Wine Tasting in Temecula

Inspite of warnings that the heat would be in the triple digits we braved the weather and headed east to Temecula so that my mom could do a little wine tasting. It's her new hobby.

We just kept telling ourselves it would be a dry heat and cranked the AC in the car. OH MY GOODNESS! We had no idea how hot a dry heat can be. I got out of the car and felt like I couldn't breathe. Walking was like swimming.

We stopped to eat to make sure there was food in their stomachs before they started tasting and the clerk said it was 107. Oh yea, it was hot.

But we persevered and headed to our first winery - Churon. A winery bed and breakfast built to resemble a French Chateau. It has a picnic area and a great view. The staff is so friendly and informative. I remembered it from my last trip (5 years ago) and knew that they free poured. I gave my mom a crash course in pacing herself. Letting her know that its ok to spit.

Then we headed to Calloway for the free tour to see how they make wine. It's a great 25 minute overview of Calloway's philosophy and grounds. Even though they were in the middle of harvesting we didn't get to see any actually in process. Although they are having an old-fashioned wine stomping at the end of September.

Two things I learned from our guide Sergio was that most California wines expire in five years, if not sooner. They are not meant to be aged because of they way they use yeast to quicken the fermenting process. So essentially American wine is akin to fast food - sweet.

Our third stop was Maurice Car'rie. It is designed after a Victorian-style farmhouse. The grounds are quaint and they usually have a craft fair, but not today. Their wines are usually blends but they have the best baked brie in sourdough bread. That alone is worth stopping for.

Our final stop was at a winery I'd never been to, called South Coast Winery.

It is also a resort and spa. That aspect is definitely reflected in the grounds, which are stunning. The walkways are lined with a gorgeous pergola made of barn beams. It's a great place to take photos.

My mom said the wine at South Coast was great, especially a port wine called Black Jack. They also have tasty wine-related jams, dipping sauces and salsas.

Once we were wined out we went for a drive around the temecula valley, which is amazingly beautiful at this time of year.

Inspite of the heat it was a great day!

Sober Temecula

My day trip buddy, Jenn, was in town from Florida for 10 days. We couldn’t let her go home without another adventure. So today we loaded up the rental car and headed for Temecula, CA about 50 miles south east from Rancho Santa Margarita.

Now Temecula is known as Southern California’s wine capital. But since I can’t drink, due to the diabetes and a covenant I signed at work, we didn’t do any tasting.

Although if you do partake I highly recommend it. Make sure you sample the Riesling at Baily Winery and the almond champagne, served in chocolate glasses at Wilson Creek Winery. Maurice Carrie is also great for the baked brie. Get your name on the list, it is so delicious and worth the wait. I think the Temecula Valley is best known for its whites, not the reds. But that's just my opinion.

But we went to Old Town to go shopping, get some lunch and see the historic sites. We wandered up and down Front Street checking out the antique stores, boutiques and eclectic shops. We settled on Sweet Lumpy’s for lunch. We had the most delicious pulled pork. Very tasty.

Also located on Front Street is The Temecula Olive Oil Company with a tasting bar. I got to try the most delicious vanilla and fig balsamic vinegar. It was a young vinegar so it was tart and tangy. Who knew you could taste vinegar and olive oil like wine. I learned that the longer a vinegar sits it becomes sweeter. So check the year on your bottle.

Ooh a perfect snack would be to get some gourmet dipping oil from the Olive Company and head to Maurice Carrie for the baked brie with your favorite vintage or sparkling water.

Now this is not the most scenic time to visit Temecula. In January it’s pretty brown. But the rolling hills dotted with working ranches are gorgeous. The whole valley is beautiful in March during bud break or in the fall for a wedding.

The great thing about Temecula is that it is both sophisticated and casual. You can find top-class chefs and mom-n-pop restaurants. It doesn’t seem to take itself too seriously. Very little snobbery to be found, just good food, shopping and wine.

It’s a fun half day trip. Next time we hope to go check out one of the new spas and then head to Palm Springs, only another 60 miles east.