As California Wine Month continues, I’m reflecting on some of my favorite places to go wine tasting, namely Temecula and Santa Ynez.
From Los Angeles, these wine growing regions are only two hours away and easy to fit into a day trip. Of course, if you go out wine tasting for a whole day, please plan accordingly with a designated driver!
Heading to the south, Temecula is like an oasis in the middle of the Southern California Desert.
I like to make my first stop on a Temecula day trip at Callaway Vineyards. Along with being one of the first wineries you come to, they also have some really great wine! Of course I go the sweet route and sip on their Muscat Canelli, Gewurztraminer, and the “Sweet Nancy”. I do enjoy their stronger flavors too though, including their Cabernet and Syrah. Also, the views from their tasting room are about as refreshing as their wines, with a commanding 360 degree vista of the entire Temecula Valley.
A little further up the road is Stuart Cellars. I’ve got two words for Stuart: White Merlot. This sweet and at the same time slightly spicy wine is one of my all time favorites. If you’re a fan of White Zinfandel, or perhaps want to try the boldness of a red without giving up the sweet, you’ll want to get a sample of Stuart’s White Merlot. Its like the best of both worlds!
Finally, I enjoy tasting at Leonesse Cellars. The view from the patio is great as is their wine selection. Go for their cheese and chocolate pairing which gives you a sample of their best wines along with a perfectly complementing cheese or chocolate.
One non-wine related tip: After visiting a few wineries in the morning, go to Old Town Temecula for lunch! There are several really great restaurants there including Mad Madeline’s Grill among others. Also in Old Town, make sure you stop by the Temecula Olive Oil Company for olive oil tasting. They have some olive oil flavors and combinations that are out of this world!
