On a recent drive from San Diego to Palm Springs with my son, we decided to stop in Temecula for an impromptu afternoon of wine tasting. We were living spontaneously with no reservation on a Monday afternoon, which was a perfect time to adventure through Temecula wine country.
I have been to Temecula wine tasting a few times, mainly on crowded weekends. I was looking forward to experiencing the vineyards I had yet to visit.
We randomly chose our first stop at Callaway Vineyard & Winery, one of the first vineyards planted in Temecula. Despite the cool weather and overcast sky, our drive to the tasting room was breathtaking, surrounded by grapevines in every direction.
We walked into the winery through a delightful gift shop and an extensive wine-tasting area, and the ambiance was stunning. At Callaway, a wine tasting is $27, which gives you six tickets. Each wine takes one or two tickets. We tasted four different wines with help from Erica. She knew how to explain the wines, and we were pleased with her suggestions.
While my palate enjoys dry wines, I appreciate that Callaway Vineyard has some fabulous dry wines, as well, caters to the sweeter side. Everyone can find a wine to sip, savor, and unwind in the breathtaking views. Callaway also offers daily tours to learn about the winery's history and the winemaking process, which gives you an educational wine experience.
The Meritage Restaurant is also on-site and open seven days a week. While we didn't stay for lunch, the restaurant menu looked divine, and an authentic farm-to-table experience.
We asked for a recommendation on our way out and drove off to Baily's. Baily's Vineyard and Winery is a family-owned winery that took their passion and made it a family legacy. The small boutique wineries have a special place in my heart. There is a lot of love and labor in growing grapevines and the vinification process for an impeccable bottle of wine.
Tasting at Baily Vineyard is $25 and includes six tastings, a logo wine glass, and $10 towards a wine purchase. Once again, our tasting experience was great, and no crowds. Chuck was our wine-tasting guide and had worked with Baily for fifteen-plus years, which allowed us to learn more about their impressive backstory and avid wine enthusiast family.
Phil Baily started because of his love of cabernet sauvignon. Three generations of the family are working at Baily, and Phil is still involved in the business. Their wines are made from grapes grown on their vineyards of over 25 acres. They do not outsource any grapes. They are known best for their Old World Style wines. If you're looking for a Family owned winery, I highly recommend stopping by. Bailey Family Vineyard is one of Temecula's oldest wineries and a hidden gem.
Their main tasting room is on La Serena Way. No reservations are required. Carol's restaurant is on-site at the main tasting room, with limited weekend hours. Additionally, they have an Estate Tasting Room at the Baily production facility on Pauba Road that is open by appointment only.
We were now on a strict timeline and only had time for one more wine tasting, and we needed a late lunch. Of course, we asked Chuck for his recommendation. He said we had to call for a take-out order at Maurice Carrie Winery for their Famous Sourdough baked brie bread and take it to Chapin Family Vineyards.
We followed his instructions. Driving into Maurice Carrie Winery was another charming landscape. They currently have over 70 acres of vines on their property and offer more than 27 types of wine, which is undoubtedly something for everyone's palate. While we wanted to taste wine here as well, we decided to listen to the advice, picked up our to-go order, and went to our final wine-tasting destination.
Our third and final wine-tasting location was Chaplin Family Vineyards, another family-owned boutique winery. Once again, driving in surrounded by magnificent vineyards and rolling hills. LeRoy, the "Wineguy," welcomed us. LeRoy was full of wine information regarding the winery, and with his wine expertise and humor, he shared his podcast "Spill The Wine Show."
I appreciate the picnic area, where you can bring outside food and enjoy their wines and the breathtaking views. Chuck was correct; The Famous Sourdough Baked Brie bread was heavenly. I actually may be obsessed with it.
Chaplin Family Vineyard's standard wine tasting is $22 for six tastings and does not require a reservation. Or you can try one of the Chaplin Experiences, one of which is the wine and cheese pairing, or the Tour Dei Vigneti, where you get to experience behind-the-scenes of the winemaking process, along with food and wine pairings. Additionally, they offer a luxury apartment for a wine country getaway, which you can find on VRBO.
Steve Chaplin is the owner and master winemaker and has created excellent wines in Temecula Valley. In addition to their estate vineyards, they work closely with local independent growers throughout the Valley.
We had a superb ending to our wine-tasting afternoon in Temecula. Each of our wine-tasting guides was knowledgeable in the wine industry, and the customer service at each destination was exceptional.
With almost sixty wineries in the Temecula Valley area, there is no doubt that Southern California has a burgeoning wine region.
Pro tips:
Wine-tasting on a Monday afternoon increases the experience when you have one-on-one time with your wine-tasting experts.
Take time to experience the delectable cuisine available while sipping and savoring your delightful wines. Stay hydrated with plenty of water between tasting each wine.
It can be overwhelming to stop at too many wineries. One to three stops throughout the day are most enjoyable.