Everyone’s Re-visiting Temecula!
In February 2024, VinoDuo returned to Temecula, a small-ish wine region south of LA that we first visited in the early 2000s. We found a lively, expanding wine culture whose growers, grapes, and production stand in marked contrast to the mega regions of Napa and Sonoma. Amid the familiar Cabs and Sauvignon Blancs we found vineyards with Mourvèdre, Barbera, and Macabeo — grapes seldom grown in California. We also found palm trees and snow-capped mountains, making Temecula about as picture-perfect as a wine region gets.
We’re under no illusion that Wine Enthusiast read our post and said, “Hey, we should get back to Temecula too.” But in July, that’s exactly what they did, writing about the “Top Tasting Rooms” in Temecula Valley. Strangely, writer Matt Kettmann didn’t visit these 13 wineries, but called on “local experts” to offer their recommendations. We at VinoDuo did the legwork ourselves, doing the onerous work of tasting wine at nine wineries in 2.5 days.
Top Wineries to Visit in Temecula – VinoDuo and Wine Enthusiast Recommendations
Five wineries landed on both of our lists. We’ve included our top tasting from each producer.
- Lorenzi Estate Wines – Adam & Eve 2019; [Cabernet Franc, Merlot]
- Raul Ramirez Winery – Estate Tempranillo 2020
- Robert Renzoni Vineyards – Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel 2018
- Wiens Cellars – Wiens Cellars Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
- Wilson Creek Winery – Mourvèdre 2021 [82% Mourvèdre, 18% Zinfandel]
VinoDuo 