How would you spend your last few days if you knew a global pandemic was coming, requiring you to shelter in place for a few months? Would you spend it at your favorite restaurant? Local bar? Traveling to a new place? Or your favorite vineyard?

Not by design, but I spent my last “hoorah” visiting Temecula Wine Country with my husband celebrating our 5 year anniversary.

Located 60 miles north of San Diego and 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles, it’s the perfect getaway to learn more about wine or enjoy the quaint atmosphere Temecula has to offer.

We booked a tour with Lawrence Moses from Moses Wine Tours.   He founded the company in 2013 after trying with no avail to seek employment at various wineries in Temecula.  He decided to create his own opportunity and started Moses Wine Tours. A typical tour with Moses Wine Tour will take you to three wineries where you can enjoy 6 tastings at each location.

Wilson Creek Winery

Before we started our tour, my husband and I  stopped for lunch at Wilson Creek Winery. This winery is popular  due to their brands being sold at larger retailers. If you are looking for trendy vibes, this is definitely the place to be. We walked throughout the property, exploring the flora, the vineyard, and their gift shop with amazing smelling wine candles.

Lorenzi Estates

Our first official tasting with Moses Wine started at Lorenzi Estates. We were excited to visit this winery because Moses told us it was his favorite boutique winery in Temecula. Lorenzi Estate is a family owned and operated vineyard. The property sits 22 miles from the Pacific Ocean and is 1,500 feet above sea level. “Don and Brenda Lorenzi are a beautiful couple who work as a great team and deliver some of the best red wine Temecula has to offer,” explained Moses.

Our wine tasting experience started on their intimate patio overlooking the vineyard. We tasted 3 whites and 3 reds. I’ve always been curious about how winemakers come up with the names for their wines.  As I looked over their menu, I noticed the name choices for the wines were unique.  Michelle, family owner of Lorenzi Estates explained that Don Lorenzi, is the winemaker and “name creative”! “He is always brainstorming, gathering inspiration around him and loves the aspect of naming and design. There’s always a back story to each name and our members always look forward to seeing what else he will come up with in the future.”

Four Play (blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Merlot) was my favorite and we purchased a bottle to remember our wonderful experience at Lorenzi Estates. What I loved most about this winery was the winemaker coming over to speak with us, welcoming us to his vineyard, and allow us to sample a new wine he was making.

If you are looking for a boutique winery with a charming and inviting wine tasting experience I would give Lorenzi Estates a visit. According to Moses, they are truly in a league of their own!

Lorimar Winery

Our tour guide made us feel like VIP as we entered, Lorimar Winery, one of Moses favorite larger wineries.   Driving up to the winery I instantly noticed the orange groves. According to Lorimar’s Certified Sommelier Penny Delgado, that was intentional.

“Our owner wanted to take advantage of that so when you see our property it’s like you’re taken out of the Temecula Wine Country and get a glimpse of Italy.”

Lorimar Winery delivers on recreating the Tuscan ambiance. It brought back memories of my birthday trip to Tuscany in November 2017. The cobblestone and large terrace made me feel like I had instantly entered a Tuscan village.

I tasted three whites, two reds, and a sparkling wine. Our tour guide Moses encouraged us to try the Meritage. With notes of dried fruit and hints of leather I could tell it had been aged. After speaking to Delgado, I learned the wine had been aged in the bottle instead of oak barrels.  “After setting the wine aside for some time, you could tell it was meant to sit and grow into its full potential. It wasn’t just the taste that made it so different, it showed that the wine was actually alive and constantly changing and maturing in the bottle. ” It was hard to choose a favorite at Lorimar, but the 2018 White Merlot with intense flavors of strawberries won the title and is a must try for Rosé lovers.

If you are looking to experience a lively wine tasting experience with a live band and a beautiful terrace Lorimar is one vineyard to add to your list.

Callaway Vineyard & Winery

Our last stop was Callaway Vineyard & Winery, once owned by Ely Reeves Callaway Jr., golf club manufacturer. The views from this vineyard were AMAZING! It definitely won my most Instagramable vineyard of the day. Callaway has a vast wine selection for tastings. They used a ticketing system so some of the higher priced wines required more tickets than the less expensive wines.  I tried the Wild Yeast Viognier and Roussanne before settling on a Syrah with the perfect balance of spice and black fruit.

As our last stop for the evening, I enjoyed the panoramic views of the mountains as I sipped my Syrah cherishing the tranquility of the sunset.  With a modern aesthetic, put Callaway on your list to visit as the views alone are worth it.

Why Visit Temecula Wine Country

So why should Temecula Wine Country be on your bucket list? Our tour guide reiterated how the people of Temecula Valley are some of the warmest and sincerest people in southern California. This atmosphere helps visitors feel welcome and  “makes our wine country one of the best in the world”. Temecula is welcoming, vibrant, with some great wines to make for a great wine tasting experience.

It’s one of the fastest growing wine regions in the world and I can see why. Michelle, from Lorenzi Estates discussed the trend saying “we’re noticing more artisan, high-end wineries emerging.  It’s an exciting trend and we’re proud to be at the forefront of producing 90+ point wines in the valley.” Temecula Wine Country has grown over the years, creating a wine community known for its beautiful vineyards and  terroir, which have created some world class wines.

While you are researching your next wine tasting destination post quarantine, book a wine tour with Moses Wine Tour. You can visit some of his favorite wineries and make Temecula Wine Country a check in the box for your post quarantine vacation.

 

For more information on the Temecula wine tour and wineries mentioned in this blog please visit:

Moses Wine Tours

Wilson Creek Winery

Lorenzi Estates

Lorimar Winery

Callaway Vineyard & Winery

Wine Spencer is a contemporary wine education and consulting brand specializing in curated wine tasting experiences, in-home wine tastings, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, and other special events. We aim to make wine tasting accessible and fun for everyone. From the novice wine enthusiast to the seasoned wine connoisseur, we invite you to Decant The Experience.

 

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