Temecu-what? And where? Temecula is a steadily expanding wine region 90 miles south of Los Angeles. VinoDuo first visited this then-unknown area over 15 years ago, when there were fewer than 12 wineries. Back then, the wines were certainly drinkable but only a few were noteworthy. The vines were young and the learning curve of self-made winemakers was steep. Today, the Temecula Valley AVA includes 47+ wineries, with more on the way. Seasoned winemakers have flocked to the region. There are fewer expanses of virgin rolling hills and many more restaurants, gift shops, and tourists. And yet, Temecula is still waiting for its big break. Only a handful of wineries sell their wine at retail outlets, focusing more on local wine clubs and online sales. The industry magazines seldom cover it (with the exception of an occasional article in Wine Enthusiast) and the top reviewers all but ignore it
Palm trees and snowy mountains…not your typical vineyard vista
When VinoDuo decided to return to Temecula we asked ourselves, could we “go home again?” After a 2.5 day stay the answer is a resounding “yes!” Using the Ponte Vineyard Inn as our home base, we visited nine wineries [in the case of Wilson Creek Winery, a re-visit] and shipped home two cases of wine. We’re pleased to report that many Temecula wineries are producing beautifully crafted wines that could rival Paso Robles, Sonoma, and even Napa. And unlike the northern California wine regions, Temecula has palm trees…and snow covered mountains! We heartily recommend a visit to this emerging wine region, which has yet to reach its full potential.
Favorite Wineries
We visited nine wineries in Temecula, virtually none of which has retail distribution in California or elsewhere. Once we run out of the 2 cases of wine we shipped home, we’ll go online and order directly from the websites. Following are four wineries we particularly enjoyed visiting.
Akash Winery
Father and son Ray and Akash Patel bought 20 acres of land in Temecula in 2010 and opened Akash Winery 2011. In just 13 years, the duo has transformed an empty plot into flourishing vineyards and a contemporary winemaking and tasting facility. Another duo — winemaker Ronato Sais and his assistant, brother Roberto — make beautiful wine that’s both sophisticated and accessible to the everyday wine drinker. We bought the 2019 and 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon and put in an order for six of the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc.
Roberto Sais [pictured, right] gave us a sneak peak of the ’23 Sauvignon Blanc and it promises to be a stunner.
Chapin Family Vineyards
We loved everything about Chapin, from the tranquil natural setting to the knowledgeable tasting room staff [thank you, Pauline] and, of course, the wine. We bought six bottles [Chardonnay, Sauv .Blanc, Syrah, and Petite Sirah], more than from any other winery. The Chapin family planted its first vineyards in 2002 and released its first vintage in 2006. We happened to catch them on Bottling Day, when the mobile truck parks at the vineyard and the 2023 vintage moves from barrel and vat to the bottle. Winemaker Kristine Overlauer has a way with less-common [to California] varietals, including Vermentino, Aglianico, and Tannat.
Raul Ramirez Winery
Raul Ramirez has two passions–wine and horses. Both are on display at his 32-acre vineyard, where regal Andalusian horses and noble Spanish varietals share a space and a heritage. Some of the varietals are familiar to casual wine drinkers– Garnacha, Tempranillo and Albariño–while others were new to our ears and palates. At a beautifully set tasting overlooking the vineyards we happily discovered Macabeo, Xarel.lo,and Parellada. Ernie graciously poured nine wines for us to taste, five of which were Garnacha or Tempranillo blends. We bought the 2022 Estate Mocabeo and the 2010 [no longer available] and 2020 Estate Tempranillo.
Wilson Creek Winery
Don’t let the boxes of canned Bellinis fool you. Wilson Creek makes serious reds for those who know what to ask for. The first four wines on the standard tasting room list were ordinary and uninspiring. But we knew Wilson Creek made better wines and asked the staffer where the “good stuff” was. That’s when the real tasting began. Out came the award-winning Mourvèdre. And the Petite Sirah. And the Barbera. All distinctive wines from new winemaker Kristina Fillipi. Lisa quickly proclaimed the 2021Mourvèdre “best in show” for Temecula reds, and we promptly bought two bottles. Likewise the ’21 Barbera was a winner, with excellent fruit balance and a yummy creaminess. The moral of the story is, don’t go along with the standard offer if you know there’s a chance of better wine “in the back.” As Gary’s grandmother always told him, “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.”
Temecula: Top 8 Whites + Rosé Wines from Our Tasting
Note: “not rated” means we found no reviews or online ratings
| Winery | Wine | Notes | Ratings | Average Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ponte Family Estate | Verdicchio 2022 | Pale straw color with pear notes on the nose. Nice mouth-feel with full lingering finish. | Not Rated VinoDuo Must-Buy [we bought 1] | $42 |
| Wiens Cellars | Vermentino 2022 | Pale straw color with punchy lemon zest and limestone minerality. Delicious! | 4.0 on Vivino VinoDuo Must-Buy [we bought 1] | $32 |
| Wiens Cellars | Fiano 2022 76% Fiano 24% Pinot Grigio | Beautiful floral honeydew-granite nose. Some good minerality with tart lemon creamsicle notes on palate | 4.0 on Vivino VinoDuo Buy | $28 |
| Avensole Vineyards & Winery | Zinfandel Rosé 2021 Not a White Zin! | Pale medium salmon pink w/clean floral nose. Delicious hints of blood orange & minerality. | Not rated VinoDuo Buy | $25 |
| Akash Winery | Sauvignon Blanc 2023 | The barrel tasting (2 wks before bottling) revealed a Sauv. Blanc like that of Cloudy Bay but with delicious fruit fullness that red drinkers crave. | ’22 rated 86 pts on Wine Enthusiast [too low!!] VinoDuo Must-Buy [We ordered 6 of the 2023] | $39 |
| Chapin Family Vineyards | Chardonnay 2022 | Made on 100% Stainless Steel this wine bursts with floral notes on the nose with just enough fullness and minerality to make it the perfect Chard for those who hate oaky-buttery styles. Delicious! | Not Rated VinoDuo Must-Buy [we bought 1] | $33 |
| Raul Ramirez Winery | Estate Mocabeo 2022 | White peach flesh on the nose, nice acidity and fullness on the palate with notes of peach-cantaloupe and grapefruit on the finish. Delicious! | Not Rated VinoDuo Must Buy [we bought 1] | $45 |
| Raul Ramirez Winery | Estate Gran Reserva Costa Blanca Cava Style 2022 60% Xarello 40% Macabeo | Small bubbles characteristic of fine Champagne w/freshness of some minerality, light almond notes and nice dry finish. Very food friendly. | Not Rated Online VinoDuo Must Buy | $65 |
Temecula: Top 12 Reds from Our Tasting [plus 2 splurges]
Note: “not rated” means we found no reviews or online ratings
| Winery | Wine | Notes | Ratings | Average Price |
| Ponte Family Estate | Dopietta 2021 50% Cab. Sauv 50% Syrah | Lush, powerful full-bodied wine with delicious black raspberry black currant, and toasted vanilla notes. | 4.1 on Vivino, Rated too low! VinoDuo Must-Buy [we bought 1] | $50 |
| Ponte Family Estate | 20th Anniversary Red 72% Petit Syrah 18% Zinfandel | Light and dry with some nice depth of black fruit on the finish. Would pair with BBQ or even pizza. | Not Rated Vino Duo Must-Buy | $42 |
| Robert Renzoni Vineyards | Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel 2018 100% Lodi Lopez Ranch Cucamonga Valley | Beautiful red licorice/toasted cedar-vanilla nose with white pepper/blackberry jam finish. Delicious! | 3.8 on Vivino VinoDuo Must-Buy | $38 |
| Robert Renzoni Vineyards | Syrah 2020 | 22 months on French Oak; beautiful black fruit nose with notes of blackberry compote on the palate. Bring to your next BBQ! | 92 Points Wine Enthusiast VinoDuo Must-Buy [we bought 1] | $48 |
| Lorenzi Estate | 2019 Adam & Eve Cabernet Franc, Merlot | Classic Cab. Franc. nose with white pepper with a rustic backbone highlighted by toasty vanilla-caramel & a smooth, silky finish | Not Rated VinoDuo Must-Buy [we bought 1] | $55 |
| Lorenzi Estate | 2019 Estate Malbec | Not a Mendoza Malbec! A huge toasty oak/leather nose yielding to a palate bursting with cherry and dark chocolate. | 4.4 on Vivino VinoDuo Must-Buy [we bought 1] | $95 |
| Chapin Family Vineyards | Estate Syrah 2020 | Aged 26 mos. on 1/2 French and 1/2 American oak. Perfect Syrah with white pepper-black peppercorn nose and silky-smooth palate. | 4.2 on Vivino VinoDuo Must-Buy [we bought 2] | $62 |
| Chapin Family Vineyards | Estate Petite Sirah 2020 | Black fruit & dark chocolate notes on the nose followed by black currant-blackberry with espresso notes on the palate | 4.2 on Vivino VinoDuo Must-Buy [we bought 2] | $62 |
| Wilson Creek Winery | Mourvèdre 2021 82% Mourvèdre 18% Zinfandel | Outstanding balance of fruit and silkiness. This is one of the first [along with the Petite Sirah and Barbera, below] wines made by the new winemaker Kristina Filippi; you rock Kristina! | 4.5 on Vivino VinoDuo Must-Buy [we bought 2] | $55 |
| Wilson Creek Winery | Petite Sirah 2021 92% Petite Sirah 6% Cabernet Sauvignon 2% Malbec | Outstanding balance of fruit and silkiness. A delicious wine! | 4.5 on Vivino VinoDuo Must-Buy | $79 |
| Wilson Creek Winery | Barbera 2021 92% Barbera 8% Cabernet Sauvignon | Tightly wound and concentrated with black pepper notes on the nose followed by dark chocolate and tart blueberry pie on the silky-smooth palate. | 4.2 on Vivino VinoDuo Must-Buy [we bought 1] | $55 |
| Raul Ramirez Winery | Estate Tempranillo Reserva 2020 75% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacha | Cigar box and freshly tanned leather on the nose. Smooth palate with medium weight and delicious red cherry licorice and blackberry notes. | 93 Points Wine Enthusiast Vino Duo Must-Buy [we bought 1] | $85 |
Splurges
Lorenzi Estates 2018 Double Down Cabernet Sauvignon $195
2017 vintage rated 92 Points on Tastings.com/VinoDuo Must Buy
Aged 48 months on French oak, inky-black juice in the glass, super-concentrated black currant and bittersweet chocolate notes over dusty silked tannins. Exquisite wine!
Wiens Cellars Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 $115 – we bought 1 bottle
4.3 on Vivino/VinoDuo Must Buy
Full bodied with toasted vanilla bean/freshly tanned leather nose. Delicious silky concentrated red berry reduction on the palate with notes of espress bean. Shows Temecula is on the rise…watch out Napa Valley!
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