A Salute to John and Sally Thornton

by Frank Mangio
John and Sally Thornton, owners of Thornton Winery in Temecula with their son Steve, recently added three more awards to their decades-long accomplishments in wine and hospitality. The Southern California Restaurant Writers bestowed their Golden Bacchus Wine Award and Golden Five Star Sceptre Award to the winery’s Café Champagne after a year-long evaluation from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border. Both are the organization’s highest awards in their category.

Kudos to Café Champagne’s top chef, Steve Pickell, who has guided its success for over 13 years. He saluted the Thornton’s “contribution to the culinary vision with their expertise, dedication, talent and integrity.”

The Thorntons were also honored as Humanitarians of the Year due to the constant and major giving to community charities. Their name is on one of the largest medical centers in San Diego. Thornton Winery has a 20 year legacy of winemaking that has brought it world acclaim, especially in blending “Methode Champenoise” Sparkling Wine/Champagne, which created worldwide excitement for its freshness and bursts of flavor as an ideal celebratory drink, best expressed by the Brut Reserve series.

John and Sally Thornton toasting with one of their popular Methode Champenoise Sparkling Wine/Champagne varietals which brought fame to their winery.

The distinguished old world look of the property displays elegant French influence with an overlook of the pristine vineyards that bear the estate fruit of Thornton. Their champagne jazz series is in full bloom and the lineup reads like a who’s who of talent. Yet the best part of this success story is the work of winemaker Don Reha and his movement into Mediterranean style red wines since his arrival in 2003. Latest release names to know are: 2005 Viognier, 2006 Nebbiolo, 2005 Estate Bottled Syrah and the 2006 Late Harvest Zinfandel.

You can now pick up a 30% discount on any case purchase with free shipping. Check out this short term offer by calling 951-699-0099 or visiting www.thorntonwine.com.