50 Years & Counting

2018 marked the 50th anniversary of Temecula Valley, Southern California’s Wine Country. Though Spanish missionaries had grown wine grapes in this area as far back as the early 1800s, the first commercial vineyard in the Temecula Valley was planted in 1968 by Vincenzo Cilurzo and his wife Audrey. Since then, the region has expanded to include dozens of wineries growing more than 30 grape varieties, producing more than 500,000 cases each year and welcoming visitors from all over the world.

Temecula Valley received formal recognition as an American Viticultural Area in 1984—first as Temecula AVA, later as Temecula Valley AVA. And in 2021, the Temecula Valley Wine & Agricultural Heritage District was formed to preserve and promote all that makes this region special. We’re proud of our vibrant history and excited to see what the next 50 years will bring.