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January Winery Events

It’s the start of another new year (again) and if you haven’t visited Temecula Valley Wine Country lately, now’s the time!  There’s never a dull moment in wine country, and this time of year is no exception.  Check out the wine country calendar of events and make plans to visit us soon!

Baily Vineyard & Winery

Sangiovese Saturdays at Carol’s
Saturdays in January; / 11:30a-3:00p / Live music, mulled wine, cheese fondue, 1/2 price Sangiovese

Dog Day Sundays
Every Sunday / 11:30a-2:30p / Bring your well-mannered pooch to lunch!  Live acoustic entertainment.

Estate Club Private Wine Tasting
Thursday-Sunday / 11:00a-2:30p / Tours and vertical tasting of library Cabernet Franc.  Sit down with bread and cheese plate; $30 (Reservations required 24 hours in advance) / Bar Tasting; $20.  Call for reservations: 951-972-9768.

“Inventory Reduction Sale”
Entire month of January / A sale on all current vintages to make room for the 2014 whites and rose and the 2011 reds.  Visit or call the winery for details.

Callaway Vineyard & Winery

Prime Rib Fridays
Every Friday at Meritage from 5pm-8:00pm in the main dining room.  Enjoy a three-course Prime Rib dinner for $35 per person!  Choose from soup and salad, a scrumptious Prime rib entree and finish with a house made Crème Brulee for two!  A special wine discount of 20% off Callaway wines by the bottle is available throughout the evening.  Vini Contreas performs live in the main dining room every Friday beginning at 6pm and continuing throughout the evening.  Reservations are not required.  No cover.  Cannot be combined with any other offers, including wine club member discounts.

Happiest Hours
Grab your friends and join us for a marvelous time!  Friday and Sunday from 3:00p-6:00p in the lounge at Meritage at Callaway.  20% all tapas, $2 off wine by the glass, 20% off bottles of Callaway wines and available domestic, import and craft beers.

Sangria Sundays at Meritage at Callaway
Every Sunday at Meritage at Callaway from 4pm-8pm in the main dining room.  Enjoy sipping on our very own Watermelon Sangria while soaking in the sunset vineyard views.  Live music from local musicians begins at 6pm.  No cover charge and no reservations required.

Open Mic Night at Meritage at Callaway
Thursday, January 8 / 6:00p-9:00p / A creative life needs to be lived out in the OPEN; heard and shared with others. Join us for an evening of tapas, wine & creative collaboration. We will provide the stage, you provide your words, your unique sound and your talent. Come early to sign up.  Call (951) 587-8889 or email stefano_butto@callawaywinery.com for more information.

Europa Village

Live Music
Fridays from 5:30p-8:30p and Sundays from 1:00p-4:00p / January 2 – Radical Pie / January 4 – Mark Norris / January 9 – Dustin Jake / January 11 – Jimmy Patton / January 16  – James Wells / January 18- Dustin Jake / January 23 – Bryan McManus / January 25 – Joe Baldino / January 30 – Two Fish

Murder Mystery Dinner – “And, The Murder Goes To….”
Saturday, January 24 / 6:30p-9:00p / $70 per person / Societe Members $63 per person / Purchase tickets at www.europavillage.com

Murder Mystery Dinner – “And, The Murder Goes To….”
Sunday, January 25 / 6:30p-9:00p / $70 per person / Societe Members $63 per person / Purchase tickets at www.europavillage.com

Falkner Winery

Wine Appreciation Class
Saturday, January 17 / 10:00a-12:30p / $45 per person

Frangipani Estate Winery

9th Year Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, January 10 / 1:00p-5:00p / Wine specials throughout the day.  Special wine cocktails.

Lorimar Winery

Live Music

Fridays & Saturdays 6p-9p / Sundays 2p-5p

Mount Palomar Winery

Bottles “n” Brushes Painting Class with Wine
January 7, 22, 24 / 11:00a-2:00p / January 24th class is from 12:00p-3:00p / $45 per person – includes a glass of wine!  (Discount given for multiple guests) / To sign up or for more information, please contact Dorothy Hawthorne at 951-302-3088 or doughawthorne@verizon.net.

Oak Mountain Winery

9th Anniversary Party
Saturday, January 17 / 6:00p-9:00p / Come join us to celebrate our 9th anniversary party for Oak Mountain Winery.  Dinner, wine and live music by Rhandi & Associates.  Call 951-699-9102 for more details.

Live Music in the Pavilion
Every Saturday and Sunday in January / 1:00p-5:00p

Oak Mountain Winery University

Bubbles 101 – We want to burst your bubble with our champagne class / Oak Mountain Winery’s Sparkling Wine Class will have you taste three of our handcrafted sparkling wines made and bottled here in Temecula.  You will be served 3 of our sparkling wines paired with artisanal cheeses.  Learn fun facts you always wanted to know about sparkling wines and champagne.

Blending Reds – Create, bottle and label your very own blend / In our Blending Class, you get to be the Winemaker!  You will be supplied with three of Oak Mountain’s red wines, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, tasting notes, a measuring flask and pipette, three wine glasses for sampling your creation and a “cheat sheet” provided by our own winemaker to help you with the process.  You will have the option to bottle your custom blend of wine for an additional $29.  We will then pop in a cork and add a personalized label and you’ll take home wonderful memories – as well as a one-of-a-kind bottle of wine.

Wine Tasting for Dummies 101 / Our beginners class for Wine Tasters.  This is a good class to take if this is your first visit to a winery and want to know the basics of wine tasting.  You will taste three wines paired with delicious gourmet cheeses and dark chocolate toffee.  You will also get to sample eight of our infused Avocado Oils and Balsamic Vinegars that are only available at Oak Mt. Winery.

Rhone Wine Class 201 / Our second, more advanced class after taking Wine Tasting 101 is our Rhone Wine Tasting Class 201.  Learn how these grapes are grown here in the valley and how wine is made, while tasting varietals from different areas in the Rhone region of France. best python ide  Just like the 101 class, you’ll get 3 wine tastings and 8 tastings of Avocado Oil and Balsamic Vinegars.

Bordeaux Wine Class 201 / You will learn how these grapes are grown and how they are harvested and processed, while tasting Oak Mountain wines from different areas in the Bordeaux region of France.  Just like the 101 class, you will get 3 wine tastings and 8 tastings of Avocado Oil and Balsamic Vinegars.  We recommend that you have taken our Wine Tasting 101 class prior to this course.

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

Wine & Dine Chef’s Table at the Vineyard Rose Restaurant

For those who truly love to dine, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa’s culinary team offers a front row seat into their world with a special “Chef’s Table Dinner”. The Vineyard Rose Chefs create a custom five-course menu just for you. Our expert Winemakers then pair each course with our award winning wines to heighten the dining experience to another level. Whether it’s a special celebration or an intimate affair, our Chef’s Table dinner for 2 to 8 guests will define the art of fine cuisine with a memorable evening of food and wine for only $135 per person. Call 951-491-8077 to reserve your table today.

Happy Hours at Vineyard Rose Restaurant
Monday-Friday 3:00p-5:30p / Join us in the Vineyard Rose Lounge for reduced priced selected appetizers, award winning select glasses of South Coast wines and local drafts.  PLUS corkage fees are waived for any South Coast Winery wine bottles brought in to the Vineyard Rose Restaurant and consumed while dining on Wednesdays too!   Visit www.WineResort.com to view menus and find out more.

Wine Wednesdays at Vineyard Rose Restaurant
6:00p-9:00p / Wednesday nights just got even better at the Vineyard Rose Restaurant as award winning pianist, Blessie Isaac-Hopkins, takes the helm behind our elegant grand piano.  This world traveler and life-long student of music has performed internationally over the course of her career at many high-end hotels and resorts, including the Peninsula, Regent, Westin, Hilton and Shangri-la Hotel and now you can enjoy her music at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa. Reserve today for an unforgettable Wednesday evening with fine wines, delicious food and live music between the hours of 6:30p to 9:00p. Call 951.587.9463

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa’s Touchdown Sundays
We’re making football Sundays a day for the ladies. Join us every Sunday during football season from 12 noon to 3pm in the Vineyard Rose Restaurant. Enjoy half priced mimosas, sangria and our signature Spumante Diamante. Reservations Recommended. Call 951-587-9463 x 2

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa’s Vintage Vantage Menu
Monday-Thursday 11:30a -3:00p / Specially priced $9.99 lunches at the Vineyard Rose Restaurant for those aged 55 and over. Call 951-587-9463 x 2 for more information or reservations.

Behind the Scenes Wine Tours
Tours are held daily at 11 AM, 1 PM and 3PM, Monday through Sunday. Due to the limited sizes of each tour, advance reservations are required with prepayment, and are non-refundable. Must be over 21 years of age to attend.   Call 800-539-1375 Ext. 350 to reserve your spot today.

Festival of Wines
January 18-24 / A whole week dedicated to tantalize your senses!  We’ve tasked each of our resort’s departments to create a special celebration dedicated to the Art of Wine!  Come out any day of the week to enjoy all that we have to offer!  Visit www.wineresort.com or call 800.539.1375 for more information.

Thornton Winery

Thornton Winery’s Chef’s Counter Dinner
Friday, January 30 / 7:00p / A one of a kind dining experience! An interactive Chef’s table in a private kitchen, where you will dine one-on-one while the chef prepares your five course meal right in front of you. Seating is limited to 10.  Reservations are required by calling 951-699-0099.

California Restaurant Month, Temecula Wine Country Style!

California Restaurant Month – Splurge, Savor and Save

Wine For The Holidays

Grandma’s stuffing, Aunt Susie’s cranberry sauce and your sister’s sweet potatoes.  Menu: done!  But what about the wine?  Choosing a bottle (or two!) of wine to bring to the holiday table can be tricky.  Appealing to not only your menu, but to a cross-section of practiced palates and novice wine drinkers may seem challenging.  But don’t stress out over one of the simplest tasks of the holiday season. Make it simple.  Any wine you enjoy is a good wine!

One certainly doesn’t need to look to others to rate, score or direct you to make a particular wine choice.  Bring a wine you’re familiar with to the table.  Chances are it’ll be just fine – and maybe even sublime!

First and foremost, don’t worry about pairing with the herbaceous, the tart or the sweet accompaniments to your turkey, ham or prime rib.  It’s much simpler to match the wine to the main protein dish.  Here’s a few tried and true varietal selections for some classic holiday main dishes:

Wines to Serve with Ham
Ham just begs for a something lightly sweet.  Look for wines with a touch of residual sugar like a Baily Vineyard & Winery Riesling or a Maurice Car’rie Winery Gewurztraminer.  Both are lighter in style, a bit lower in alcohol and still offer plenty of food-friendly acidity and crowd-pleasing palate appeal.  If you’re looking for an easy to pair red, go for a lighter style like Tempranillo.  Great examples can be found at both Miramonte Winery and at Danza del Sol Winery.

Wines to Serve with Turkey
Although an array of whites work perfectly well, Sauvignon Blanc is an all-time, hands-down favorite pick that holds up well to turkey – and all it’s side dishes. Temecula Valley provides the perfect playground for growing this varietal, so you’ll find many great examples of it here.  Beautifully aromatic offerings from the musqué clone can be found at Hart Winery and at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa. Soft red varietals like Syrah also make suitable partners; you can find some fabulous ones at Falkner Winery and Leoness Cellars.

Wines to Serve with Prime Rib
White wines will have a hard time keeping up with the likes of Prime Rib, but there are so many reds to choose from that make impressive cohorts, you’re sure to find one you’ll all enjoy.  Choose an affable Cabernet Sauvignon from Callaway Vineyard & Winery, a food friendly Italian varietal like Montepulciano or Sangiovese from Cougar Vineyard & Winery or an amazing Super Tuscan blend, Due Rossi, from Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery.

Happy Holidays!

10 Fun Things To Do This Holiday Season

10 Fun Things To Do in Wine Country This Holiday Season

Hanging out in Temecula Valley’s wine country is always fun.  But with the holiday’s fast approaching, there’s even more reason to visit!

A bit of art, shopping, music and of course – a visit from St. Nick – are just a few things that await you this month.  We hope to see you in Wine Country!

1. 12/03, 12/09, 12/18, 12/22 – Bottles n Brushes – A Paint Class with Wine at Mount Palomar Winery.  11-2p; $45pp
2. 12/04-12/07 and 12/11-12/13 – Shakespeare in the Vines presents “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some!)”  at Baily Winery.  7pm; $25pp
3. 12/07 –  Santa Sunday & Barrel Tree Lighting at Callaway.  Photos with Santa; cocoa for the kids and wine for the adults.  3-5pm; complimentary admission
4. 12/10 –  Temecula Chilled, Wine Country style!  Late night shopping from 5-8pm.  Stock up on your holiday wine and gifts at: Baily Winery, Callaway Vineyard & Winery, Chapin Family Vineyards, Danza Del Sol Winery, Doffo Winery, Hart Winery, Leoness Cellars, Lorimar Winery, Lumiere Winery, Oak Mountain Winery, Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, Thornton Winery and Wilson Creek Winery.
5. 12/11 – Annual Winemaker Dinner at Leoness Cellars.  Hang out with winemaker Tim Kramer for a wine-filled evening.  6pm; $125pp
6. 12//12 –  Wine Down Friday with Will Sumner’s smooth jazz at Cougar Winery. 5-8p; complimentary admission
7. 12/13 –  Christmas Luncheon in the Barrel Room at Falkner Winery.  Buffet style with 8-10 wines. 12-4p; $30pp
8. 12/16 – Menorah Lighting at Lorimar Winery.  6pm; complimentary admission
9. 12/18 – Ugly Sweater Holiday Party at Lorimar Winery.  6pm; $1pp
10. 12/31 –  New Years Eve Masquerade Ball at Wiens Family Cellars.  8pm; $65pp

Dream Big ~ Jim Carter, South Coast Winery

Check in every month where we feature a new interview with a Temecula Valley winery owner. You’ll learn where they came from, why they chose Temecula – and what keeps them passionate about the sometimes not-so-glamorous life of a winery owner.

Jim and Dawn Carter, owners

Today, we’re sitting down with Jim Carter, owner of South Coast Winery Resort and Spa, at the winery’s restaurant, Vineyard Rose. Never one to sit still for long, the energetic father of 13, grandfather to 27 and great-grandfather to 4 is a man on a mission!

South Coast Winery opened in 2001 and has grown exponentially since then, was that always part of the vision?
I knew what I wanted to build way before I started construction.  I’d visited wine regions throughout the state and knew that ultimately I wanted to have a place where people would want to come and stay amongst the vineyards. We built in phases, starting with the production side and the tasting room.  Phase 2 was the villas, phase 3 the Vineyard Rose restaurant, phase 4 the conference center and finished off with phase 5, the Grapeseed Spa. I think there was about 10 or 11 wineries when I started.  Who knew it was going to develop as quickly as it did?

But that really wasn’t what I had in mind when I bought my first Temecula vineyard property back in 1981.  I wanted to grow grapes. And I planted a lot of them beginning back in 1995 on a 400 acre piece of property that I’d purchased years before up along the east side of Mount Palomar. It’s a spectacular vineyard we named Wild Horse Peak and it produces some fabulous grapes.  My kids and I would spend weekends and summers up there digging and planting.  I just fell in love with the farming side.  The winery is the vehicle that allows me to be a grape grower.

The winery has quite an extensive menu of wines, was that also part of the plan?
We just kept planting to see which clonal varietals grew well here and we ended up liking pretty much everything we grew.  So we’re in a unique position in that we can now make a wine that suits just about anyone’s palate.  There’s a wine for everyone – and I want to make sure that visitors can discover what they love right here in our tasting room.  

So what’s next?
Carter Estate Winery and Resort.  The first phase of our family’s next adventure is set to open in January.  It’s a completely different concept from this winery.  Our production will be quite limited.  We sourced the fruit for these bottlings from some of our best vineyard blocks and have used the best barrels on the market to hand craft 4-5 different wines that we’ll be releasing under the Carter Estate label.  And we’re also really excited to announce that we’ll be showcasing some new “methode champenoise”, traditional style sparkling wines over there too.  We’re really anxious to share these small lot wines that we’ve been bottling and cellaring for awhile now.  

And we’re also breaking ground on a winery/brew pub in the Texas hill country, just outside of Austin in a town called Johnson City.  

Sounds like crazy talk to me! Do you ever sleep?  What keeps you awake at night?
I have a good life.  About the only think that keeps me awake is praying for rain! We sure need us a good rainy winter.

December Winery Events

Holiday shopping nights, Santa visits, tree lighting events and special holiday meals; you’ll find it all in Temecula Valley Wine Country!  We raise a glass of cheer and wish you all a very happy holiday season!

Baily Vineyard & Winery

Sangiovese Saturdays at Carol’s
Saturdays in December; / 11:30a-3:00p / Live music, mulled wine, cheese fondue, 1/2 price Sangiovese

Dog Day Sundays
Every Sunday / 11:30a-2:30p / Bring your well-mannered pooch to lunch!  Live acoustic entertainment.

Estate Club Private Wine Tasting
Thursday-Sunday / 11:00a-2:30p / Tours and vertical tasting of library Meritage.  Sit down with bread and cheese plate; $30 (Reservations required 24 hours in advance) Bar Tasting; $20.  Call for reservations: 951-972-9768.

Shakespeare in the Vines presents “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some!)”
December 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 and 13 / 7:00p / Seating begins at 5:30p if dining, 6:00p if just attending the show.  Dinner will be served on Friday and Saturday night performances only.  There is a matinee performance on Sunday, December 7th at 3:00p.  Dining reservations must be made through Carol’s Restaurant at 951-676-9243 / Dinner $25 per person, plus tax and gratuity.  For more information, visit www.bailywinery.com

Briar Rose Winery

Sip Into Sunset
Friday, December 5 / 5:30p-9:00 / Experience amazing sunsets and live music by Buzz Campbell while enjoying fabulous food and wine.  Food items available for purchase.  Call 951-308-1098 to make reservations.  Seating is limited.

Callaway Vineyard & Winery

Prime Rib Fridays
Every Friday at Meritage from 5pm-8:00pm in the main dining room.  Enjoy a three-course Prime Rib dinner for $35 per person!  Choose from soup and salad, a scrumptious Prime rib entree and finish with a house made Crème Brulee for two!  A special wine discount of 20% off Callaway wines by the bottle is available throughout the evening.  Vini Contreas performs live in the main dining room every Friday beginning at 6pm and continuing throughout the evening.  Reservations are not required.  No cover.  Cannot be combined with any other offers, including wine club member discounts.

Happiest Hours
Grab your friends and join us for a marvelous time!  Friday and Sunday from 3:00p-6:00p in the lounge at Meritage at Callaway.  20% all tapas, $2 off wine by the glass, 20% off bottles of Callaway wines and available domestic, import and craft beers.

Sangria Sundays at Meritage at Callaway
Every Sunday at Meritage at Callaway from 4pm-8pm in the main dining room.  Enjoy sipping on our very own Watermelon Sangria while soaking in the sunset vineyard views.  Live music from local musicians begins at 6pm.  No cover charge and no reservations required.

Open Mic Night and Art Show
Featuring Henna tattoos and digital artwork
Thursday, December 4/ 6:00p-9:00p/ at the Lounge at Meritage at Callaway / A creative life needs to be lived out in the OPEN; heard and shared with others.  Join us for an evening of tapas, wine & creative collaboration.  Call 951-587-8889 or e-mail stefano_butto@callawaywinery.com for more information.

Santa Sunday & Barrel Tree Lighting
Sunday, December 7 / 3:00p-5:00p / Join us as we light our Barrel Tree and celebrate the holiday season.  Santa will be here to take photos with the family.  Wine tasting for the adults and hot cocoa & cookies for the children will be available; and the gift shop will be open for all to shop.  No reservations required.

Holiday Shopping Night at Callaway Winery
Wednesday, December 10 / 5:00p-8:00p / Sip and shop at Callaway during the only late night shopping night.  Mingle with friends, wine taste and shop for unique wine themed gifts!  Get recipes for holiday treats and entertaining ideas to help celebrate the holidays with ease.

Cougar Vineyard & Winery

Wine Down Friday
Open late Friday, December 12th.  With live music from 5:00p-8:00p.  Listen to Will Sumner’s smooth jazz.  Paid wine tasting until 6:00p, then wine by the glass and bottle sales for the remainder of the evening.

Europa Village

Live Music
Fridays from 5:30p-8:30p and Sundays from 1:00p-4:00p / December 5 – Dustin Jake / December 7 – James Wells / December 12 – Danielle Taylor / December 14 – Kelly Moore / December 21 – Bryan McManus/ December 28 – Jason Guffey

Falkner Winery

Holiday Party at Pinnacle Restaurant
Friday, December 12 / 6:00p/ $15 cover charge (includes a glass of wine).  Small bites, $5-$7, DJ & Dancing

Christmas Luncheon in the Barrel Room
Saturday, December 13/ 12:00p-4:00p / $30+ tax

Wine Appreciation Class
Saturday, December 20 / 10:00a-12:30 / $45 per person

Leoness Cellars

Extended Shopping Hours
Friday, December 5, 12 and 19 / 6:00p-8:00p
Enjoy extended shopping hours in our tasting room during the first three Fridays in December.  In celebrating our 10th Anniversary, we will feature special wine packages and gift item promotions during extended shopping hours.

Annual Winemaker Dinner
Thursday, December 11 / 6:00p-9:00p / $125+ tax, per person / $115+ tax, per person wine club members / Featuring The Restaurant Chef Daragh Matheson, Banquet Chef Michael Cragg and Winemaker Tim Kramer / 8-Course Wine Paired Dinner and live entertainment from musician Jason Weber.

Live Music
Fridays 5:00p-8:00p in the Restaurant at Leoness / Sundays 1:00p-4:00p on the patio.

Winter VIP Tour and Tasting
Tour of winemaking facility and wine tasting / 90 minutes / $40 per person / RSVP at hosts@leonesscellars.com or 951-302-7601 ext. 204

Lorimar Winery

Epicurean Demo; Soup du Jour
Wednesday, December 3 / 4:00p-6:00p / $25+ tax, per person / $20+ tax per person, wine club / Join Chef Patrick as he takes you through an entertaining and interactive demo preparing Soup du Jour and pairing his delicious homemade soups with Lorimar wine.  Tickets available online at www.lorimarwinery.com

Menorah Lighting & Chanukah Celebration
Tuesday, December 16 / 6:00p / No cost to attend.

Ugly Sweater Holiday Party
Thursday, December 18 / 6:00p / Join Lorimar for a holiday party to remember!  Wear the ugliest sweater you can find to enter the contest for a prize!  No cost to attend.

Movie in the Vines
Monday, December 29 / 5:30p / Featuring: When Harry Met Sally  $1 Admission – Includes small bag of popcorn!  Wine Bar and Concession stand will open at 6 pm. Bring your own beach chair or blanket!

Live Music
Fridays & Saturdays 6p-9p / Sundays 2p-5p

Mount Palomar Winery

Bottles “n” Brushes Painting Class with Wine
December 3, 9, 14, 18, 22 / 11:00a-2:00p / December 14th class is from 12:30p-3:30p / $45 per person – includes a glass of wine!  (Discount given for multiple guests) / To sign up or for more information, please contact Dorothy Hawthorne at 951-302-3088 or doughawthorne@verizon.net.

Oak Mountain Winery

Live Music in the Pavilion
Every Saturday and Sunday in December / 1:00p-5:00p

Oak Mountain Winery University

Bubbles 101 – We want to burst your bubble with our champagne class / Oak Mountain Winery’s Sparkling Wine Class will have you taste three of our handcrafted sparkling wines made and bottled here in Temecula. Australian Quickspin Casinos here: https://onlinecasinos-australia.com/quickspin/  You will be served 3 of our sparkling wines paired with artisanal cheeses.  Learn fun facts you always wanted to know about sparkling wines and champagne.

Blending Reds – Create, bottle and label your very own blend / In our Blending Class, you get to be the Winemaker!  You will be supplied with three of Oak Mountain’s red wines, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, tasting notes, a measuring flask and pipette, three wine glasses for sampling your creation and a “cheat sheet” provided by our own winemaker to help you with the process.  You will have the option to bottle your custom blend of wine for an additional $29.  We will then pop in a cork and add a personalized label and you’ll take home wonderful memories – as well as a one-of-a-kind bottle of wine.

Wine Tasting for Dummies 101 / Our beginners class for Wine Tasters.  This is a good class to take if this is your first visit to a winery and want to know the basics of wine tasting.  You will taste three wines paired with delicious gourmet cheeses and dark chocolate toffee.  You will also get to sample eight of our infused Avocado Oils and Balsamic Vinegars that are only available at Oak Mt. Winery.

Rhone Wine Class 201 / Our second, more advanced class after taking Wine Tasting 101 is our Rhone Wine Tasting Class 201.  Learn how these grapes are grown here in the valley and how wine is made, while tasting varietals from different areas in the Rhone region of France.  Just like the 101 class, you’ll get 3 wine tastings and 8 tastings of Avocado Oil and Balsamic Vinegars.

Bordeaux Wine Class 201 / You will learn how these grapes are grown and how they are harvested and processed, while tasting Oak Mountain wines from different areas in the Bordeaux region of France.  Just like the 101 class, you will get 3 wine tastings and 8 tastings of Avocado Oil and Balsamic Vinegars.  We recommend that you have taken our Wine Tasting 101 class prior to this course.

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

“Temecula Chilled”
December 1-31st / The talented chefs at the Vineyard Rose Restaurant have put their toques together and have created this stunning appetizer for December.  Offered up as the “Temecula Chilled” appetizer for both lunch & dinner, this special is sure to please: Crab Stuffed Deviled Eggs, Chilled Poached Prawns, Sriracha Cocktail Sauce.

Marvelous Mondays
Every Monday 5:30-9:00p / Enjoy half-priced bottles of award winning selected wines with the purchase of two entrees.

Happy Hours at Vineyard Rose Restaurant
Monday-Friday 3:00p-5:30p / Join us in the Vineyard Rose Lounge for reduced priced selected appetizers, award winning select glasses of South Coast wines and local drafts.  PLUS corkage fees are waived for any South Coast Winery wine bottles brought in to the Vineyard Rose Restaurant and consumed while dining on Wednesdays too!   Visit www.WineResort.com to view menus and find out more.

Wine Down Wednesdays at Vineyard Rose Restaurant
5:30-9:30p / Fine wines, delicious food and live music between the hours of 5:30p to 9:30p. Call 951.587.9463

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa’s Vintage Vantage Menu
Monday-Thursday 11:30a -3:00p / Specially priced $9.99 lunches at the Vineyard Rose Restaurant for those aged 55 and over. Call 951-587-9463 x 2 for more information or reservations.

CranBeauty at GrapeSeed Spa
Indulge in a 50 minute Cranberry Facial and protect your beautiful skin with the anti-aging properties of antioxidants.  Experience the glow of revived and rehydrated skin.  Deliciously priced, this beauty indulgence is yours for just $89 – only through December.  Call 951-587-9463 ext. 3515 to book today!

Christmas Carolers
Be sure to visit us Friday through Sunday evenings through December 21st and enjoy strolling Christmas Carolers dressed up in Vintage attire at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa.  5:30 to 9 PM. Free to public.

Temecula “Chilled” – Holiday Shopping in Wine Country
Wednesday, December 10 / 5:00p-8:00p / The gift shop at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa is extending their hours for late night holiday shopping.

Christmas Dinner at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa’s Vineyard Rose Restaurant
Wednesday, December 24 and Thursday, December 25 / 5:30p-9:30p/ Reserve your place today for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the Vineyard Rose restaurant. We’ve decked our halls and our elves are ready to cater to your every need while you and yours delight in our chefs’ culinary creations designed to delight and dazzle.

“All that Glitters” New Year’s Eve Celebration at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa
Wednesday, December 31/ 7:00p-12:30a / Enjoy a delectable five-course dinner and bottle of award winning select South Coast Wine.  Includes a South Coast Sparkling Wine Toast and Balloon Drop at Midnight.  Just $165 per guest plus tax and gratuity.  Special room packages also available at an additional rate, based on availability.  Reservations are A MUST, so call today:  951-587-9463.

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is the perfect time of year to reflect and give thanks to all who make our lives better by just being in them!  To all of our supportive member wineries and their staff, all of our growers, our affiliate members and our entire family of partners – and to You – our treasured guests (without whom we wouldn’t exist!), please accept our humble thanks.

If there are any out there who would give thanks to NOT have to cook, you can thank both South Coast Winery and Thornton Winery for doing it for you.  Both are accepting reservations for turkey day dinner now.  Trust me, they’re better at this than most of us!  And if you need a good nights rest after all the over-indulging, Wilson Creek Manor is offering some fantastic rates for which you’ll be truly thankful.

The day after Thanksgiving, aka, Black Friday, bring your family and friends out for a day in wine country.  All of our wineries will be open for the entire weekend – and many are offering once a year discounts on some fabulous wine for the holidays.  Special Black Friday sales events are going on at Cougar, Danza del Sol, Europa Village, Leoness, Lorimar, Oak Mountain, Ponte and Robert Renzoni wineries.  I mean, really!  Where else can you taste before you buy, but at a winery?

Dream Big ~ John Thornton, Thornton Winery

Check in every month where we feature a new interview with a Temecula Valley winery owner. You’ll learn where they came from before settling in Temecula, CA – and what keeps them passionate about the sometimes not-so-glamorous life of a winery owner.

The Thornton Family
l-r: Steve, Sally and John

Our ongoing series this month features John Thornton, of Thornton Winery, one of the valley’s “first”, which opened for business way back in 1988.  Learn why, after almost 30 years, “Mr. T”, as he’s lovingly known to us, still lives and breathes wine.

Why – or how on earth! – did you get into the wine business? And why was Temecula your chosen region?
Well, Sally and I used to travel extensively on business and everywhere we’d visit, we’d try to eat and drink local.  We loved the social aspect of food and wine together.  We thought, “Hey, we can start our own place and offer food and wine and it’ll be easy.” Boy, were we WRONG!  At the time, Ely Callaway was marketing Temecula as the perfect place to make wine and although the area had a small wine industry, we did some research and it did appear to be a “natural” fit for a wine country and poised for growth.

Running a small family winery – even one that’s been around for awhile like Thornton has – must present a unique set of challenges. What keeps you up at night? And what gets you up in the morning?
I think some of the same things that keep most business owners up at night; but for us it’s how to sell our wine, what wines to make, how to keep our customers happy, cash flow….but Steve works this part of the business, so I sleep pretty darn good!  What gets me up in the morning?  I get excited about the challenges in the business actually.  Challenges can be opportunities and we can take a challenge and turn it into something positive.

What do you MOST love about the wine industry?
What I love most about the wine industry is the people.  There are some of the nicest and most genuine people in this industry.  Another thing about this industry that is so great is sharing food and wine with friends;  it’s a wonderful thing.  You add music to that, and you’ve got the perfect combination.

Speaking of music, Champagne Jazz has been a staple in the music industry – and at Thornton – for almost 30 (!) years. Are you proud with its effect on our little wine country?
When we started Champagne Jazz, we never expected it to be what it is today.  It’s had a long life and it’s taken years and a lot of hard work to formulate.  It’s a continuous challenge to combine a food, wine and musical experience that will appeal to a broad audience.  We’re really proud that we’re bringing in some of the best jazz performers in the world. cheapigfollowers.com

Cafe Champagne was THE first restaurant in wine country. That must present its own unique opportunities and challenges?
Our biggest challenge was learning the food business.  It’s a tough business.  You’ve got to do a lot of research and make sure that you’ve got what people want.  You’ve got to come up with menus that appeal to customers and you’ve got to make the prices competitive in order to bring the people in.  The restaurant was originally “high-end”, but it’s now more casual.  Steve’s been teaching me that it isn’t always about what I want!  The customer is always right.  We’ve got to listen to them, try to pair the food and wine well, and make them happy.  We’ve got a lot more competition with our neighbors now, and while this is inevitable, it just keeps us planning and adapting.  We’re watching the valley get better and better and it’s exciting to watch!

November Winery Events

There’s a chill in the air and suddenly we’re planning holiday meals! Whether your holiday plans keep you close to home or off visiting relatives, plan to sneak in a trip to Temecula Valley Wine Country to stock up on your favorite wine, pick up holiday gifts at one of the wineries’ shopping nights or attend one of the great events going on in wine country!

Baily Vineyard & Winery

Sangiovese Saturdays at Carol’s
Saturdays in November; / 11:30a-3:00p / Live music, mulled wine, cheese fondue, 1/2 price Sangiovese

Dog Day Sundays
Every Sunday / 11:30a-2:30p / Bring your well-mannered pooch to lunch! Live acoustic entertainment.

Estate Club Private Wine Tasting
Thursday-Sunday / 11:00a-2:30p / Tours and vertical tasting of library Meritage. Sit down with bread and cheese plate; $30 (Reservations required 24 hours in advance) / Bar Tasting; $20. Call for reservations: 951-972-9768.

Briar Rose Winery

Sip Into Sunset
Friday, November 7 / 5:30p-9:00 / Experience amazing sunsets and live music by Buzz Campbell while enjoying fabulous food and wine. Food items available for purchase. Call 951-308-1098 to make reservations. Seating is limited.

Callaway Vineyard & Winery

Prime Rib Fridays at Meritage at Callaway
Every Friday / 5pm-8:00pm / Three-course Prime Rib dinner for $35 per person! Choose from soup and salad, a scrumptious Prime rib entree and finish with a house made Crème Brulee for two! Enjoy live music. No reservations required.

Happiest Hours
Friday and Sunday from 3:00p-6:00p in the lounge at Meritage at Callaway. 20% all tapas, $2 off wine by the glass, 20% off bottles of Callaway wines and available domestic, import and craft beers.

Sangria Sundays at Meritage at Callaway
Every Sunday / 4pm-8pm / Enjoy sipping on our very own Watermelon Sangria while soaking in the sunset vineyard views. Live music from local musicians begins at 6pm.

Cougar Vineyard & Winery

Sip & Shop Black Friday Event
“Black Friday”, November 28th / 6:00p-8:00p / Vendors selling crafts and live music. Discounts on wine.

Danza del Sol Winery

Live Music On the Patio
Saturdays in November – November 1 – Fandango / November 8 – JD Priest / November 15 -Nathan Rivera/ November 22 – Two Fish

Get Sauced – Wobble Till You Gobble
Sunday, November 8 / 3:00p-5:30p / Cooking demo, class & small plates. Wine pairings and recipes to take home. / $55 per person / $49.50 wine club. All tickets are subject to 8% tax. Reserve today by calling (951) 302-6363 ext. 26

Sip & Swirl – On Canvas Paint Class
Art + Vino with Jill Roberts / Sunday, November 16 / 1:00p-4:30p / $60 per class for non-members / $54 per class for members. All tickets are subject to 8% tax.

Black Friday Shopping
Friday, November 28 / 11:00a-8:00p

Europa Village

Live Music
Fridays from 5:30p-8:30p and Sundays from 1:00p-4:00p / November 2 – Jimmy Patton / November 7 – Niteriders / November 9 – Apryle Dalmacio / November 14 – Big Truth & Little Lies / November 16 – Jimmy Patton / November 21 – Missy Andersen / November 23 – Dustin Jake / November 30 – Bryan McManus

Comedy Night
Friday, November 14 / 7:30-8:30p / $15 per person / $13.50 Societe Members / Call for tickets 951-216-3880

Antidote to Black Friday – Vivi Bene
Friday, November 28 / 5:00p-8:00p / Free Admission / Escape the crowds and come to Europa Village for a relaxed shopping experience. Sip wine while you make your holiday purchases. Discounts on wine and specials on our retail items.

Falkner Winery

Veterans Day at Falkner Winery
Tuesday, November 11 / 11:00a-5:00p / All active duty and veterans get a FREE, Classic Tasting! (I.D. is required)

Wine Appreciation Class
Saturday, November 15 / 10:00a-12:30p / $45 per person

Lorimar Winery

Wine Blending Party
Wednesday, November 5 / 4:00p-6:00p / $25 (+tax) per person; $20 (+tax) per person, wine club. You get to be winemaker for a day with a full educational seminar and in depth analysis of key varietals to make the perfect blended wines. Tickets on sale here or by calling 951-694-6699.

Live Music
Fridays & Saturdays 6p-9p / Sundays 2p-5p / November 1 – Big Truth / November 2 – Master Splinter and the Shredders / November 7 – Missy Anderson / November 8 – Craig Broombaugh / November 9 – Brad Spencer Duo/ November 14 – Michael SG / November 15 – Cougarzz Rock / November 16 – Master Splinter and the Shredders / November 21 – Oceans of Sand / November 22 – Lifetime Rockers / November 23- Missy Anderson / November 28 – Kanan Road / November 29 – Mrs. Jones Revenge / November 30 – Michael LeClerc

Movie in the Vines
Monday, November 24 / 6:00p / Featuring: Amelie $1 Admission – Includes small bag of popcorn! Wine Bar and Concession stand will open at 6 pm. Bring your own beach chair or blanket!

Black Friday Sale
November 28-30

Tree Lighting Ceremony
Sunday, November 30 / Begin your holidays with Lorimar Winery at 6:00p.

Miramonte Winery

Live Music
7:00p-10:00p / Complimentary live music; no reservations needed / November 1 – JD Priest / November 7 – Mercedes Moore / November 8 – Billy Watson / November 14 – Blue Fish / November 15 / Missy Andersen / November 21 – Incendio / November 22 – Nathan James / November 28 – TBD / November 29 – Shoot 4 Tuezday

Oak Mountain Winery

Live Music in the Pavilion
Every Saturday and Sunday in November / 1:00p-5:00p

After Dark Open
Saturday, November 15 / 5:00p-9:00p / Live music, food truck, beer & wine. / $1.00 reservation per person.

Holiday Open House (Black Friday Sale)
Friday, November 28 / 5:00p-8:00p / live music by Buzz Campbell, wine and specials.

Oak Mountain Winery University
Bubbles 101 – Oak Mountain Winery’s Sparkling Wine Class will have you taste three of our handcrafted sparkling wines made and bottled here in Temecula.

Blending Reds – Create, bottle and label your very own blend

Wine Tasting for Dummies 101 – Our beginners class for Wine Tasters.

Rhone Wine Class 201 – Our second, more advanced class after taking Wine Tasting 101 is our Rhone Wine Tasting Class 201.

Bordeaux Wine Class 201 – You will learn how these grapes are grown and how they are harvested and processed, while tasting Oak Mountain wines from different areas in the Bordeaux region of France.

Robert Renzoni Vineyards

Black Friday Shopping Day
11:00a-8:00p / 20% off wine & gift shop items, some exclusions apply.

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

Wine & Dine Chef’s Table at the Vineyard Rose Restaurant
The Vineyard Rose Chefs create a custom five-course menu just for you. Our expert Winemakers then pair each course with our award winning wines to heighten the dining experience to another level. Whether it’s a special celebration or an intimate affair, our Chef’s Table dinner for 2 to 8 guests will define the art of fine cuisine with a memorable evening of food and wine for only $135 per person. Call 951-491-8077 to reserve your table today.

Happy Hours at Vineyard Rose Restaurant
Monday-Friday 3:00p-5:30p / Join us in the Vineyard Rose Lounge for reduced priced selected appetizers, award winning select glasses of South Coast wines and local drafts. PLUS corkage fees are waived for any South Coast Winery wine bottles brought in to the Vineyard Rose Restaurant and consumed while dining on Wednesdays too! Click here to view menus and find out more.

Wine Wednesdays at Vineyard Rose Restaurant
6:00p-9:00p / Reserve today for an unforgettable Wednesday evening with fine wines, delicious food and live music between the hours of 6:30p to 9:00p. Call 951.587.9463

Touchdown Sundays
Sundays in November / Ladies receive half-priced tasting privileges in the Vintner Vault Sundays during football season and the Vineyard Rose Restaurant offers Sunday Funday from 12 noon to 3:30 pm during football season with specially priced appetizers and half-priced Sangria Mimosa’s and select South Coast Wines. Call 951.587.9463 or visit us online here to find out more.

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa’s Divas in D’Vines
We’re making football Sundays a day for the ladies. Join us every Sunday during football season from 12 noon to 3pm in the Vineyard Rose Restaurant. Enjoy half priced mimosas, sangria and our signature Spumante Diamante. Reservations Recommended. Call 951-587-9463 x 2

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa’s Vintage Vantage Menu
Monday-Thursday 11:30a -3:00p / Specially priced $9.99 lunches at the Vineyard Rose Restaurant for those aged 55 and over. Call 951-587-9463 x 2 for more information or reservations.

Thanksgiving Dinner at Vineyard Rose Restaurant
Thursday, November 27 / 11:00a-9:00p / The Master Chefs and Winemakers of South Coast Winery Resort & Spa’s Vineyard Rose Restaurant are ready to treat you and your entire family to a special four-course gourmet feast this Thanksgiving Day. By Reservation only and cost is based on entree selection. Call now to reserve your place 951.491.8077 or visit us online here to find out more. Les machines de jeux sont configurées à l’aide du RNG (générateur de nombres aléatoires). Par conséquent, toute fraude pour "torsion" des machines à la fois du casino et des joueurs est complètement exclue. Le jeu sûr est basé sur des combinaisons perdues au hasard sur les machines à sous. https://france-bonusesfinder.com/online-casinos/tropezia-palace-casino

Tree Lighting Ceremony
Sunday, November 30 / 6:00p / Join Santa as he arrives this evening bringing with him one of his best little elves and a lot of good ol’ fashioned fun for FREE. In addition to Santa, guests enjoy: the tree lighting ceremony, holiday movie ELF on big screen, tractor rides through the vineyards, Christmas caroling, and so much more. Call 951.587.9463 or visit us online at here to find out more.

Be sure to visit us Friday through Sunday evenings, beginning November 30th and enjoy strolling Christmas Carolers dressed up in Vintage attire. 5:30p-9:00p. Free to the public.

Thank a Winemaker Day!

Thank a Winemaker Day!

Gus Viszgirda, Wilson Creek winemaker

A recent photo shared by Wilson Creek Winery, “The Anatomy of a Winemaker”, created by winemaker, Gus Viszgirda, certainly gave us all a laugh. But it also made us think…

Clearly, making great wine is a hands-on profession. And the picture truly illustrates what our winemakers look like to us on any given work day. Gone is the clean clothed, shiny shoe’d, wine sipping winemakers most of our visitors are accustomed to seeing. Most of the time, they’re rubber boot wearing, wine stained cellar dwellars who are dragging hoses, cleaning tanks and topping barrels – all which are part of a days work. Truth be told, most days you couldn’t slap the smile off their faces.  Winemaking truly is a labor of love!

So, in their honor, we’ve decided to declare today, “Thank A Winemaker” day! Let your favorite winemaker know how much you appreciate all the effort that goes into each bottle. Without their dedication, what would we be drinking???