Are you planning a trip to Temecula Valley soon?
While Napa and Sonoma might be the most well-known wine countries in California, Temecula is certainly worth visiting. In fact, because it’s lesser-known, you can expect better prices and smaller crowds than its northern counterparts.
But, when you’re planning your trip, you’ll quickly realize that there are a lot of wineries to choose from in Temecula.
Which ones are the best?
Check out this guide to learn about the best Temecula wineries.
1. Palumbo Family Vineyards and Winery
Palumbo proudly holds the title of being a Certified Sustainable Vineyard and Winery.
Passionate about implementing sustainable practices both inside and outside of the vineyard, Palumbo specializes in hand-crafted wines. They’re best known for their estate-grown cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, and Sangiovese.
The winery also sources fruit from neighboring properties to produce syrah and viognier. You can opt for a standard tasting in their intimate tasting room, or, you can reserve a tour and tasting experience to take a deeper dive into this family-run winery.
While this winery is happy to welcome you without reservation, if you’re coming with a large group, we recommend calling ahead.
2. Carter Estate Winery and Resort
With 109 acres of vineyard, Carter Estate Winery and Resort stands out as one of the most luxurious options in Temecula.
The winery is open for tasting every day of the week. However, if you’re looking to elevate your experience, we recommend booking their Wine and Food Pairing Tour.
With this tour, you’ll get to taste 5 Carter estate wines (including one sparkling wine), while munching on delicious bites. This tour is limited to just eight guests, so you’ll be sure to have a personalized and intimate experience.
3. Doffo Winery
If you have a deep affection for fine wine and motorbikes, then you may never want to leave Doffo Winery.
Founded by Argentinian-born Marcelo Doffo in 1997, this is a family-owned, boutique winery that is famous for its Malbec, syrah, and zinfandel. During tasting tours, you’ll get the chance to sample new wines, reserve wines, and even dessert wines.
If you’d like a more in-depth experience, we recommend booking their Cork ‘N Torque Tour. With this, you get to hop aboard the winery’s eco-friendly tour bus and go deep into the vineyards for a private tasting.
Also, don’t forget to check out the winery’s impressive vintage motorcycle collection in the barrel room.
4. Ponte Winery
Last but not least, we have the Ponte Winery.
With over 300 acres of beautiful vineyards and perfectly-manicured lawns, Ponte is about as picturesque as it gets. You can explore their mission-style winery and expansive tasting room and while sipping on some of their famous wine.
Also, we highly recommend staying at the Ponte Vineyard Inn. This is a 90-room boutique hotel that comes with a full cocktail bar and an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
Are You Ready to Explore These Temecula Wineries?
As you can see, there are a lot of Temecula wineries worth exploring.
If you’re looking to plan a family vacation after your romantic wine-filled getaway, check out this guide to discover the best beach resorts for families.
