but it is still a fun day. Most of the wineries are still fine tuning their methods, so it is a work in progress. Things vary a lot from year to year, and they do not have the expertise (or terroir) to overcome a bad year. Wineries that may have been at the bottom of the heap a few years ago may be on the top of the heap today. If you go, just hit a lot of wineries and keep an open mind. Like I said, it's not Napa, but it beats a day at the mall! In general, I think the best wines in Temecula are the non-Cabernet, non-Merlot, non-Chardonnay varietals. Rhone grapes, and even Sangiovesse do better out there than the Bordeaux varietals, in my opinion. When you're done with your visit, why not post the highlights (and low-lights) of your trip?
T tblanco1Member
Wine Joe,

Thanks for the positive posting. We did go yesterday afternoon, after golf and brunch at the Temecula Creek Inn. Great brunch, especially the "do it yourself" Bloody Mary bar. After that we were up to try a couple of wineries. It was a perfect day - 78 degrees and sunny and the scenery was quite beautiful. Most of the wineries on the main strip were too crowded, so we went off the main trail to the smaller, newer Leonesse Cellars. We weren't enticed by their tasting choices (too many whites, including a White Merlot), so we opted for a glass of their 2003 Bordeaux-blend Cabernet, and found it really quite drinkable. We will go back next with out-of-town visitors just to give them the vineyard experience.
sd-wineauxsd-wineauxMember
The next time you go, try Maurice Car'rie Winery. Order one of their Baked Brie Sourdough Breads and get a chilled bottle of their Cody's Crush from the bar. The fact that this wine needs to be served chilled speaks volumes about it's quality, but it's a refreshing wine for sitting at the picnic tables under the warm sun while stuffing yourself with the (pricey) Baked Brie.
G gigondassMember
quote:
Originally posted by Darlene:
Cool Good for you! It sounds like you had a lovely time. As I'm reading these posts, those who have actually visited Temecula wineries had something positive to say, while those with less than favorable comments have only "heard".
That's a load of bovine scat.

You have no frame of reference for anyone's wine experience from Temecula or anywhere else. The wine is by and large unadulterated plonk. I've had dozens of them.

Go have a picnic. It's a fine destination for that. If you expect anything special to drink...

Bring your own wine. You will need it.
T tpbMember
gotta admit, I am in total agreement with GA. I "have" been to the wine region a couple of times, and have visited many other regions. I am always up for new wines, new regions, new winemakers, but quite honestly, I never tasted such a high concentration of pour to mediocre wines. The sad thing is that they were charging real money for this wine, as if it was equivilent to quality wines from other regions (I am excluding Napa, as the wines are much more expensive there).
On a side note, I agree that the opportunity to be in a vineyard area is always relaxing, and may taint your quality indicators...
R redline325Member
Going dumpster diving on this thread I suppose!

Has anything improved over the last 8-9 years in Temecula? Was thinking about checking it out this weekend. I looked at 3 different websites of wineries that were suggested to me. All 3 seem more interested in hosting my wedding or corporate event than having me taste wines. Do the wineries here exist just for tourism? Anyone making at least average wine?
S shanetMember
quote:
Originally posted by Redline325:
Going dumpster diving on this thread I suppose!

Has anything improved over the last 8-9 years in Temecula? Was thinking about checking it out this weekend. I looked at 3 different websites of wineries that were suggested to me. All 3 seem more interested in hosting my wedding or corporate event than having me taste wines. Do the wineries here exist just for tourism? Anyone making at least average wine?


Short answer...no. The market out here is to bus folks in to tasting rooms rather than making a quality wine. There's really no incentive to change the model at this point. I do find a few of the whites from Leonness, South Coast, and Keyways somewhat palatable.

Nevertheless, the scenery at some of the wineries is worth the trek.

Let me know if you end up making the trip. I'm about 10 minutes from the main drag, so an impromptu offline could easily be arranged.
G gregtMember
quote:
Lol, even I was more merciful about the Southwest Michigan wineries when I lived in Chicago than you all are about Temecula!

Because they're a little better.

If you head a little farther north, the wineries are actually credible, although in the southern part you have Wyncroft, which is good.

Temecula has a few places with real potential, but in the hot, arid desert, why plant Cab and Chardonnay?

Some of the winery owners have told me that they're doing real well selling to the bachelorette parties that come in limos. They can sell a $5 wine for $30 directly to the consumer so why not? All they need is a nice place for people to sit and chat and maybe have some snacks.

The model isn't to produce wines that collectors are going to fight over. Can't say that I blame them.
E ebwineMember
quote:
Originally posted by BOMBA503:
Eb
Add Belching Beaver and Iron Fist (5 minutes from my house and top notch) to beer tour. They are almost walking distance apart. Let me know if you need anything. You will be in my backyard and I'm more around than workingSmile


Thanks- let's say I can only pick one of those, what would you choose?

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