Error message

  • Lingotek profile ID 4 not found.
  • Lingotek profile ID 3 not found.
Temecula Valley Wine Country vc_spotlighttemeculavalley_module6_winecountry_st_rf_695671832_1280x640
Ron Thomas/Getty Images

Temecula Valley Wine Country

Temecula Valley Wine Country
Taste your way through Southern California's leading wine region

For many visitors, the Temecula Valley Wine Country is a surprise. After all, a lot of people don’t expect to see gently rolling hills blanketed with rows of vineyards so close to the California desert. But the Temecula area has been producing top wines since the late 1960s. And like the best vintages, this wine country just gets better with age.

It’s a diverse growing region, home to everything from cooler-climate grapes like Chardonnay to warm-weather varieties such as Syrah and Grenache. How can wine grow so close to the desert? It begins with a rich, granite-based soil that plays host to the vines. Then it continues with a unique micro-climate in which the grapes thrive: crisp mornings coated in mist, a warm daytime sun, and cool ocean breezes that welcome the clear night sky.

More than 30 wineries take advantage of these conditions, and the result has been lots of award-winners—which, of course, you can sample. One of the oldest wineries in the region, Callaway Vineyard & Winery (first launched by the golf-gear family) dates back to 1969, and it offers both a big tasting room and cellar tours where you can taste from the barrels. Go to Europa Village and sit on the patio to savour the Cinsaut, made from a grape usually found in the South of France; the winery is also home to a 10-room B&B with themed rooms like Syrah and Pinot Grigio. Head to the Leoness Cellars—located along a rural stretch known as the Deportola Wine Trail—and take one of the vineyard tours before enjoying some Mélange de Blanc or Grenache by the patio’s outdoor fireplace.

Plenty of the wineries are sights in themselves. At Wilson Creek Winery & Vineyards, sample the signature almond sparkling wine and take a stroll around the grounds to see the thousands of roses and other flowers—or book the on-site manor, which sleeps 24, for a wedding or reunion. For a tasting plus dinner theatre, Longshadow Ranch Vineyard & Winery does a Wild West show in its ranch-style winery on Friday nights.

Briar Rose Winery, meanwhile, houses its tasting room in a replica of the seven dwarfs’ cottage from Snow White. The wines here are unique too—like the Talking Frog bubbly, a blend of Viognier and lager beer.

Temecula Valley Wine Country InlandEmpire_biking_1280x642_sized

Southern California

Discover the Inland Empire

Temecula Valley Wine Country vca_maps_inlandempire
13
March
Average (°C)
Mar - May
26°
High
6°
Low
June - Aug
34°
High
12°
Low
Sept - Nov
32°
High
6°
Low
Mar - May
26°
High
6°
Low

With its inviting destinations and uncrowded wilderness, this region feels like an insider’s secret amid the bustling excitement of Southern California.

Mount San Gorgonio—nicknamed “Old Grayback”—is the tallest peak in Southern California, at 11,502 feet/3,506 meters.

Surprising alpine scenery around Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear beckons, with pine-scented trails in summer and winter sports when the snow flies. If you’re into action, get the adrenaline rush of seeing the world’s best NASCAR racers compete at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. For a dreamier escape, float in a hot-air balloon above rolling Temecula Valley wine country. 

Temecula Valley Wine Country VCW_D_IE_T2-IE_TemeculaValley_KG_1280x642
Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa in Corona is home to Club Mud, California’s only therapeutic red clay mud bath.
SPECIAL FEATURE
Kid-friendly fun zones, special kids' menus & amazing wine for the grownups

Sure wine country is romantic, but now it’s a surprisingly great destination for families too, with a growing number of vineyards trading in elegant tasting rooms for child-friendly fun zones that...

Temecula Valley Wine Country VCW_SI_T5_John_preview_686x885
John/ Flickr
Temecula Valley Wine Country VCW_D_IE_T2-IE_TemeculaValley_KG_1280x642
Temecula Valley is known for its variety, growing and producing over 50 different varietals of wine; from Cabernet Sauvignon to Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot to Mourvedre, Viognier to Chardonnay.
Big Bear Lake
Getty Images

Big Bear Lake

Escape to Southern California’s mountain wonderland

Just two hours from Los Angeles, the San Bernardino Mountains offer a cool, pine-scented escape. At an altitude of 2,060 metres, Big Bear Lake is...

Temecula Valley Wine Country VCW_D_IE_T3_DE_Route66_Mural_Lauridsen-sized_1
Dave Lauridsen

Route 66

Get your kicks on America’s legendary highway

Back in its glory days, Route 66 began in Chicago and ended along the bluffs overlooking the Pacific, a 2,451 mile journey through farmlands,...

Temecula Valley Wine Country TemeculaHotAirBalloon_1280x642
The first Balloon and Wine Festival was launched in the spring of 1984 and was a monumental success for a town of only 9,000 residents. More than 4,000 people attended, as 35 balloons were launched from the Rancho California Plaza.
Temecula Valley Wine Country VCW_D_IE_T5_shopping_Manley-sized
Harriot Manley/ Sunset Publishing

Inland Empire Outlets

Find bargains on brand names at major outlet centres

The only thing better than scoring the perfect outfit or designer shoes is to get them for a bargain price. That’s why shopping in the Inland...

SPECIAL FEATURE
Where to release your inner fashionista

Shopping is an art form in California. Whether you are in search of the perfect cocktail dress or an authentic Mexican piñata, you will find it here. Want to sample fresh fruits and...

Temecula Valley Wine Country Shopping_SpecialFeature_preview_686x885_0
Prayitno/Flickr
SPECIAL FEATURE
Where to save on Gucci, Versace, and other big name brands

With fabulous shopping places like Rodeo Drive and Union Square, California has undeniable star power when it comes to shopping. But all those fashion finds and gifts for everyone back home don’t...

Temecula Valley Wine Country VCW_SI_OutletMalls_RobertSheie_preview_686x885
Robert Sheie/Flickr
Temecula Valley Wine Country VCW_D_IE_T7_SanBernardinoMuseum_Stevens_1280x642
Brian Stevens

San Bernardino Museums

Discover local and natural history and see art from around the world at area museums

Two local museums let you experience everything from the natural side of the Inland Empire to the treasures of ancient Egypt.

The San...

Temecula Valley Wine Country VCW_D_IE_T8-IE_IdyllAwhileBistro_Stevens-sized
Brian Stevens

Idyllwild

Nature and the arts find a perfect balance in this quaint mountain hamlet

Backed by mountain wilderness and filled with galleries, Idyllwild is a haven for both outdoor recreation and the arts.

Steep forested...

Temecula Valley Wine Country FF_Hero_IE_BigBear_ChinaIsland_Stevens
San Bernardino National Forest is the largest urban forest in the United States.
A boat on Lake Arrowhead
Alex Farnum

Lake Arrowhead

Escape to an exclusive mountain haven

The drive from San Bernardino to Lake Arrowhead is a quick one, just 23 miles. But as you twist and climb from the busy valley and into the San...

Riverside
John Bilous/Alamy

Riverside

Visit this Inland Empire city to learn about its citrus past, stay in a world-famous inn, and tour gardens and galleries

Sixty miles east of Los Angeles, Riverside boasts a number of firsts, including...