A Temecula Wine Tour
As wine regions go, a self-guided Temecula wine tour is one of the simplest to navigate, as most of the wineries are right along the main road, Rancho California. There are a few exceptions set off the main drag, which are definitely worth investigating, if only to get away from the weekend crowds. Plan to have lunch at one of the restaurants that are located at several of the wineries, or bring your own gourmet picnic to enjoy overlooking vineyard views. Here is a short video of some vineyards in Temecula wine country:
If you are interested in taking a limo through wine country, see Temecula wine tours. To get to Temecula wine country, take the Rancho California Rd. exit off of the I-15 freeway. Head east past about 4 miles of shopping centers, a golf course and housing tracts. Once you hit Butterfield Stage Rd., you can start breathing easy, as this is where the hilly vineyards begin. This Temecula wine tour doesn't encompass all the wineries, nor does it go into depth on the actual wine tasting experience, but is meant to give an overview of several of the wineries to help you decide which 3 or 4 to visit during your time here. For specific locations, hours and other information on the wineries,
go to the Temecula Wineries page.
There is an outdoor patio with tables and chairs for wine tasting. Bread and cheese is served to go with your tasting of 4 sparkling wines. There is also an adjoining restaurant with a small herb garden nearby. The kitchen uses herbs from this garden in their dishes, and you can stroll around and enjoy the aromas as well. A beautiful gift shop is inside. Continuing your Temecula wine tour, further down the road is Churon Winery, which also has an inn with Jacuzzis and fireplaces in the suites. They have picnic foods for sale in the gift shop. There's an outdoor tasting patio, but it seemed to be out of use when I was there. 
Stuart Cellars has an amazing view from the first parking lot near the barrels. Picnic benches sit on a grassy lawn overlooking the valley. The atmosphere was more like a real working winery. I loved the earthy smells and the vineyard equipment sitting around at the edge of the vineyard.
If you take a right on Calle Contento, you'll hit Bella Vista Winery, previously Cilurzo. A sign announces that they are the oldest vineyards in the Temecula Valley, originating in 1968. Their tasting room was huge and reminded me of a German beer hall. A wide screen TV at the end had the football game on. A whole other world was up the hill in the back. A lake with a fountain in the middle had peacefully floating ducks. Between the edge of the hill and the lake are picnic benches under palapas. Truly a wonderful place to picnic! Now if you continue your Temecula wine tour down Calle Contento, go left on Pauba and right on Anza Road, you get into horse ranch country. Things are more spread out with fewer wineries. Huge haciendas sit far back from the road at these properties. Go left at De Portola Road and continue on for a while until you hit Keyways Vineyard & Winery on the left side. Its tasting room has a large, dark interior with a huge rustic fireplace. The bar is made of Brazilian onyx. They have a bistro with foods you can pair with their wines. Further along on the right is Leonesse Cellars. They have a nice patio with gorgeous views, but I found the loud, piped in music overbearing, ruining the wine country atmosphere rather than contributing to it. After that, you can either go out of the way for a while to Glenoaks Road and track back along Rancho California, or take a Temecula wine tour shortcut by turning left at Monte de Oro, a little past Filsinger Vineyards & Winery . But beware, it is slow going on this short stretch of bumpy dirt road (without a 4-wheel drive). Along the way, I came upon one white horse happily munching on morning glories on the fence along the road, which made the bumpy detour well worth it.
The dirt road turns into a well paved one, which takes you back to Rancho California. You can go right to hit a couple of other wineries such as Wilson Creek. Or go left to head back through the main hub of Temecula wine country. Ponte Winery is on the left. The Sunday in October I was there, it was an absolute madhouse of people also doing the Temecula wine tour thing. There is a huge atrium marketplace, great for gift shopping. This looks like a wonderful place for special events and weddings in the back. The Smokehouse restaurant is in a picturesque setting and has outdoor seating on the v veranda and it must be good, because it had a long wait list. At Maurice Car'rie Winery, it was very busy also. The Victorian farmhouse has a windmill in the front. Vendor tents were set up near the parking lot, selling almonds, jewelry and clothes. They offer fresh baked sourdough bread and brie for sale, which you can take home or enjoy with wine right there on the nice wrap-around porch. There is an adjoining restaurant (also with porch seating), called the Plantation House. Just a little further on the left, still heading back west, is the Southcoast Winery, which also has a Spa and Resort with private villas. It is just what it sounds like: a big, sprawling place with a restaurant, gift shop, tasting room and more. Flowery walkways under vine covered arbors and a large, Mediterranean fountain grace the front. There is outdoor seating at the restaurant. A wedding was being set up while we were there, and what a lovely place for it. Now, if you go right on Calle Contento, you'll come upon Falkner Winery, which is up a hill. You can taste wines inside the tasting room/gift shop or go out back on the lawn where there is another tasting bar.
Back on Rancho California, just before you hit the end of the Temecula wine country and head back to town, is Callaway Vineyard & Winery. A restaurant I worked at about 17 years ago up in San Francisco offered a Callaway wine by the glass, which dates me, or the winery, or both. It has a restaurant with a gorgeous outside patio with wonderful views. And that's the end of this Temecula wine tour. A stroll through old town Temecula on the other side of the freeway might be a nice finish to the day. Return from the Temecula Wine Tour page to the Experience Wine Country home page.
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One of the first wineries you'll see on the right is Thornton Winery. Up on a hill, this French chateau has lovely views and a large fountain in the center of the courtyard. The day I visited, they were setting up for a late afternoon jazz concert. They have frequent special events, so call first in case they close early.
On this same road is Longshadow Ranch Vineyard & Winery, which is also a working horse ranch. They even offer horse-drawn carriage rides with Belgian draft horses. There is a nice outdoor portion with a tasting bar. While we were there, a band was playing.
