May, 2018
Temecula is located about an hour drive north of San Diego and makes for the perfect day trip with over 40+ wineries, rolling vineyards, craft breweries and the Old Town. We decided to get out of San Diego for the day and stumbled across this little gem. You could easily make this an overnight stay to explore more wineries if your itinerary allows.
The Old Town is this little pedestrian friendly 12 block area located in the rolling hills of Southern California. You will feel like you have been transported back in time to the wild west strolling along the wooden sidewalks. There are lots of shops and restaurants to explore making it an easy way to spend part of your day. We spent the morning meandering in and out of the boutiques and antique markets. If you are looking to eat in town I recommend The Goat and Vine – a stone hearth kitchen in the heart of Old Town with a passion for real food. Known for their hand-crafted pizzas, sandwiches and salads with an exceptional craft beer and wine list.
Although Temecula is being dubbed the “New Napa” and becoming known for its award-winning wines, there are also a growing number of craft breweries taking shape. If you are looking to sample some local IPAs, lagers, stouts or pilsners then check out these tasting rooms. Located right in the heart of Old Town, you will find Stone Church Brewing. They offer a great patio with the best views of old town, 18 beers on tap so your selection is never-ending with live music on Friday and Saturday nights. D had the flagship beer that started it all, the Covenant IPA a complex yet smooth IPA. At this time, I was still a bit of a pansy when it came to craft beers and trying to find my niche. So, Sweet Baby Jesus it was for me – super clean and approachable – perfect for those still navigating the ‘craft beer scene’. Looking for something outside of town, try Refuge Brewery. Here they specialize in Belgian Style Ales with a twist by blending them with new world brewing techniques and style. Many of their beers are barrel aged in whiskey or wine barrels giving them a unique edge in Southern California’s beer scene.
Finally onto the wineries. Welcome to California’s Southern Wine Country. This area is suited well for growing Italian, Spanish and French grapes providing Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Rieslings and Chardonnays. The majority of these wineries only make a small quantity of each vintage, which means you won’t find these in wine shops or even grocery stores, and likely only available via tasting rooms. My top three wineries along with my favourite aperitivoa are detailed here because there is nothing more beautiful than well-crafted food paired with fine wine.
Monte de Oro – Known for great vines, great wine and great people. May I suggest the premium tasting which includes 6 samples of the regular wine tasting menu and 3 pre-selected samples from the premium reserves. Grab a table on the terrace and sample these while indulging in the Charcuterie plate & the Mediterranean plate and enjoy the vineyard views sipping and sampling.
Thornton Winery – This visit inspired more for me than D. If we sample a craft brewery for him then a French-style chateau with award winning sparling champagne for me it is! This place had my full attention as they use traditional methods to produce champagne like France uses to produce Champagne, Spain for Cava, Portugal for Espumante and Italy for Franciacorta. Just being here feels like being in Europe, where the Champagne lounge offers tastings amongst the lush vineyards. Grab a flute of your favourite bubbles and share the Margherita flatbread.
Callaway Winery – If you are just looking for a tasting, you can enjoy flights on the terrace taking in the view of the wine country. However, I suggest making this your final stop while you savour the farm to table dining, paired with wine and live music from local artists on Friday nights. The menu changes seasonally, but all dishes are prepared with a passion for food and farming. Keeping with the theme of the day, wine and tapas then tantalize your taste buds with the crab cakes, warm goat cheese and ceviche.
